How Important And Relevant Is Mertons Strain Theory?

How grand And Relevant Is Mertons Strain Theory?In this essay I exit analyse the importance and relevance of a structional functionalist view of diversion seen with the lens of soma speculation and a symbolic fundamental interactionalist perspective by the use of gaugeling possible action. Strain Theory attempts to explain why crime is undiswhitethorned amongst the lower classes who argon subjected to the least opportunities for economic handment (O Connor 2007). It focuses on the positions that individuals fulfil in a companionable system, not on the characteristics of the individual. Labeling theory explains why sustained delinquent deportment stems from destructive social interactions and encounters (Siegel Welsh 2008). These theories exit in harmony as the reason theory explains why deviation begins and the latter ca-cas an business traffichip as to why difference continues through the vivificationspan. I will be describing and evaluating these theories to further answer the dubiousness of just how striking argon these twain theories for the understanding deviation?The sociology of deviance is the systematic momentary field of social norm violation that is subject to social sanction harmonize to (Henry 2009 p.1). Deviant deportment is doings that does not follow common perceptions, when sight argon degenerate they do not conform to expectations. It is difficult to give an exact definition of deviance as many major theorists attain cast a vast variety of perspectives on what it really is. some sociologists believe that deviance is the violation of any social rule, whereas other sociologists consider that deviance does not have to be a real demeanour for it to be labelled deviant (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008).Downes escape from (2003) state that deviance is ein truthplace and not only that yet it provides traces bothwhere. Theories of deviance atomic number 18 rarely catapulted into political settings to be acce pted or rejected in their entirety earlier they trickle in from many sources. The influence of ideas is always changing receivable to the instability of political circumstances (Downs sway 2003).The increase in deviance whitethorn be due to the fact that plurality are heterogeneous about the correct value and morals to hold. As a pass on of this ever evolving world in that location are new variations of deviant behaviour occurring on a daily basis, ranging from minor violations of the fair play such(prenominal) as not paying a television licence to major deviance uniform abuse scandals in regard to the Catholic Church. These acts are considered to be deviant as they are acts which the rest of hostelry deems as unachievable (Tierney 2006). Traditional values such as religious views have been burst to pieces be intellect of ongoing scandals in the Catholic Church. Individual pursuits drive multitude piety has no impact on the expected standards of deal in nowa solar dayss materialist control fraternity, which in turn leads to an increase in deviant behaviours.The Functionalist perspective stems from the piece of work of Durkheim who believed that peoples social roles or functions hold society unitedly (Flynn 2009). In stock to this is the Symbolic interaction approach where the emphasis is on the way people construct the meaning of others acts (Becker McCall 1990). Durkheim believed that crime is not only functional but it is necessary, it only suit dysfunctional if the rates are every in addition high or too low (Covington 1999). The functionalist analysis of deviance begins with society as a whole it looks for the source of deviance in the disposition of society quite an than in the psychological nature of the individual. Durkheim believes society is held to annoyher by shared values, and if these values are not constantly reaffirmed through the generations it may signify the collapse of society.One may put preliminary the inclina tion that shared values are not a unsounded part of society today. It proves difficult to reaffirm values through generations when the family when parents are working long hours. Parental influence over children has declined due to this children set about values from available sources such as the television or internet, resulting in the promotion of materialistic values which are in turn the norms today.If the residential district collapsed, and the collective conscience failed the result was a state of anomy (Covington 1999). In essence anomie represents the problems in society ca utilise by social deregulation. Merton genuine an anomie theory based on Durkheims earlier work which referred to a deinstitutionalization of norms that occurs when there is a disjunction between the importance of cultural goals and institutional means (Featherst unrivaled Deflem 2003).Mertons overrefinement theory argues that structures in society may throw out deviance and crime, it is a struct ural functionalist explanation. Functionalist theories offers the basis for policies that are wide-ranging in their scope (Downes Rock 2003), thus far Gouldner (1970) believes that Functionalism thinks of systems as mutually interacting variables instead than in terms of cause and effect, thus integrity may infer that it is impossible to implement policy to s authorize a particular(prenominal) effect if the cause is not highlighted.Theories of deviance are extremely important as Downes Rock (2003) believe that all theories of deviance have implications for policy making. That said however the ease of implementation of polices may prove difficult. For example doing something about anomie would be far much difficult than tackling vandalism by skillful means (Downes Rock p. 317 2003) However, Mertons anomie theory is of great relevance to the state of policy as it infers a explicit cause and effect tilt relating to the disjunction between goals and means (Downes Rock 2003) .The main principle of favorable Strain Theory is that some social structures exert a definite constrict upon certain soulfulnesss in society to engage in non-conforming rather than conforming conduct (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008 p.33). This is not to say that certain social structures leave the individual with no other choice but to turn to crime, rather inadequate regulation leaves the individual with a different perspective on means to financial gain. I agree that this system is a great source of inequality and subsequent deviance in our society today that the less(prenominal)(prenominal) in good order groups are labelled so blackballly and penalize severely. Every crime should be treated in the same manner, no matter of whether they are from an underprivileged area or a high flying business person.An impact of cycle of deficient regulation may too be seen in Beckers Labelling theory. This theory was greatly influenced by the symbolic interaction approach as it is people who determine and give meaning to labels. The rightness system operates on behalf of powerful groups in society hence one has to ask the question what behaviours are criminal?The dickens strands of this theory are a concern to address how a particular behaviour comes to be labelled as deviant and secondly what is the impact of this label. (Becker p.9 1963) states that The deviant is one whom that label has been exercisefully applied deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label. In relation to deviance Labelling theory places the importance on the reaction to behaviour not the behaviour itself (Macionis Plummer 2007). It was this belief that leads Becker to place labels on types of behaviour, but who are the people labelled as deviant in society. To put it simply, labelling theory is touch on with what travel bys to criminals after they have been labelled, also suggesting that actual crime rates may be heightened by criminal sanctions. unlike the Functionalist perspecti ve, Symbolic Interaction is concerned with the process that underline social life and consequently the mechanisms by which meanings are given to those processes. It centres on the creativity efficacy of humans and their ability to share interactions with others (Walklate 2007). In relation to deviance it is concerned with how certain behaviours come to be understood as deviant.Becker argued that behaviours of less powerful groups for example the poor, or disadvantaged are more likely to be criminalized than those who are privileged such as the white and wealthy. This happens because there is an assumption that crime is a social label along with the creation of law which are made by people in positions of power and enforced on people without power (Hopkins murder 2002). The judicial system criminalizes less dominant and less powerful member of society, thus Becker argues that some rules may be cynically designed to keep the less powerful in their place (Hopkins bump off p.137 2 002).Becker (1963) disagreed with the notion that those who pass on the law will be labelled as a criminal. He brought our attention to the fact that in many cases the innocent are accused, along with this only some of those who break the law are punished and brought through the system (Hopkins Burke 2002). Becker used a apprehension developed by Merton called the self fulfilling prophecy which is what labelling theory is most widely known for. When a situation is given a false definition it evokes a new behaviour in the person which as a result makes the false assumption comes through (Hopkins Burke p.142 2002). Becker felt that most criminals were in the first place falsely delineate as a criminal, not only are their actions delineate by society as deviant, the label is then extended to them as a person (Hopkins Burke 2002).Mertons concept of strain refers to pressure the lower economic classes feel when they try to get hold of societys goals of monetary victory (Flynn 2009) . Merton felt that in society, people were focused on achieving high financial success which although exceptionally productive on one hand, on the other was a reign over source of stress and strain for the individual (Cohen 1966). In effect there is a distortion between culturally induced aspirations for economic success and structurally distributed possibilities of acquirement. This is in accordance with labeling theory view where the people who rouse deviant acts are probably under strain from society to achieve monetary success. An example of this would be in relation to higher education, people without the means or cultural knowledge to aspire to respected professions are more likely to engage in deviant behaviour than those with bother to achieving their goals (Flynn 2009).Within labelling theory there are two important concepts, those of primeval deviance and secondary deviance. Merton thinks that the sense of strain that men feel is an ingathering of frustration, despair and injustice (Cohen 1966). Structural and Individual strain are the two main types of strain in society that promote deviance and crime. The former refers to the cycle of deficient regulation in society that has a negative impact on how an individual evaluates their needs, means and opportunities (Flynn 2009). The latter concept is defined by OConnor (2007) as frictions and pains experienced by the individual as they look for ways to meet their needs.Primary deviance in labeling theory involves acts committed by someone without a criminal identity such as an underage drinker. This act provokes little reaction from others around us, indeed it does not have any impact on the persons self concept (Macionis Plummer 2007). Secondary deviance develops through peoples actions towards the person committing the deviant act they may be pushed away and firebrandtized making the crime worse, it is caused by the criminal label (Hopkins Burke 2002). It evolves from primary deviance being lab elled, which is more likely to happen if you are from a less powerful group (Macionis Plummer 2007), thus mirrors Mertons argument about distortion between economic success and possibility of achievement (Flynn 2009).Merton noted that there were five possible reactions or alterations to strain that happen when people are not in a position to lawfully attain internalised social goals (Hopkins Burke p.107 2002). This is a perfect example