Key Study: Merton Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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Who wrote the strain theory used in this key study?

Robert K. Merton.

Crime can happen when people cannot reach society’s goals in legal ways.

A breakdown of rules, so people are unsure how to behave.

Society’s goals (like wealth) and the approved ways to get them (like school and work).

The belief that anyone can get rich and succeed if they work hard.

Accepting society’s goals and using legal, approved ways to reach them.

Accepting the goals but using unapproved or illegal ways, such as theft or fraud.

Giving up on big goals but still following rules and routines, like doing a job by the book.

Rejecting both the goals and the means, for example dropping out through heavy drug or alcohol use.

Rejecting society’s goals and means and replacing them with new ones, like wanting a new system.

People with fewer chances, such as lower-income groups, because legal routes to success are blocked.

Money-making crimes, such as theft, fraud, and burglary.