Anyone know anything about Robert Merton's Strain Theory?

CCU NRS · Dec 6, 2004

I found all of these sites I have never studied it but jus reading briefly on these sites I will give you an anology that jumped into my mind.

Consider pubesence. Puberty is the time when we as humans feel we are at odds with the rest of society, we are not yet adult however we are no longer children. We would like to transition smoothly but there is that in us that fights to remain adolescent. We know right from wrong but we don't want to be held accountable for knowing. We understand that we are expected to choose correctly but the choice is such that choosing incorrectly seems to be the more fun or exciting choice. In this way society restrains us from being the animal that we know inside we could be but for a certain few the urges to follow the animal insitnct is too much to go against society is too appealing and overall fulfilling, in some way that we should not really want to or need to be fulfilled. The base human hunted food and tore it iwith his teeth and there are those among us that wish it were still so. Society to these is a hinderence a moral compass which they would rather not adhere to.

I would suggest for future reading Crime and Punishment by Dostoyovsky, or basically any of his writings he was a man persecuted and wrote with such compassion and a true feeling for the wronged that he was anti-social by circumstance.

now to finish I must admit that I had never heard of Merton's strain theory and only read the website I listed (part of the criminial site and the first one listed) but it seemd to jump out to me. Also just for your safety I must admit I have been drinking.

Energizer Bunny · Dec 6, 2004

I was wondering how you did all this while drinking! LOL! Thank you.

CCU NRS · Dec 6, 2004

Did it help at all. re reading again today It stil seems to say what I wanted it to say, but I don't know if that really helps with the strain theory per'se.

I was a sort of rebellious youth and did many of the things that you are not supposed to do. I didn't know it at the time but, It was basically because I felt inadequate, so by doing all of these things and being a bigger than life type villain and carrying on in ways that impressed and frightened (because they would never do them) those around me I found celebrity of a sort.

So that said I can sort of see how the strain theory applies to aberant behavior beig a means to achieve goals that are or seem unattainable through normal methods.

prmenrs, RN · Dec 6, 2004

Well, I'm impressed.

Energizer Bunny · Dec 7, 2004

OIY! I really have to buckle down and study this crap today. Again CCU...thanks!

yeepers · Dec 8, 2004

If only I could draw you the nifty diagram that we used to learn strain theory.

Basically there are two axes: 1. conventional cultural goals (success/wealth/prestige/etc) and 2. the means of achieving those goals (schooling/hard work).

Conformists - achieve conventional goals and use the conventional means of achieving them ex. CEOs

Innovators - achieve conventional goals but use unconventional means (e.g. crime) ex. Mafia

Ritualists - do not achieve the conventional goals but keep slogging away at the conventional means to feel like they are doing something worthwhile. ex. most college profs

Retreatists - do not achieve conventional goals and do not subscribe to conventional means ex. streetpeople

Rebels - reject the cultural definition of success and the conventional means of achieving said success.

Hope that helps a little.

mariedoreen · Dec 8, 2004

Know anything about Robert Merton's Strain Theory?

No, and my apologies, but after 3 weeks of lecture on nursing theory, I don't think I want to...

Margarita anyone?

(kidding... just kidding... don't e-bash me...)

manna, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2004

Margaritas? Do you have strawberry? :chuckle

Sorry, I've never heard of this strain theory either - good luck, though!

CCU NRS · Dec 8, 2004

If only I could draw you the nifty diagram that we used to learn strain theory.
Basically there are two axes: 1. conventional cultural goals (success/wealth/prestige/etc) and 2. the means of achieving those goals (schooling/hard work).
Conformists - achieve conventional goals and use the conventional means of achieving them ex. CEOs
Innovators - achieve conventional goals but use unconventional means (e.g. crime) ex. Mafia
Ritualists - do not achieve the conventional goals but keep slogging away at the conventional means to feel like they are doing something worthwhile. ex. most college profs
Retreatists - do not achieve conventional goals and do not subscribe to conventional means ex. streetpeople
Rebels - reject the cultural definition of success and the conventional means of achieving said success.
Hope that helps a little.

OH yeah go all text book on me LOL :roll :chuckle

cool Now I know even more about a subject that will never really help me LOL

Did I mention I was drinking that night LOL :chuckle