of how labels are the cause of further deviant behaviour. Durkheim and Merton are one in believe that strain results in deviant behaviour, however Durkheim felt the main causes of strain were changes in society. Adapting through conformity is a self explanatory explanation whereby people both the cultural gaols of society and the means of achieving them (Burke 2002), this ensures the continuality and stability of society (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008), people do not break laws when achieving their means. Retreatism is considered the most uncommon ad aptation by Merton, they reject social goals and the means to attain them (Hopkins Burke 2002), their behaviour is not normal and are considered true aliens (Thio, Calhoun Conyers p.37 2008).Ritualism is similar to conforming behaviour they adhere to rules for their own sake with an emphasis on means of achievement rather than outcome goals (Hopkins Burke 2002). Innovation is a response to the pressure placed on the individual for success. The innovator embarks on novel routes to achieve success due to barriers for them to achieve success by socially sanction means. They have the electric potential to be seen as deviant (Hopkins Burke 2002), as they engage in illegal means to achieve success. The final response is rebellion, whereby people not only reject but also immanent to change the existing social system and its goals (Hopkins Burke 2002). The very watchword rebellion connotes negative meaning thus showing the existence of labeling and stigma as used by Merton. People are stereotyped as being incapable of following normal behaviour and the general people treats them differently, resulting in discrimination in employment, and in many other areas of social life The internalization of labels by offenders may very well spring up a career in criminality because of the negative reactions they receive (Hopkins Burke 2002). However, in contrast as Merton argued Cohen agreed that the root cause of the trustworthy emergence of delinquent behaviour was the economic pursuit of money success (Downes Rock 2003).A lot of labels come about through the stigmatization of a particular behaviour. Stigma is powerful negative label that has the potential to radically change a persons self concept (Macionis Plummer 2007), thus it is an important force in the field of labelling. Slattery (2003) notes that a stigma can either be ascribed or achieved, you can be born with one or earn one. Similar to this is strain theories focus on negative relations between people, focusing on how the individual is not treated as they would like to be treated (Agnew 2002).Labelling theory has several limitations firstly because labelling is very relative it does not take into account some behaviour like murder which is condemned virtually everywhere. Consequently it is most useful to apply to less serious behaviours like youth vandalism. Secondly, labelling may be seen in two ways- it could encourage more criminal behaviour of it could curb it because of people do not like to have a stigma attached to them. (Macionis Plummer 2007). at last another limitation of labelling theory is that it does not tell us what are the root causes of primary deviance so how do these people become deviant in the first place? They cannot be labelled deviant if they have not engaged in that type of behaviour. Both labeling and strain theory emphasize the role society has to play in crime. departure is shaped in its transactions with events and people around it. Labelling theori sts in particular have occupied themselves with the workings of the social reaction to deviance (Downes Rock 2003). Dissimilar to this is Durkheims perspective of deviance as performing functions that are essential to society through, encouraging social change, promoting social unity by responding to deviance, clarify moral boundaries and affirming cultural norms and values (Macionis Plummer 2007).Sumner (1994) argued that deviance is not applicable to sociology today. He believes that the sociology of deviance died in 1975. Similarly Miller, Wright and Dannels (2001) claim to find empirical backup man for it and signify the death of deviance in respect to the world today. However, on the other hand Goode (2002) claims that at a certain stage in its history, the sociology of deviance developed a large number of ideas, concepts, and theories that influenced related fields. These ideas include stigma which influenced disability and transgender studies, anomie in social theory, lab elling in cultural studies and the sociology of the underdog in queer theory. Regardless of the fact that sociology of deviance did not establish these concepts, the field did help project them onto the intellectual map.Goode concludes that The social construction of deviance is once again controversial, relevant, central to our lives, and fundamental to our understanding of todays world (Goode 2002). I must agree with this statement as not a day goes by without some type of crime or deviant behaviour brought to our attention.Cohen (1966) believes that rules in everyday life provide a aim for every human gesture consequently every rule then creates authority for deviance. However, as mentioned previously- are we really all aware of societal norms and values? I believe that society today has failed to provide a blueprint or clear rules for people to live by, hence leading to the odd rates of crime and social deviance. Strain theory and labelling theory do not pay much(prenomina l) attention to psychological factors involved in deviant behaviour, this is a limitation to both I feel. I would question the generalizability of strain theory as it emphasises the focus of materialism for society today. However, much crime is committed by people who simply want to get by in life, to survive. They feel they have no other survival of the fittest but to commit crime to put food on the table. crime may not necessarily be about reaching the top in society, it may just be about getting by. Labeling theory is a lot more individual in its focus it is more concerned with peoples reactions when placed in a designated role by society.