Merton's Strain Theory Essay

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The Importance of Merton’s Strain Theory The Strain Theory explains how reaching a certain social status can place stressors on an individual, especially if that individual does not have the same means of opportunity as others. While some reach their success with work and education, others turn to deviant acts to try and attain their social goals. Some see success as crucial, no matter what it takes to get there. A person's motivation and ways of obtaining such goals are what the Strain Theory is based on. Anomie describes the disproportion between cultural goals and institutionalized means -- confusion. Within this theory, there are five responses to the goal-means gap: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. In other words, these responses are how the individual adapts to society and its accepted values. …show more content…

Conformist make up the largest majority of society. Conformist follow the rules and are influenced to fit into the standard. For example: following a certain dress code or trend and obeying the speed limit. Innovation is the use of unconventional means to achieve a goal that is still culturally accepted. Innovationist have a hunger for wealth and power and will use any means necessary to achieve it. For example: if there is a promotion at work and one employee sabotages or ruins the other employee's character and chances, cheating on an exam, using steroids to become the utmost athlete. Ritualism can be defined as accepting institutional means while rejecting the goals of society. This response places the cultural goals on a lower level -- scaling it down to be able to reach what they consider success. Ritualist keep things simple and stay in their safe-zone -- becoming more of a routine. For example: working a job that only pays enough to get by, because you are comfortable in the environment or being a professional

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