Final answer:
Strain theory, developed by Robert Merton, posits that societal pressure to achieve accepted goals can lead to deviance when legitimate means are unattainable, manifesting in various adaptations such as conformity and innovation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory in question is known as strain theory, which was developed by sociologist Robert Merton. Merton built upon Émile Durkheim's assertion that deviance is an essential part of society, suggesting that the pressure individuals feel to achieve socially accepted goals can lead to deviance when access to legitimate means is blocked. Strain theory provides five modes of adaptation to this strain: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
Conformity involves pursuing societal goals through socially accepted means, while innovation occurs when individuals use deviant methods to achieve their aims, such as when an entrepreneur embezzles to fund a start-up. This theory recognizes that not everyone has equal opportunities to achieve the 'American Dream,' and that societal pressures can lead to deviant behavior.
Deviance is context-dependent and varies across societies and cultures. Sociologists use different theoretical paradigms, including functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory, to understand the phenomena of deviance and crime. In a functionalist perspective, deviance plays a crucial role in enforcing social norms and fostering necessary change.