Merton’s Strain Theory postulates that criminal behavior and deviance arise from a disconnection between socially regulated means and culturally prescribed ends. He outlines five potential adjustments that individuals may make to this societal strain, including Conformity, in which individuals embrace both institutionalized methods and cultural goals. Innovation occurs when individuals accept cultural objectives but reject or modify the methods, often leading to illegal activities. Ritualism involves relinquishing the pursuit of cultural goals while still adhering to established procedures, while Retreatism is a rejection of both established methods and cultural objectives, frequently resulting in alternative lifestyles such as drug misuse.
Tommy Shakur Ross’s shift towards gang membership and criminal activities to achieve culturally mandated objectives aligns with Merton’s notion of innovation. According to Merton, individuals are more likely to engage in criminal activities as a response to social or economic stresses, such as discrimination, poverty, or limited opportunities. Tommy’s upbringing in a household led by a Baptist minister, in tension with his aspirations to pursue activities such as football and karate, illustrates the strain between his goals and societal expectations.
Merton’s Strain Theory, while concentrating on sociocultural institutions and expectations, may not delve deeply into specific psychological factors. Tommy’s rejection of authority and his father’s beliefs led him to negative pathways to fulfill his goals, even as he joined a gang, contradicting his initial desire for non-conformity. His search for acceptance and emulation of older gang members further reflects the impact of psychological factors on his decisions, suggesting that incorporating psychological theories, such as personality or psychosocial development theories, could offer a more comprehensive explanation of Tommy’s distinct psychological makeup and its influence on his choices.
