Robert Merton
STRAIN
THEORY
FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE
Deviance typology
Merton suggests that there are 5 ways to react to the strain.
Conformity: People continue to try and achieve their goals
through legitimate means, through conforming to society’s norms
and values. e.g. working hard to get a promotion at work.
Ritualism: People give up on their goals, but still continue to go
through the motions of life, in a ritual like fashion. e.g. turning up
to work everyday.
Innovation: People realise that they will not achieve their goals
through legitimate means, so innovate their means (often
criminally) to achieve them. e.g. robbing a bank, rather than
working in one.
Retreatism: People give up on their goals, reject any means to
reach them and so retreat from mainstream society. e.g. dropping
out of work and becoming a drug addict.
Rebellion: People reject society’s goals and the means of achieving
them, so rebel against society. e.g. dropping out of work to engage
in terrorist activity.
MEANS
CONFORMITY INNOVATION
NEW MEANS
GOALS
NEW GOALS
RITUALISM RETREATISM REBELLION
STRAIN
THEORY
FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE
Deviance typology
Merton suggests that there are 5 ways to react to the strain.
Conformity: People continue to try and achieve their goals
through legitimate means, through conforming to society’s norms
and values. e.g. working hard to get a promotion at work.
Ritualism: People give up on their goals, but still continue to go
through the motions of life, in a ritual like fashion. e.g. turning up
to work everyday.
Innovation: People realise that they will not achieve their goals
through legitimate means, so innovate their means (often
criminally) to achieve them. e.g. robbing a bank, rather than
working in one.
Retreatism: People give up on their goals, reject any means to
reach them and so retreat from mainstream society. e.g. dropping
out of work and becoming a drug addict.
Rebellion: People reject society’s goals and the means of achieving
them, so rebel against society. e.g. dropping out of work to engage
in terrorist activity.
MEANS
CONFORMITY INNOVATION
NEW MEANS
GOALS
NEW GOALS
RITUALISM RETREATISM REBELLION
