Overview
Merton's Strain Theory is a sociological framework that explains how societal pressures can lead individuals to engage in deviant behavior when they cannot achieve culturally defined goals through accepted means. It identifies five modes of adaptation—Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, a...
Key Terms
Example: During economic downturns, people may feel anomie due to job loss.
Example: Most students conform by attending school regularly.
Example: A person may resort to theft to achieve financial success.
Example: An employee who follows all company policies but never gets promoted.
Example: A person who drops out of society and lives in isolation.
Example: Activists fighting for social change.
Related Topics
Social Disorganization Theory
Explores how social structures contribute to crime and deviance.
intermediateLabeling Theory
Focuses on how being labeled as deviant affects an individual's identity and behavior.
intermediateConflict Theory
Examines how power dynamics and social inequality influence deviance.
advancedKey Concepts
AnomieConformityInnovationRitualism