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Strain Theory: Well-Known Sociological Theories

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Strain Theory: Well-Known Sociological Theories
Strain Theory is one of the most well known sociological theories, the first draft of Strain Theory was written the in 1938 by Robert Merton. The focus of his theory refers to the lack of culture's norms about what constitutes success and achieving success through legitimate means. Merton's formulation of anomie became the explanation of the high rates of deviant behavior in the US compared with other countries. He looked into the various types of strain: structural and individual. Structural strain is on the social level. it affects how the individual perceives their needs above others. Individual strain refers to the hardships an individual experiences that may inhibit their needs (TB). How do people respond to this disjunction of goals
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