Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the central argument of Merton's strain theory?
What is the central argument of Merton's strain theory?
- Social interactions and relationships are the main cause of deviant behavior.
- Cultural values alone determine an individual's likelihood to engage in crime.
- People engage in deviant behavior when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means. (correct)
- Deviance is primarily a result of biological factors.
Which of the following factors does Merton NOT combine to explain deviance?
Which of the following factors does Merton NOT combine to explain deviance?
- Institutional structure
- Cultural factors
- Biological factors (correct)
- Structural factors
How does Merton describe the pressure to adopt illegitimate means to achieve success?
How does Merton describe the pressure to adopt illegitimate means to achieve success?
- The desire for innovation
- The strain to anomie (correct)
- The cultural strain
- Structural inequality
According to the ideology of the 'American Dream', why do people feel pressure to engage in deviant behavior?
According to the ideology of the 'American Dream', why do people feel pressure to engage in deviant behavior?
Which adaptation involves individuals giving up on trying to achieve goals but still adhering to legitimate means?
Which adaptation involves individuals giving up on trying to achieve goals but still adhering to legitimate means?
Which group is most likely to exhibit 'Conformity' according to Merton's strain theory?
Which group is most likely to exhibit 'Conformity' according to Merton's strain theory?
What prevents a stable professional criminal network from developing in conflict subcultures?
What prevents a stable professional criminal network from developing in conflict subcultures?
Why do individuals join retreatist subcultures according to Cloward and Ohlin?
Why do individuals join retreatist subcultures according to Cloward and Ohlin?
What criticism is made regarding Cloward and Ohlin's theory?
What criticism is made regarding Cloward and Ohlin's theory?
What type of subculture explains deviance as forming in reaction to failure to achieve mainstream goals?
What type of subculture explains deviance as forming in reaction to failure to achieve mainstream goals?
Which of these is NOT one of Miller’s six focal concerns?
Which of these is NOT one of Miller’s six focal concerns?
According to Matza, how do most delinquents relate to their subculture?
According to Matza, how do most delinquents relate to their subculture?
What does Merton's strain theory suggest people may do if they are unable to achieve socially accepted goals through legitimate means?
What does Merton's strain theory suggest people may do if they are unable to achieve socially accepted goals through legitimate means?
Which of the following accurately describes the concept of 'retreatism' in Merton's strain theory?
Which of the following accurately describes the concept of 'retreatism' in Merton's strain theory?
How does the Marxist criticism of Merton's theory describe the ruling class' influence on crime?
How does the Marxist criticism of Merton's theory describe the ruling class' influence on crime?
What does A.K. Cohen argue Merton's theory fails to explain?
What does A.K. Cohen argue Merton's theory fails to explain?
According to Merton, which type of crime is most prevalent due to American society's high value on material wealth?
According to Merton, which type of crime is most prevalent due to American society's high value on material wealth?
What is one major limitation of Merton's theory, according to its critics?
What is one major limitation of Merton's theory, according to its critics?
Which theorist developed the concept of social bonds into 'Control Theory'?
Which theorist developed the concept of social bonds into 'Control Theory'?
Which type of social bond refers to the time one has for crime according to Hirschi?
Which type of social bond refers to the time one has for crime according to Hirschi?
Which of the following is a criticism of functionalism regarding crime and deviance?
Which of the following is a criticism of functionalism regarding crime and deviance?
According to the longitudinal study by Farrington and West, what percentage of the sample accounted for 50% of the crime?
According to the longitudinal study by Farrington and West, what percentage of the sample accounted for 50% of the crime?
Merton's Strain Theory combines two key elements. Which of the following is one of them?
Merton's Strain Theory combines two key elements. Which of the following is one of them?
What is Hirschi's view on the family in relation to social bonds?
What is Hirschi's view on the family in relation to social bonds?
What is one criticism of Miller's theory?
What is one criticism of Miller's theory?
According to Matza, what is the concept of 'drift' in relation to youth and crime?
According to Matza, what is the concept of 'drift' in relation to youth and crime?
Which of the following is not one of the subterranean values identified by Matza?
Which of the following is not one of the subterranean values identified by Matza?
What was the main conclusion from Downes' study in East London?
What was the main conclusion from Downes' study in East London?
