Review:
Robert Merton's Strain Theory
overall review score: 4.2
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score is between 0 and 5
Robert Merton's Strain Theory is a sociological theory that explains deviant behavior as a result of an individual's inability to achieve socially accepted goals through legitimate means.
Key Features
- Focuses on the disconnect between cultural goals and institutionalized means
- Identifies five modes of adaptation to strain: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion
- Highlights the role of social structures in shaping behavior
Pros
- Provides a framework for understanding deviant behavior in society
- Emphasizes the impact of social structures on individual behavior
Cons
- Critics argue that it oversimplifies complex social phenomena
- Does not account for individual differences in response to strain