One Minute Strain Theory

Understanding Merton's Strain Theory

The Functionalist Approach to Society

• The functionalist perspective posits that societies maintain cohesion through shared values, which regulate behavior. However, these values can have both positive and negative effects on individuals.

Key Concepts of Strain Theory

• Merton's strain theory highlights the conflict between societal goals (wealth and success) and the legitimate means available to achieve them, particularly for lower-class individuals who face significant barriers.

• This disconnection leads to a state of anomie, where individuals feel a gap between their aspirations and their actual opportunities, increasing the likelihood of resorting to illegitimate means such as crime or deviance.

Implications of Strain Theory

• Crime and deviance should be understood not merely as individual failings but as products of the structural inequalities inherent in modern capitalist societies.

• A succinct summary of strain theory could be: "Be careful what you wish for," emphasizing the potential consequences of societal pressures on individual behavior.