Exploring Strain Theory: An Analysis of American Nomads and Deviance

This essay explores Robert Grant's depiction of American nomads through the lens of Robert Merton's strain theory. It discusses how these individuals, leading unconventional and wandering lives, represent a form of retreatism in response to the discrepancies between culturally approved goals (material wealth) and the means to achieve them. The essay argues that these nomads, including yogis, punk kids, Wall Street dropouts, and cowboys, reject both the culturally accepted goals and the approved means, opting instead for a hedonistic pursuit of pleasure and an alternative lifestyle. Rather than labeling them as deviant, the essay suggests viewing them as a 'new normal' who seek less elusive lifestyles by retreating from mainstream culture.

Running head: STRAIN THEORY AND AMERICAN NOMAD
Strain Theory and American Nomad
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STRAIN THEORY AND AMERICAN NOMAD
American Nomad by Robert Grant portrays a vivid depiction of wanderlust that exit
beneath the conventional American society (Grant, 2012). Men from different background
and for different reasons engage in living a nomadic life. The lives of these men are always
on excursion breaking the conventional form of lifestyle. The pleasure-seeking individuals
whose only balm is motion are emerging form of deviant for whom being on move provides
them with ultimate satisfaction.
The strain theory of Robert K Merton can be used to describe these forms of nomadic
culture. According to this theory when a there are discrepancies between achievable goal and
its customary methods, anomie or strain results. In American culture, success is symbolised
as accumulation of material wealth. These nomads defy the conventional definition of
success, instead lead a life of uncertainty, and hence deregulation results.
In accordance to strain theory of Robert Merton strain or tension occurs when there is
gap between culturally approved goals and its institutionalised means (Lester, 2016). He
offers five ways to adapt such situation one is by conformity where both the cultural goals
and means are socially approved, then by innovation where the goals are culturally approved
not the means. Ritualism where the means are socially approved but the goals are less
elusive. Retreatism as the name suggests both the means and goals are rejected and instead
newer avenues are explored. Lastly, there is rebellion where both the goals and the means are
discarded and initiatives are taken to replace them.
In American nomads is a representation of the drifters who do not conform to the
mainstream conventional culture. They disregard both culturally accepted goals and its
approved means instead they head to a lust of being a wanderer. Thus they adapt by retreating
themselves to unpredictable avenues of life. I would restrain myself by calling them deviant
but I would like to categorise them as new normal, which has the undertone of hedonistic

STRAIN THEORY AND AMERICAN NOMAD
pleasure. The yogi, punk kids, Wall Street dropouts or the cowboys are aiming for a less
elusive lifestyle and they disregard both the culturally approved goals and means. They look
for the alternative instead of rebellion.

STRAIN THEORY AND AMERICAN NOMAD
Reference
Grant, R. (2012). American Nomads. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=_QKbIb8wcz0
Lester, J. (2016). Strain and Adaptation among Probation Officers: An Application of
Merton's Classic Strain Theory. Retrieved from
https://jewlscholar.mtsu.edu/bitstream/handle/mtsu/5029/Lester_mtsu_0170N_10652.
pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y