In an attempt to stop crime, many criminologists have posed theories about why criminal commit unlawful acts. Strain theory, from the school of structuralism and a sociological approach to crime, attempts to explain why and how individuals stray from the law.
Strain theory was founded by Robert Merton and began with his 1938 article “Social Structure and Anomie.” The article forever changed the way people viewed the “American Dream” and provided a possible explanation for deviant behavior. Merton used Durkheim’s idea of anomie to explain why some people engage in deviant behavior. Anomie is lack of social norms or set ways of behaving in a society. Merton’s theory differed from Durkheim’s, however, because he emphasized the significance …show more content…
Strain analyzes on a micro- level and focuses on the individual. An individual may feel strain in their lives from failure to achieve nearly impossible societal-set goals. According to Merton, there a five responses to strain: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
Strain theory can be used to explain a number of prevalent crime. However, there are certain conditions that must be might for strain theory to be applicable. Strain theory require a goal-driven society, such as America. Also, a set of universal norms and money-oriented goals must be accepted by the general public.
According to Merton, innovation is the most common criminal responses. “Many crimes against property (such as burglary, robbery, and larceny) are clear examples of innovative acts” (Beirne & Messerschmidt, 116). Strain theory can be used to provide an analysis of larceny in …show more content…
This includes check and credit-card fraud and income tax fraud. Income tax fraud is “probably the most prevalent form of defrauding the government” (Beirne & Messerschmidt, 272). Many citizens commit tax avoidance or tax evasion, two forms of income tax fraud. An individual may feel frustration with having giving a large amount of their income passed on to the government and may deviate from the law to save their earnings. For example, a construction worker may experience strain in his/her life because they are failing to reach the goals of financial success. Without any other job opportunities, workers may be employed “off-the-books” or paid entirely in cash. To save their extra earnings, the construction worker underreport his/her wages by not including the off-the-books employment on income-tax returns. This innovative technique help the worker reach their money-orientated goal, but is a form of deviant
Strain theory was founded by Robert Merton and began with his 1938 article “Social Structure and Anomie.” The article forever changed the way people viewed the “American Dream” and provided a possible explanation for deviant behavior. Merton used Durkheim’s idea of anomie to explain why some people engage in deviant behavior. Anomie is lack of social norms or set ways of behaving in a society. Merton’s theory differed from Durkheim’s, however, because he emphasized the significance …show more content…
Strain analyzes on a micro- level and focuses on the individual. An individual may feel strain in their lives from failure to achieve nearly impossible societal-set goals. According to Merton, there a five responses to strain: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
Strain theory can be used to explain a number of prevalent crime. However, there are certain conditions that must be might for strain theory to be applicable. Strain theory require a goal-driven society, such as America. Also, a set of universal norms and money-oriented goals must be accepted by the general public.
According to Merton, innovation is the most common criminal responses. “Many crimes against property (such as burglary, robbery, and larceny) are clear examples of innovative acts” (Beirne & Messerschmidt, 116). Strain theory can be used to provide an analysis of larceny in …show more content…
This includes check and credit-card fraud and income tax fraud. Income tax fraud is “probably the most prevalent form of defrauding the government” (Beirne & Messerschmidt, 272). Many citizens commit tax avoidance or tax evasion, two forms of income tax fraud. An individual may feel frustration with having giving a large amount of their income passed on to the government and may deviate from the law to save their earnings. For example, a construction worker may experience strain in his/her life because they are failing to reach the goals of financial success. Without any other job opportunities, workers may be employed “off-the-books” or paid entirely in cash. To save their extra earnings, the construction worker underreport his/her wages by not including the off-the-books employment on income-tax returns. This innovative technique help the worker reach their money-orientated goal, but is a form of deviant