Amanda L. Donoho
University of Northern Colorado
Contents
Abstract 3
Introduction 4
Subtheories 5
Big Three Theories 6
Discussion Question 3 7
Discussion Question 4 8
Conclusion 8
References 9
Abstract
Robert Merton’s Strain Theory outlines five reactions to cultural goals. These include conformists, innovators, ritualists, retreatists, and rebels. They are all seen in William Chambliss’ writing Saints and Roughnecks and in the occurrence of plagiarism.
Keywords: Merton’s Strain Theory, Plagiarism
Saints and Roughnecks Make Up Assignment
The first significant match was linked to this website: http://phobos.ramapo.edu/~jweiss/laws131/unit1/saints.htm. The match percent ranges …show more content…
According to Merton, innovators are those who accept society’s goals but do not go about the traditional way of achieving these goals (Deviance: Structural Functional Theory). In Chambliss’ research this applies to the Roughnecks. Two of the Roughnecks did go to college on scholarship and went on to coach sports. While their high school careers were troubled, they were able to overcome challenges using sports to succeed. The typical student does not get into college on a sports scholarship.
Regarding plagiarism, conformity is key when a student is trying to succeed. The student is researching and studying countless other academic resources and it gets ingrained into his or her mind as to what is expected (Buranen). As a result, they may use exact, or paraphrased, sentences from their research to conform to what they see as the standard.
Ritualists. A ritualists rejects cultural goals but still accepts the institutionalized means of achieving them (Deviance: Structural Functional Theory). This directly applies to Chambliss’ Saints. All but one of the Saints went to college (Chambliss).They followed the ritual of doing well in high school and then going to college. They were able to generate a successful life and lifestyle as a result. This is evidence that the ritual of these sequence of actions is …show more content…
These traits all fall under Robert Merton’s Strain Theory. In both situations, the party committing the offense is unconsciously part-taking in one of Merton’s cultural goals. Depending on the circumstances the offender may or may not be conscious of their act(s).
References
Buranen, L. (1999). From Kant to Foucault. In Perspectives on plagiarism and intellectual property in a postmodern world (p. 127). Albany, New York: State University of New York Press.
Chambliss, W., & Eglitis, D. (2014). Chapter 6: Deviance and Social Control. In Discover sociology (p. 138). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Deviance: Structural Functional Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.sparknotes.com/sociology/deviance/section3.rhtml
Inderbitzin, M., & Bates, K. (2013). Chapter 4: Anomie/Strain Theory. In Deviance and social control: A sociological perspective (pp. 148-149). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE.
Moffitt, K. (n.d.). Merton's Strain Theory. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/mertons-strain-theory-definition-examples-quiz.html
Plagiarism Tutorial. (n.d.). Retrieved March 9, 2015, from