Merton's strain theory in relation to shoplifting.

Merton used Durkheims concept of anomie to form his own theory, called stock certificate Theory. Merton argued that anomie is non created by dramatic social change, barely rather by a social structure that holds the identical goals to all its members without giving them equal means to achieve them. Merton verbalize that all members of a capitalist society have goals such as wealth, status and personal happiness, (Merton, 1938) and that the means in stock(predicate) to achieve this achievement are unevenly distributed throughout society. Merton believes that this insufficiency of integration between society goals and what society realistically permits causes the less(prenominal) dominant or lower class group to produce strain which results in alternate or illegitimate ways of achieving those goals. (Merton, 1938)

Merton did non mean that everyone who was denied access to societys goals became deviant. He presented five modes of adapting to strain. Conformity is the virtually common mode of adaptation. Individuals accept both the goals as well as the prescribed means for achieving those goals. Conformists will accept, though non always achieve, the goals of society and the means approved for achieving them. The large number who sour up this unit are mostly middle and quality individuals. The innovators are typically lower-class people who desire a high-class life and focus on achieving it. Their means of success would be ones such as robbery, embezzlement or early(a) such criminal acts.



Ritualism, the third adaptation, is do up of the people who abandon the goals they once believed to be within their reach and pay themselves to their current lifestyle; they play by the rules and have a daily safe routine. Retreatism is the adaptation of those who give up not only the goals but also the means. They often retreat into a world of alcoholism and drug addiction. The final...

Mertons strain theory is not so reliable to be paired with shoplifting as the writer clearly pointed out it does not explain for higher(prenominal) class and it is important to understand why they would shoplift as well. The paper was also riddled with bad information which made the essay hard to follow.

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