Merton's Deterrence Theory

1194 Words3 Pages

The goal of criminological theory is to help one gain an understanding of crime and criminal justice (Akers & Sellers, 2013). Theories cover the making and the breaking of the law, criminal, and deviant behavior, as well as patterns of criminal activity (Akers & Sellers, 2013). These theories have an impact on our childhood, adult, and everyday life. In this paper I will be applying the deterrence, Merton’s anomie, and labeling theory to my life. Deterrence Theory The deterrence theory is defined as a core principle of classical school and rational choice theories. The primary purpose of punishment is deterrence rather than vengeance (Lecture 8: Classical Theory, Deterrence Theory, Rational Choice Theory, Routine Activities Theroy, 2005). …show more content…

It is also important to understand the role that access to acceptable means for achieving them plays (Akers & Sellers, 2013). When an individual realizes that the not everyone can achieve the American dream of equal opportunity for economic success (Merton's Anomie Theory, 2013). When this happens, one of 5 adaptations will occur. 1) The conformist accepts the goals of society and the means for achieving them (Merton's Anomie Theory, 2013). 2) The innovator accepts the goals of society but rejects the means of achieving them (Merton's Anomie Theory, 2013). 3) The mode of rebellion refers to one who refers both the goals and means of society, and wants to replace them with new goals and means (Merton's Anomie Theory, 2013). 4) The retreatist gives up on both the goals and means, and withdraws from society (Merton's Anomie Theory, 2013). Finally, 5) the ritualist rejects the goals and accepts the means (Merton's Anomie Theory, 2013). This theory applies to my life because I grow up in the “average”, middle class household. Both of my parents are educators at universities and I am grateful beyond words for laying a good foundation for me and my sister. On my 13th birthday, my father looked me in my eyes and told me to get in the car. We got in the car and he just drive. I didn’t know where we were going and all of a sudden he pulls over and stops the car. As he was taking the key out of the ignition, he told me “This is North Tryon St. were people have two professions, being a drug dealer or a prostitute. Do you want to live like this?” With tears in my eyes I shook my head no. He continued to tell me in life you have to work hard and nothing is free. Education is the most powerful tool that no one can take from you. We sat in silence

Show More
Related

  • Theories That May Explain Crime in Germantown Avenue Communities in Philadelphia

    2015 Words  | 5 Pages

    Houser, K. (2014). Nature of Crime, Deterrence Theory. Lecture conducted from Temple University, Ambler, Pa.

    Read More

  • Criminological Movie Fargo

    1459 Words  | 3 Pages

    Merton recognised that individuals receive messages from society, which set acceptable behaviours to follow. He noted that a majority of citizens abide the acceptable behaviours, though there are numerous pressures that associate with the American Dream and the importance of the economy, which leads individuals to participate in deviant behaviours. Merton associated criminality and deviance with the American Dream goals, and how people attempt to achieve them, particularly the wealth component (Murphy & Robertson, 2008). Merton argued in 1938 that within unbalanced societies, the discrepancy between success goals and the endorsement of the means to achieve the goals, combined with limited opportunities manufactured the state of anomie. Further, Merton suggested that the anomic conditions in society were likely to tempt strain upon individuals, forming criminal behaviour adaptations. Particularly, the strain theory emphasised that those with high monetary aspirations are likely to innovate, resorting to unlawful activities, with the desire to channel success (Antonaccio, Gostjev & Smith, 2014). The strain theory connects to social causes, linking criminality with selfishness and egoism as the desire to

    Read More

  • Life-Course Perspective And Strain Theory In Boyz N The Hood

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    Merton’s theory consists of five things. Conformity is when one accepts conventional goals and strive to earn those goals through socially accepted means. The kids in the neighborhood, their shared beginning, could most likely not afford to attend college at USC. So some of them could apply for a community college. But realistically college was not a common goal for the kids, completing high school and going was even struggle. In their shared beginning we see innovation the most. The people accepting cultural goals, but rejecting the accepting way of achieving them. Instead of getting a job to have these means, they often resort to selling jobs or living off of robberies. They want money and items money can buy, but they do not want to have a job or work. This relates to all of the gang activity we see. Parents in the neighborhoods however, can be applied to ritualism. Single mother’s working one or two minimum wage jobs to support their families. They gave up on achieving the goal, but they still continue to practice the socially accepted practices for obtaining jobs. They are working these minimum wage, under-paid jobs forever to support their family. While some parents ae resulting to ritualism, even more result to retreatism in these communities. They are completely rejecting the accepted ways of achieving goals. Drug addicts and alcoholics are a common scene in the movie, those people fit into this category. Gangs which are the most common theme and factor in the movie is compared to rebellion. These people reject accepted goal and means, while replacing them with new ones. Gang activity in the movie in a sense of family and acceptance by creating their own goals and

    Read More

  • Criminological Theory of Anomie and Social Control Shown in the Movie 'Falling Down"

    2305 Words  | 5 Pages

    Anomie is characterized as a feeling of normlessness. This results from a breakdown of social norms and without these norms to guide an individual they are unable to find a place in society or adjust to the constant changes in life. The consequence becomes the individual feeling a sense of dissatisfaction, frustration, conflict and ultimately deviance. Robert Merton addresses the five ways in which individual adapts to strain by limiting the socially approved goals and means. These five modes of adaptation include conforming, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. In Falling Down different characters can be linked to one or more of these five adaptations.

