Answer:
CRIME, DEVIANCE AND SOCIETY
Answer 1
Merton was an American sociologist who expanded the Strain theory of criminal indulgence. According to the theory provided by him pressure is created by socially accepted goals upon the individuals of a society. Individuals are abetted to operate in the system or become a part of a deviant subculture for the purpose of achieving the goals they want (White, Haines & Asquith 2012). This belief provided by Merton became famous as the strain theory. In addition the theory states that when a gap is created between the individuals and the desired goals and their present position because of money related matters the concept of strain originates. When people are subjected to strain there are five ways in which people try to adapt. Firstly they want to pursue their goals via those means which have been approved by the society. They also use innovations which makes them use unconventional or unapproved ways to achieve culturally approved goals. They can indulge in ritualism through which they can achieve more modest goals. Through the process of retreatism they do not want to achieve cultural goals and want to escape it. And through rebellion they do not want the cultural goals and find a way so that they can be replaced. I believe that although the theory does not comprehensively provide a reason as to why people. indulge in criminal activities its findings cannot be rejected. It is fact they socially an individual would be want to be a respected in the society and in the contemporary would this only happens when a person is rich. Thus to gain such resources people innovate ways which may either be legal or criminal. One of the examples of the application of the Innovator aspect of the theory has been stated through ABC News (2017). Here four individuals were found to be deal in drugs through social media in South Australia which is a latest innovation. Out of the four arrested 2 were below the age of 25 and the other two were below the age of 30 and it is clear that not achieving social goals made them innovate criminal activities.