Robert K. Merton Strain Theory Analysis

In this next section I will be talking about how biker gangs apply to Robert K. Merton’s strain theory. Strain theory assumes that criminal behavior, social class, and deviant behavior are closely related, but are different based on the nature of the relationship. It was a way to explain human conduct and to explain the abnormality of the criminal. Human conduct is not within the individual but rather in the social institutions, social groups and social organization. People respond to different situation because we grow up in different environment and culture. Socialization plays a huge role in how we act and think. In essence, social influences from friends, family, peers, neighbors, determine our behavior. This was based and developed through
Why are the situations so different? And does the 10-year-old girl living in poverty result in her joining a biker gang? Merton’s theory outlines five ways in which people can adapt to society’s goals through different means. The options are conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. These options or as Merton calls them; modes of adaption changes based on the individuals own response to the goals and means. Conformity is the most common option in society. The individual accepts both the common goal and the means to obtain the goal. The person works, goes to school, and follows the laws of
Innovation, are those individuals who choose to accept society’s goals but create their own ways of achieving them, such as robbery, burglary, or any other crimes. Innovation is the key mode of adaption for many biker gangs. Many biker gangs and gangs often committed these heinous crimes in order to show dominance and to gain economic needs. The next three modes of adaption are ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Ritualism are people who abandon the goals, but still play by the rules of society. They work, hold middle-class jobs and follow rules and law. They work for paychecks, and do the same thing every day, without really striving for a promotion or success. Retreatism is the adaption of people who give up both goals and means. These people are usually the ones who retreat into the world of drugs and alcoholism. They feel the pressure of society on them and without the effort to becoming innovators, they retreat from society. The last mode of adaption is rebellion; when the member rejects both the cultural goals and institutionalized means. However, they find their own way of doing things, such as protesting or establishing their own social structure. These modes of adaption present us a new way of looking at biker gangs and other