    Read More

  • Crime is a contested and complex concept. Discuss

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    Labelling theory: The theory that the terms crime, deviance, or punishment are labels, variously applied by act of power and not some natural reflection of events – American criminologist Howard Becker

    Read More

  • Routine Activities Theory

    1788 Words  | 4 Pages

    Akers, R, & Sellers, C. (2009). Criminological theories: introduction, evaluation, and application. New York: Oxford University Press, USA.

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast Criminological Theories

    3235 Words  | 7 Pages

    Criminological theories interpret the competing paradigms of Human Nature, Social Order, Definition of Crime, Extent and Distribution of Crime, Causes of Crime, and Policy, differently. Even though these theories have added to societies understanding of criminal behaviour, all have been unable to explain why punishment or treatment of offenders is unable to prevent deviancy, and thus are ineffective methods of control. The new penology is a contemporary response that favours the management of criminals by predicting future harm on society. However, all criminological theories are linked as they are a product of the historical time and place, and because of their contextual history, they will continue to reappear depending on the current state of the world, and may even be reinvented.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Retribution

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    Deterrence – is connected to punishment where it is a way to let a person who has committed a crime know and to let the rest of society or those looking to commit a crime know it will not be tolerated or accepted and there is the possibility of some form of punishment. (Stojkovic and Lovell 2013) If a person or society sees what can happen if they commit a crime by seeing what happens to others then they are more likely to obey the laws and live an honest lifestyle.

    Read More

  • Social Learning Theory And Labeling Theory

    770 Words  | 2 Pages

    What are theories of crime? Why are they important? In this paper, will discuss two crime theories. Social learning theory and the labeling theory. We will compare both crime theories. It will also explain how these theories are related to specific crimes. The two theories discussed will also explain the policy implications. Finally, we will address what types of programs can be created to mitigate specific crimes related to the causation theories.

    Read More

  • Orthodox Theories on Crime and Deviance and Crime and Deviance in the Caribbean

    1067 Words  | 3 Pages

    People sometimes break the rules to achieve success if there is no legitimate opportunity structure and this in turn creates a situation of anomie. Norms will no longer affect behaviour and deviance is encouraged. Individuals respond to anomie in different ways and their reaction will be shaped by their position in the social structure. Merton created five possible ways in which people respond to success goals: 1) Conformity, 2) Innovation, 3) Ritualism, 4) Retreatism and 5) Rebellion. The majority of the young lower- class, unemployed males in the Caribbean live by the use of Innovation which rejects legitimate means and turns to deviant means

    Read More

  • Robert Merton Social Structure And Anomie Analysis

    1300 Words  | 3 Pages

    Merton stated anomie is the weakening of cultural norms who he got from Durkheim. Technically this means a person will lose their societal norms to achieve their goals. Thus, once again leading to illegimate forms of obtaining that goal. The person will no longer see the difference from right and wrong, because the overall goal has blinded them.

    Read More

  • The Implications of Labelling Theory and how It Affects Individuals

    1254 Words  | 3 Pages

    The main focus of the essay will be the implications of labelling theory and how it affects individuals. It also will be focusing on the creation of particular categories of criminals when labelling theory is applied, in addition it will outline what labelling theory is, how it affects people and how it effects the creation of criminal categories. The purpose of this essay is to allow a better understanding of labelling theory and its implication on creating criminal categories.

    Read More

  • Robert Merton's Suicide Anomie Theory

    520 Words  | 2 Pages

    Robert Merton adapted the concept of Durkheim’s suicide anomie theory and changed it to refer to a situation where there is an apparent lack of fit between the cultures norms and what is considered success in life and the cultures norms about the appropriate ways to achieve these goals. The theory shows that both deviant and normal behaviour can arise from the same societal goals as less privileged groups lack the means to achieve these goals due to limits put in place by society. Merton believed that societal norms place pressure to conform within society’s structure or be labelled as deviant, however society does not supply the means to achieve these goals to everyone. Therefore people experience strains when there is a gap between what ought to be and what is; resulting in anomie. And thus engage in deviant behaviour when they cannot achieve these goals by legitimate means.

    Read More

  • Strain Theories of Criminal Behaviour

    2001 Words  | 5 Pages

    Featherstone, R., & Deflem, M. (2003). Anomie and strain: Context and consequences of Merton’s two theories. Sociological Inquiry, 73(4), 471-489.

    Read More

  • Manifest And Latent Functions By Robert K. Merton

    1344 Words  | 3 Pages

    " It does differ to some degree from Durkheim's theory in that Merton argues that the real problem is not necessarily brought about by rapid social change as Durkheim theory suggests. But, instead, by a social structure that provides the same goals to all its members without giving them equal means to achieve them.

    Read More

More about Merton's Deterrence Theory

Open Document