It never occurs to people to take up a life of crime. However, when someone does commit a crime or breaks the law, the public focus is usually on the nature of the crime, not the social reasons behind why it occurred. What drives people into a life of crime? There are a number of reasons. Robert King Merton was an American sociologist who developed a criminology theory of deviant behavior based on different types of social alterations. He developed his theory, named strain theory, which included five types of strain that explained what might cause people to commit crimes. The five types of strain theory are conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
Robert Merton's strain theory states that within society there are certain …show more content…
These weakened social institutions enable harmful social behaviors to proliferate. Gangs are also a product of social disorganization, a response to desperate conditions. The presence of conflicting values and disadvantaged neighborhoods orients the people living there towards crime. Venkatesh explains that, "In the old days, a teenager with an appetite for trouble might have gotten involved in vandalism or shoplifting; now he was more likely to be involved in the drug trade." (Venkatesh, page 72) The Robert Taylor Homes were a defined community were gang activity was conducted and where it flourished. For the people that lived in this community, daily activities were depressing. Venkatesh describes what daily life is like for people when he writes, "For them, and other underemployed men like them, the projects were a refuge: a familiar home turf with at least a few slivers of opportunity." (Venkatesh, page 85) Merton's strain type of conformity is demonstrated in the novel by the community's conformity to and acceptance of societal goals by use of institutionalized means. Venkatesh describes the community's conformity when he writes, "'It was understood among gang members that "work" meant selling drugs - a tragic irony in that they referred to working in the legitimate economy as "getting a job," not "work." (Venkatesh, page …show more content…
The people who lived in the projects all had the desire to be successful, but they lacked the means to achieve the success. Because of the lack of means, new and often illegitimate means were created. Venkatesh recollects, "I remembered what J.T. had told me a while back, a pronouncement that hadn't made much sense at the time: "The gang and the building," he had said, "are the same."" (Venkatesh, page 89) Venkatesh understands that, "More than anything, I realized, J.T. was desperate to be recognized as something other than just a criminal." (Venkatesh, page 83) The character, J.T., was educated, he attended college. He had potential to be successful in a legitimate line of work. Yet desperate times call for desperate measures. J.T. had his mother and several children and girlfriends to take care of. One can assume that illegitimate money earned came quicker and was more abundant then mainstream money. J.T's mother, Ms. Mae, was forced "into public housing when her husband, J.T.'s father, died of heart disease." (Ventatesh, page 44) Ms. Mae insisted that her son J.T. attend college, yet she knows that he is a gang leader. She talks about how the people "... live in a community, understand? Not the projects - I hate that word. We live in a community. We need a helping hand now and then, but who doesn't? Everyone in this building helps as much as they can."
Robert Merton's strain theory states that within society there are certain …show more content…
These weakened social institutions enable harmful social behaviors to proliferate. Gangs are also a product of social disorganization, a response to desperate conditions. The presence of conflicting values and disadvantaged neighborhoods orients the people living there towards crime. Venkatesh explains that, "In the old days, a teenager with an appetite for trouble might have gotten involved in vandalism or shoplifting; now he was more likely to be involved in the drug trade." (Venkatesh, page 72) The Robert Taylor Homes were a defined community were gang activity was conducted and where it flourished. For the people that lived in this community, daily activities were depressing. Venkatesh describes what daily life is like for people when he writes, "For them, and other underemployed men like them, the projects were a refuge: a familiar home turf with at least a few slivers of opportunity." (Venkatesh, page 85) Merton's strain type of conformity is demonstrated in the novel by the community's conformity to and acceptance of societal goals by use of institutionalized means. Venkatesh describes the community's conformity when he writes, "'It was understood among gang members that "work" meant selling drugs - a tragic irony in that they referred to working in the legitimate economy as "getting a job," not "work." (Venkatesh, page …show more content…
The people who lived in the projects all had the desire to be successful, but they lacked the means to achieve the success. Because of the lack of means, new and often illegitimate means were created. Venkatesh recollects, "I remembered what J.T. had told me a while back, a pronouncement that hadn't made much sense at the time: "The gang and the building," he had said, "are the same."" (Venkatesh, page 89) Venkatesh understands that, "More than anything, I realized, J.T. was desperate to be recognized as something other than just a criminal." (Venkatesh, page 83) The character, J.T., was educated, he attended college. He had potential to be successful in a legitimate line of work. Yet desperate times call for desperate measures. J.T. had his mother and several children and girlfriends to take care of. One can assume that illegitimate money earned came quicker and was more abundant then mainstream money. J.T's mother, Ms. Mae, was forced "into public housing when her husband, J.T.'s father, died of heart disease." (Ventatesh, page 44) Ms. Mae insisted that her son J.T. attend college, yet she knows that he is a gang leader. She talks about how the people "... live in a community, understand? Not the projects - I hate that word. We live in a community. We need a helping hand now and then, but who doesn't? Everyone in this building helps as much as they can."