Robert Merton’s Strain Theory, Essay Example

Growing up in a low-income socio-economic environment, along with being the eldest of four children in a single-parent household, Elise did not have many options. She may have felt that it was her duty to help her mother raise her siblings. However, Elise wanted to deviate from her “inevitable” lifestyle. She had goals and passion which were non-conforming of how she lives. According to Emile Durkenheim, deviance clarifies the rules. In Elise’s case, the rules are to stay with her mother and help her raise her siblings. This is probably the unsaid responsibility Elise had in the household. According to functionalism, it would not be normal for her to fight for these goals and dreams. It is not within norm if she were to deviate from society’s expectations of her to put her drams aside and stand up to the responsibility of helping her mother out.

According to the Merton’s Strain Theory, deviance occurs when society does not provide means of achieving one’s cultural goals. In the case of Elise, her lifestyle and status of living act as barriers for her in achieving her goals. She wants to achieve a higher education, yet she does not have the monetary means to do so. Elise and her family do not have the means to provide Elise with a path for her to succeed in reaching these goals in the same way people from other socio-economic statuses can.

Elise can achieve her goals through conformity. This is the socially acceptable means of achieving one’s goals. She can do this through following the rules, and not deviating from what is socially considered as just and right. Elise would do this by maybe waiting for a while before heading to medical school, so that she may earn enough money to cover her living expenses and other finances. Also, while she is doing this, she can still stay with her mother and help her in the household. However, by doing this Elise would require a lot of patience as well as drive and motivation. She cannot be instantly gratified with her work in terms of success and immediate finances. After working, she will still have to go through medical school and try to keep up financially as well as academically, being around those who do not have the same problems. This may cause her to give up her conformity means of achieving her goals.

Elise can also achieve her goals through innovation. this is when she may resort to illegal means of achieving her goals. However, innovation does not only cover illegal means, it is what society considers a bane, it is something socially unacceptable. Elise can turn to crime in terms of robbery; this would be the fast-track in achieving her goals. Or, other ways can lead Elise to her goals in a faster track than working to earn good, clean money, such as: fraud, prostitution, illegal gambling, etc.

According to the conflict theory, it is social structures and norms which are keeping the ones who are not socially and economically well-off from achieving their goals by being the ones who determine what is considered deviant. These rules and definitions hinder those who do not have the means, and favor those who do. This simply means, if you were born rich, society’s on your side and you will stay right, otherwise you’re on your own. This type of constriction society imposes is caused by labeling. According to the labeling theory, an act is only deviant when people label it as to be deviant. For example, if Elise were to consider “illegal” gambling, it would be outside the norms of what is considered legal. However, one can look at it in the light where you are to ask “what’s the difference between that and gambling at the casino?” This is the privileged the “haves” are entitled to. The labeling theory can also define how society may see Elise. Because she has set herself goals and dreams to achieve, people may label her as selfish for not conforming to the future her society has deemed her to live.