Questions and Answers
What is the term used for individuals who experience Status Deprivation?
Status Deprivation
Who are the authors associated with the origin of social structure?
Who is known for Classical Strain Theory?
Merton
Who introduced the concepts of Status Deprivation and Reaction Formation?
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What theory did Cloward & Ohlin propose?
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Who is associated with General Strain Theory?
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Which researchers studied Strain Difference by gender?
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What do anomie and strain theories argue people commit crimes because of?
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Socially generated pressures drive people to commit crime and these pressures are not evenly distributed in society.
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Did Robert Merton popularize the concept of strain when he outlined his theory of social structure, anomie, and crime?
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Who was credited with the term Sociology and emphasized macro-level factors?
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Who published a report that examined official statistics regarding property and violent crimes?
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Who examined French statistics?
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Who is more likely to commit crimes according to strain theory?
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What does Quetelet's concept of 'relative deprivation' refer to?
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Who proposed that humans have limitless appetites that need to be socially regulated?
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What does rapid social change lead to, according to strain theories?
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What did Durkheim argue about norms for proper behavior?
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Does the state of anomie cause a gap between expectation (appetite) and payoff (satisfaction)?
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What did Merton do regarding Durkheim's concept of anomie?
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What did Merton argue about societal goals?
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The social structure prevents many individuals from becoming economically successful, regardless of effort.
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Societies are characterized by the difference between the ____________ aspired to by members and the lack of access to _____________ of achieving those goals.
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Who talked about the American Dream?
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What is the American Dream according to Merton?
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What problem did Merton observe in society?
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What are Merton's 5 possible modes of adaptation?
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What is conformity in the context of strain theory?
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What is innovation in strain theory?
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What is ritualism?
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What is retreat in strain theory?
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What is rebellion in the context of adaptation?
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Study Notes
Strain Theory Overview
- Status deprivation occurs when individuals cannot gain social status, leading to status frustration.
- The concept of social structure derived from Comte, Guerry, and Quetelet's foundations.
Key Theorists and Theories
- Classical Strain Theory developed by Merton emphasizes societal pressure contributing to crime.
- Cohen introduced the idea of status deprivation and reaction formation, where youth react against societal expectations.
- Differential Opportunity Theory, formulated by Cloward & Ohlin, examines varying access to legitimate means for achieving goals.
- General Strain Theory by Agnew expands on the effects of strain across different demographics, including gender differences identified by Agnew & Brody.
Crime and Social Pressures
- Anomie and strain theories posit that societal pressures drive individuals toward criminal behavior.
- Criminal pressures are not uniformly experienced across society, leading to unequal opportunities.
Merton's Contributions
- Merton popularized the strain concept in relation to social structure, anomie, and crime.
- He highlighted how American culture's focus on economic success leads to strain when individuals cannot achieve these goals.
Sociological Foundations
- Comte is noted as the founder of sociology and emphasized macro-level factors such as social institutions.
- Guerry analyzed statistics to show that property crimes are more prevalent in affluent areas, but violent crimes are higher in impoverished ones.
- Quetelet examined social statistics to understand crime phenomena more deeply.
Social Dynamics and Crime
- Certain demographics, including young, male, poor, uneducated, and unemployed individuals, are more prone to criminal behavior.
- Quetelet's "relative deprivation" concept explains feelings of inadequacy resulting from proximity to wealth.
Durkheim's Contributions
- Durkheim argued for the need of social regulation of human appetites, which should vary based on social status.
- Rapid social change can lead to anomie, characterized by unclear moral boundaries, resulting in disorganized appetites.
Normlessness and Anomie
- Anomie can create a gap between societal expectations and individuals' actual achievements.
- Merton revised Durkheim's concept of anomie to specifically address its relevance to American society.
Economic Success and Social Structure
- Merton argued that societies establish goals that often remain out of reach for many due to structural limitations, regardless of effort.
- The American Dream embodies the belief that hard work leads to economic success, although this ideal is not equally attainable.
Modes of Adaptation to Strain
- Merton's five adaptations to strain include:
- Conformity: Acceptance of both societal goals and acceptable means.
- Innovation: Pursuing accepted goals through unconventional means.
- Ritualism: Adhering to means while losing sight of goals.
- Retreatism: Rejecting both goals and means, leading to disengagement.
- Rebellion: Actively defying societal norms and constructing alternative goals.
Examining Behavior
- Conformity reflects adherence to societal constructs even when opportunities are limited.
- Innovation arises from the inability to access traditional avenues for success, leading to unapproved methods.
- Ritualism indicates a mechanical adherence to rules without genuine aspiration toward success.
- Retreatism denotes a rejection of all forms of societal aspirations, indicating apathy.
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Description
This quiz explores key concepts of Strain Theory through flashcards. It covers topics such as status deprivation, classical strain theory, and influential theorists like Merton and Cohen. Perfect for students wanting to grasp sociological concepts in detail.
