Final answer:
Crime, according to Robert Merton's strain theory, results from social structures that create strain by providing cultural goals like the 'American Dream' but not enough legitimate ways to achieve them, leading to potential criminal behavior as an adaptation.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to sociologist Robert Merton's strain theory, crime is not a result of mental attributes but rather from social structures that pressure citizens to commit crimes. Merton's theory proposes that individuals in society are placed under strain when they are presented with cultural goals (such as the 'American Dream') but lack the institutional means to achieve these goals, potentially leading them to deviate, including committing crimes. This theory underscores how the unequal distribution of opportunities and means can foster an environment where crime becomes a response to strain, highlighting the significance of social inequality and pressures in understanding criminal behavior.
A key insight from strain theory is that social structures and the ensuing strains they impose on individuals can lead to deviations, including criminal activities. This deviation can thus be seen as a form of adaptation to cultural expectations when there is a lack of legitimate pathways to achieve these expectations. Research into social disorganization theory and conflict theory further illuminates the connections between broader social factors, such as poverty and structural inequality, and propensity towards deviance and crime.