Society structures the lives of the lower class individuals making them more prone to deviant behavior, due to the lack of education, little to no political supremacy, and deplorable living conditions. Inequalities due to a disorganized society, predisposes people to a life of unlawful conduct (Cole, Smith, & DeJong, 2013, p. 76). However, research will show that there is a great deal of controversy with Robert Merton’s theory that societal disorganization is the main factor contributing to deviance. Societal disorganization is merely a small factor that contributes to deviance, and the expression of crime stems from a vast amount of negative experiences.
According to Merton’s Strain Theory, when goals are not reachable due to impasses, …show more content…
This suggests that embeddedness in friendship networks may more easily facilitate delinquency if adolescents are enmeshed in a context where most or all friends are exhibiting behaviors favorable to crime delinquency. These behaviors may include the teaching of skills conducive to delinquency, but more importantly, when behavioral patterns such as delinquency are reinforced by all members of the network, the friendship network will better be able to generate trust, establish expectations, and reinforce social norms that are favorable or unfavorable to delinquency (Haynie, D. L., 2002, p. …show more content…
The following studies: Coleman’s discussion of social capital 1988 and 1990, Aseltine 1995, and Zhang and Messener 2000, according to Haynie, has also shown correlations between negative peer relationships and delinquency. Studies have shown that individuals involved in relationships with individuals who exhibit delinquent behavior are more prone to delinquency themselves; therefore, again proving a stronger correlation that Agnew’s theories are more accurate than Merton’s
According to Merton’s Strain Theory, when goals are not reachable due to impasses, …show more content…
This suggests that embeddedness in friendship networks may more easily facilitate delinquency if adolescents are enmeshed in a context where most or all friends are exhibiting behaviors favorable to crime delinquency. These behaviors may include the teaching of skills conducive to delinquency, but more importantly, when behavioral patterns such as delinquency are reinforced by all members of the network, the friendship network will better be able to generate trust, establish expectations, and reinforce social norms that are favorable or unfavorable to delinquency (Haynie, D. L., 2002, p. …show more content…
The following studies: Coleman’s discussion of social capital 1988 and 1990, Aseltine 1995, and Zhang and Messener 2000, according to Haynie, has also shown correlations between negative peer relationships and delinquency. Studies have shown that individuals involved in relationships with individuals who exhibit delinquent behavior are more prone to delinquency themselves; therefore, again proving a stronger correlation that Agnew’s theories are more accurate than Merton’s