Final answer:
Melody, who steals from her employer to achieve financial stability, would be classified by Robert Merton as an 'Innovator', which refers to someone who adopts societal goals but uses illegal means to reach them, due to a lack of legitimate opportunities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sociologist Robert Merton developed the strain theory to explain the ways in which society encourages conformity or deviance in the pursuit of socially acceptable goals. In the scenario presented where Melody steals from her employer to achieve her financial dreams, Merton would classify her as a Innovator. Innovators accept societal goals but use illegitimate or illegal means to achieve them. This is often due to a lack of access to legitimate avenues towards these goals, such as educational or financial opportunities.
Another concept related to deviance and societal norms was introduced by Thomas, who discussed how self-fulfilling prophecies can shape reality. This complements Merton's ideas by showing how individuals' beliefs and actions can reinforce societal behaviors and outcomes, such as the panic in a bank run scenario.
Lastly, the desire for financial success and the link to happiness are emphasized in the modern culture, where college education and other means of achieving success are often sought after as a path to happiness, as noted by Psychologist David Myers.