Robert k merton developed the first strain theory in 1938 it have. The theory states that social structures may pressure citizens to commit crimes. K merton, theories of the middle range, clarifying functional analysis, dysfunctions, manifest and latent functions, functional alternatives, merton s theory of. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology. Social theory and social structure was a landmark publication in sociology by robert k. This paper assesses the theoretical and policy significance of one of robert merton s most influential contributions to modern sociology, the anomie or strain theory of deviant behavior. Robert k merton book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. Similarly, in archaeology, it has become a way of seeking accurate means for identifying and measuring specified properties of past cultural systems. Strain may be structural, which refers to the processes at the societal level that filter down and affect how the individual perceives his or her needs. World scientific reference on contingent claims analysis in corporate finance. It provided the intellectual foundation for merton s attempt to develop a macrolevel explanation of rates of norm violating behaviour in american society. Download robert k merton in pdf and epub formats for free. Over the period of three quarters of a century, robert k. The emphasis is on trying to understand how the archaeological record.
In 1994 he was awarded the national medal of science for his contributions to the field and for having founded the sociology of science. On sociological theories of the middle range 1949 robert k. Robert merton in his theoretical analysis of social structure and anomie takes inspiration from durkheims work. The result is a deviant behaviour characterized by rebellion, retreat, ritualism, innovation, andor conformity. Merton social theory and social structure see other formats. Because its referents are so diverse including everything from minor working hypotheses, through comprehensive but vague and unordered speculations. Merton and other functionalists viewed society as an organism with various parts, and each part has a function to perform. This was just one of his theories which gained prominence amongst social science circles and beyond. Robert mertons contributions to the sociology of deviance. Anomiestrain theory chapter 4 anomiestrain theory sage. While merton s theory was based on 20 th century america, it is transferable to any contemporary, western, developed capitalist society.
Strain theory for merton deviance is the result of a strain between the goals that a culture encourages and how the structure of society allows them to achieve these things legitimately merton argued that in the usa the pursuit of the american dream. Merton s anomie theory is that most people strive to achieve culturally recognized goals. Systematics of sociological theory 1 the artless merger of history and systematics 1. Merton, is an approach to sociological theorizing aimed at integrating theory and empirical research. Merton, this book would not have been possible literally. In the late 1930s, he went on to create his strain theory. Merton merton s theory of social structure and anomie first presented in 1938, merton s anomie theory of deviant behavior played a major part in the development of the field of deviance and continues to influence the work of. Merton like so many words that are bandied about, the word theory threatens to become meaningless. Robert merton presented two, not always clearly differentiated theories in his seminal explorations on the social. Merton harvard university t here persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to attribute the malfunctioning of social structure primarily to those of mans imperious biological drives which. Another theory attributed to merton is the selffulfilling prophecy. Middle range theory essay free essays, term papers.
Anomie and strain theories are among the first truly sociological explanations of the causes of deviant behavior. He changed his name at the age of 14 to robert merton. Menurut teori ini, masyarakat merupakan suatu sistem sosial yang terdiri atas elemenelemen atau bagianbagian yang saling berkaitan dan saling masyarakat. Given our cultural stigmatization of manual labor,101 and its correlate, the prestige of. A state of anomie develops when access to these goals is blocked to entire groups of people or individuals. Robert mertons contribution to sociology is one of great importance in regards to the functional perspective of society.
Merton, columbia university, new york, was not generally known to our readers. Merton social theory and social structure enlarged edition free press 1968. Here persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to. Read about social thinkers and thinkers of sociology. Merton s theory of anomie explains how people may involve in criminal activities by illegitimate opportunities for achieving desired goals in a. Merton strain theory individual level gap between economic aspirations which all are encouraged to pursue and structural reality limited opportunity powerpoint ppt presentation free to view. He is considered a founding father of modern sociology and a major contributor to criminology. Robert king merton 19102003 is a selfstyled durkheimian, writing very much in the functional tradition. Merton 19102003 was one of the most influential sociologists of the twentieth century, producing clear theories and innovative research that continue to shape multiple disciplines. Pdf robert k mertons theory of anomie and crime in.
He spent most of his career teaching at columbia university, where he attained the rank of university professor. On the history and systematics of sociological theory on sociological theories of the middle range manifest and latent functions the bearing of sociological theory on empirical research the bearing of empirical research on sociological theory pt. What we need, therefore, is a theory that builds on the strengths weve just noted and finds ways of eliminating or reducing the weaknesses which leads us to the work of robert agnew 1992. First and foremost, he contributed to sociological theory and is the founder of the sociology of science. Merton s reach can be felt in the study of social structure, social psychology, deviance, professions, organizations, culture, and science. Strain theory has become popular with contemporary sociologists. It has been translated into close to 20 languages and is one of the most frequently cited texts in social sciences. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Robert merton s 1957 theories of anomie is the most widely examined theory of criminality. Merton, american sociologist whose diverse interests included the sociology of science and the professions, sociological theory, and mass communication. The ideas underlying strain theory were first advanced in the 1930s by american sociologist robert k.
The enduring theoretical significance of strain theory lies in its sociological completeness. Only at this end point do the islands merge into a continental land mass. Merton harvard university t here persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to attribute the malfunctioning of social structure primarily to those of mans imperious biological drives which are not adequately restrained by social control. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Social strain theory was developed by famed american sociologist robert k. Middlerange theory starts with an empirical phenomenon as opposed to a broad abstract entity like the social system. Merton 19102003 merton on structural functionalism. On sociological theories of the middle range 1949 csun. It is the relationship of the individual with the group. Merton in the late 1940s as a way of connecting high. Merton demonstrated an impressive productivity as a sociologist of different specialties. Merton, social theory and social structure newyork. Strain theory, in sociology, proposal that pressure derived from social factors, such as lack of income or lack of quality education, drives individuals to commit crime.
History and systematics of sociological theory 1 the artless merger of history and. Middlerange theory is principally used in sociology to guide em pirical inquiry. Merton was born in philadelphia, america in july 1910. It states that prediction comes true because people believe in it and, in fact, make it happen. Merton, one of the towering figures on whose shoulders. While durkheims concept of anomie was rather vague, merton explains the idea in quite a detailed way. Merton s inter vention d efinitely extended the life of functionalism, with the introduction of some valid new concepts. Merton teori fungsionalisme struktural menekakan pada keteraturan order dan mengabaikan konflik dan perubahanperubahan dalam masyarakat. Merton social theory and social structure by robert k. Strain theory was first developed by robert merton in the 1940s to explain the rising crime rates experienced in the usa at that time. Schkolnick in philadelphia into a working class eastern european jewish immigrant family. Merton is regarded as the founder of the institutionalistic approach of sociology of science, in which he emphasizes the autonomy of academic research. Sociologists call any group that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves and their own behaviour a reference group. Pdf over the period of three quarters of a century, robert k.
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