CLJ 120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ritualism In The Church Of England, Anomie, Individualism
15 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
Strain theories are among the oldest theories in criminology. Theory was originally formed by merton in the 1930"s and has been consistently reformulated. While the theory has waxed and wanted through the years, it remains one of the most consistently tested theories in the literature today. Believe that people would normally not commit crime. If not for unfortunate external circumstances that push them toward criminal behavior. People generally law abiding, however sometimes obstacles inhibit legally accomplishing their goals. Merton was the 1st to closely look at american culture, or the american dream. The underlying belief system of placing monetary/ financial success above the proper ways to achieve success causes problems. Aspects of culture relevant to crime: goals- what we are socialized to want and means- Rules we are expected to follow while striving to achieve these goals. Merton examined what the impediments of the american dream might be:
