By Bharati J Krishnan, Chief Editor
In my previous article I, rather boldly, stated that crime is not a result of the inherent evil of man. So why do people commit crimes? Is it just simple resentment towards the better-off? Or are there other complex machinations at play?
Merton’s Strain Theory
Robert K Merton’s theory of social deviance provides a simple yet relevant reason for the increased incidence of crimes (he developed it during the 1940s in an attempt to explain the rising crime rates in America at the time). The theory states that society has certain collective ‘goals and aspirations’ – in Merton’s case the ‘American Dream’ – that it instills in its members. These goals such as financial success, fame, respect, family etc. are desired by most of society’s members as essential for a wholesome life. However, these goals require certain prerequisites for a smooth realization. These prerequisites are called the ‘means.’
The privileged sections of society have easy access to these means and hence are generally guaranteed a comfortable and fulfilling life; they don’t discover a need for deviance through criminal activity. However, the depraved sections weren’t given the comforts (and necessities) that the privileged were entitled to. As a result, they face a certain ‘strain’ in their pursuit of financial stability, status etc. This was mainly because they are socialized to aspire for the same goals as the middle and upper echelons of society without equal – sometimes even any – access to the resources needed to achieve the aim. As a result they may resort to crime. Hence the amount of crimes depend on whether the society has enough means to go around to everyone.
Not everyone sees crime as the obvious solution though. In fact, according to Merton, there are five kinds of possible adaptations that people can make when faced with strain. The five forms are given in the table below.
Drawbacks of the theory
The labelling of individuals as deviants doesn’t always follow a rigorous rule. Social status can play a huge role in who the society considers a deviant. For instance, petty thieves are considered deviants under most definitions. However, a politician or a high ranking official who engages in corrupt activities is often given much more lenient judgements by society. Also, sometimes individuals who have been provided with the best means that the society has to offer still end up committing crimes. Often when crime is provided as an easier alternative to gain wealth, it seems to be the logical option even though other righteous methods may be available. Individuals also commit crime if they feel like they can conveniently get away with it regardless of the available means. Moreover, his theory only explains economic crime, violent acts are not considered.
If you want to learn more about deviance and sociological and economic explanations for crime, I would recommend the following sites. Have fun exploring!
Arthashastra 