How does Matza suggest individuals justify their deviant actions?
How does Matza suggest individuals justify their deviant actions?
Which study did not find evidence for the existence of subcultures?
Which study did not find evidence for the existence of subcultures?
Cohen argues that working class boys face anomie due to what?
Cohen argues that working class boys face anomie due to what?
What is a key function of the delinquent subculture according to Cohen?
What is a key function of the delinquent subculture according to Cohen?
Which of the following best describes a weakness of Cohen's theory?
Which of the following best describes a weakness of Cohen's theory?
What type of subculture involves youths retreating into drug use according to Cloward and Ohlin?
What type of subculture involves youths retreating into drug use according to Cloward and Ohlin?
Criminal subcultures typically arise in neighborhoods characterized by what?
Criminal subcultures typically arise in neighborhoods characterized by what?
According to Cloward and Ohlin, which factor influences the development of different deviant subcultures?
According to Cloward and Ohlin, which factor influences the development of different deviant subcultures?
What two key mechanisms do Functionalists believe allow social solidarity to occur in society?
What two key mechanisms do Functionalists believe allow social solidarity to occur in society?
According to Durkheim, why is crime considered inevitable and universal?
According to Durkheim, why is crime considered inevitable and universal?
What term does Durkheim use to describe a state of normlessness in modern societies?
What term does Durkheim use to describe a state of normlessness in modern societies?
What is the purpose of punishment according to Durkheim's concept of boundary maintenance?
What is the purpose of punishment according to Durkheim's concept of boundary maintenance?
How does crime contribute to social change according to Durkheim?
How does crime contribute to social change according to Durkheim?
Which of the following is identified by Cohen as a function of deviance?
Which of the following is identified by Cohen as a function of deviance?
What argument does Erikson build on from Durkheim's theory?
What argument does Erikson build on from Durkheim's theory?
What does Durkheim see as the result of a collective conscience being weakened in modern societies?
What does Durkheim see as the result of a collective conscience being weakened in modern societies?
According to Durkheim, what is the relationship between the level of crime and the health of a society?
According to Durkheim, what is the relationship between the level of crime and the health of a society?
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
Strain Theory
- Merton's Strain Theory argues that people engage in deviant behavior when they are unable to achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means
- Combines two elements: structural factors (society's unequal opportunity structure) and cultural factors (strong emphasis on success goals and weaker emphasis on using legitimate means to achieve them)
- Deviance is the result of a strain between two things:
- Goals that a culture encourages individuals to achieve
- What the institutional structure of society allows them to achieve legitimately
Merton's Adaptations to Strain
- Five types of adaptations to strain:
- Conformity: Accept culturally approved goals and strive to achieve them legitimately (most likely amongst the middle class)
- Innovation: Accept goals of money success but use illegitimate means to achieve it
- Ritualism: Give up on trying to achieve goals, but internalize legitimate means
- Retreatism: Reject both goals and legitimate means, become dropouts
- Rebellion: Reject existing society's goals and legitimate means, replace with new ones to bring about revolutionary change
Criticisms of Strain Theory
- Durkheim doesn't explain how much deviance is needed for society to function successfully
- Functionalists explain the existence of crime in terms of its supposed function, but this doesn't mean society actually creates crime in advance with the intention of strengthening solidarity
- Functionalism looks at what functions crime serves for society as a whole and ignores how it might affect different groups or individuals within society
Hirschi's Control Theory
- Developed Durkheim's idea of shared values into the idea of social bonds
- Four types of social bonds:
- Attachment: We care about others
- Commitment: What would we lose?
- Involvement: Has time for crime?
- Belief: Believe in obeying rules?
- If shared bonds are not strong, it will lead to crime and deviance
Criticisms of Control Theory
- Too deterministic, ignoring the possibility that individuals may choose to deviate
Subcultures
- Cloward and Ohlin: Three subcultures arise in response to strain:
- Criminal subcultures: Provide youths with an apprenticeship for a career in utilitarian crime
- Conflict subcultures: Arise in areas of high population density, with limited opportunities and little social organization
- Retreatist subcultures: Arise among those who have failed to succeed in both criminal and conflict subcultures, they retreat into drug use and other forms of escapism
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
