Sociology

Every individual in a society has a set of goals and the ways to achieve them. Not every person realizes these goals and achieves them that way.  This same fact is explained in Merton’s social strain theory. He has said in his theory that due to the gap between the cultural goals and how a person attains it causes social strain in an individual. Due to this a person is deviated from norm behavior. (Margret L. Andersen, Howard F. Taylor, 2009)

            Upon observing a group of individuals that are deemed deviant or criminal, like a thief. A thief has a specific behavior. They usually start with a pattern of stealing small things and work his/her way up to more expensive items. They usually come from an overindulged and undisciplined home background.  Some steal for fun and some steal for profit. They always acts innocent when accused-and may hold to this stance regardless of pressure exerted or facts presented.  Some become totally offensive in word and action when accused. Some thieves also influence other students to steal. Merton has given five categories of individuals according to which a thief belongs to innovation. The other four are conformity, ritualism, rebellion and retreatist.  

            Thief belongs to innovation because individuals of this category do believe in cultural goals of society, but are denied or they themselves reject the normative methods of attaining those goals. They are accepting the conventional goals, but are not at all willing to attain it by aproper method. Obviously criminals will lie in this category because they are innovating ways to accomplish their goals without doing any hard work. A criminal cannot fit in conformity as in this individuals believe in the goals and they also believe in the conventional means of working hard. Example: a successful investor

            While individuals of category ritualism does not believe in the goals but do believe in the methods of attaining these goals. They are happy making to meet ends staying in their position. They always do hard work. Example: an economic leader.

            Individuals lying under the category of retreatist believe neither in the goals nor in the ways of achieving them. Example: a nihilist.

            The most complex and last category , rebellion include those individuals which doses not believe in the goals as well as the ways of attaining them but substitute new goals and acceptable means of achieving those goals. Example: a political leader. This has been all explained in the Merton’s social strain theory (Craig Hemmens, Stephen G. Tibbetts, 2010)

            Concluding from the above discussion it has been observed that mostly criminals belong to innovation category. All the individuals set their goals and they set their ways that how they will attain those goals. Merton has described all individuals best in his five categories. Deviance from a normal behavior results when a person is not able to achieve goals through conventional methods. (David B. Brinkerhoff, Lynn K. White, Suzanne T. Ortega, 2008)

References

Margaret L. Andersen, Howard F. Taylor (2009), Sociology: The essentials, Cengage learning

Craig Hemmens, Stephen G. Tibbetts (2010), Criminological Theory: A Text/Reader, Sage

David B. Brinkerhoff, Lynn K. White, Suzanne T. Ortega (2008), Essentials of sociology, Cengage Learning