Merton's Strain Theory: Understanding Deviant Behavior and Structural Strain

Introduction
The two most important components of societies are the social structure and culture.
Culture deeply influences an individual's beliefs, values, goals as well as his identity. Cultural
goals are developed in accordance with the existing social structure of the society. The social
structure of a society must provide the 'means' for an individual to achieve his cultural goals.
However, the social structure often fails in providing the means, thereby creating an
imbalance in the fulfillment of the cultural goals. This imbalance that stems from the lack of
necessary means to achieve socially accepted cultural goals leads to structural strain. The
Strain Theory was propounded by Robert K. Merton in 1957. Merton in his Strain theory
holds that societal pressure on individuals and the lack of means to accomplish socially
accepted goals are the prime reasons that lead individuals to commit crimes. References to
the 'Strain Theory' can be found in Criminology theory and even Sociology.
Merton's structural strain theory is connected to Durkheim's theory of anomie that
emphasizes the imbalance between old societal norms and the new values that are evolving.
Durkheim noted that a lack of normal ethical or social standards is responsible for making
people indecisive on how to behave with one another. He considered Anomie as an
undetermined behavioral state that motivated deviant behaviour. In Merton's strain theory
deviant behaviour is regarded as the most likely outcome of the strain that individual's
experience when faced with a lack of approved and adequate means to obtain culturally
validated goals. Durkheim's writings revolve and reflect upon the social conditions in France
that were occurring in that age while Merton's writings were influenced by the economic and
social conditions in the US at that time. Since the middle of the 20th century Merton's classic
strain theory is dominating Criminology and is useful in explaining why crime is still on the

rise even in the times of economic growth. However, all theories accept that only some of all
the strained individuals participate in criminal activities.
Merton proposed a classification of deviance on the basis of two criteria: (1). An
individual's inclination, interest and adherence to cultural goals; (2). An individual's personal
belief on how to achieve his goals. He listed a typology of five types of deviant behaviour
namely, 1. Conformity (when the attainment of goals and their means are culturally accepted
and approved), 2. Innovation(when the legitimate means of attaining a cultural goal is
rejected but the cultural goal itself is accepted), 3. Ritualism (rejection of cultural goals but
acceptance of the means approved by the societal structure), 4. Retreatism (rejection of
cultural goals as well as the traditional means) and 5. Rebellion( when the traditional goals
and valued means are rejected and attempts are made to replace the old societal norms with
new goals and different means).
Merton recognised 'Conformity' and adherence to cultural goals and values as the
most primary reason for prevailing unsanctioned economic activities and crime. The
phenomena that Merton's theory indicates towards can be successfully explained with the
help of an example of how people achieve or strive to achieve economic success. For
instance, in the U.S which has a capitalist system, everybody is motivated to attain financial
profitability for a greater sense of positive identity. There are two legally approved ways of
accomplishing this task, education and work. However, not everyone may have access to
equal opportunities because of brokered access or discrimination on the basis of class,
gender, race, sexuality etc. that is prevalent in most societies (Broidy & Agnew,1997). This
leads to an unequal distribution of means among people belonging to the same society and
having similar aspirations. This lack of accessibility to available means encourages deviant
behaviour among people to attain their cultural goals. Such people then resort to deviant
activities that violate social norms such as theft and embezzlement, to fulfill their economic

goals and cultural ambitions. Individuals who are oppressed or those that are marginalized by
the society are most likely to indulge in such unsanctioned activities to achieve economic
success as even they have similar cultural and economic goals as the rest of the people in the
society. This example validates Merton's theory that a society which fails to provide adequate
and equal means to all the people creates a strain on the less privileged and limits their scope
for success through socially accepted means. A good example of this is the Black Lives
Matter Movement (2014-15) which demanded equal means and respect for all. The
movement adopted a violent tone as a means to accomplish its goals.
Strengths of Merton’s theory
 Merton’s theory provides a valuable theoretical framework for understanding
widespread forms of deviant behaviour and also provides a basis for sociological
research to explore the connection between socio structural conditions and the
normative values and behavior of people.
 Merton successfully explained that often enough our cultural goals cannot be met by
the modest means made available by the social structure. This failure to provide the
means to achieve one’s desired end leads to structural strain and this is what propels
an individual towards deviant behavior.
For instance, a study conducted on a sample of homeless street youth examined the
classic strain perspective in an in-depth manner (Baron, 2006). The results of this
study supported Merton’s argument that relative deprivation, dissatisfaction with
wealth, failure to achieve monetary goals, homelessness, and unemployment were
associated with the tendency to indulge in crime. Researchers also found that
monetary dissatisfaction and relative deprivation were related to various illegal