Chapter 3: Theoretical Origins of Criminal Behavior

Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) theorized the sociological and consequently a criminological view, causes of deviancy when he wrote the Strain Theory. This theory posited that deviancy was a normal behavior within a civilized society regardless of country with the caveat that an individual’s goals and ability to meet same determine whether he/she will deviate or conform to accomplish their goals.  Below are the five (5) Strain Theories:

As a college student, you can diverge from acceptable scholastic behavior in class that involves academic honesty and enter the deviant territory of cheating to pass college. But why would one do this? It is because not everyone had the same upbringing, the same childhood, the same religious or cultural values, etc. Taking the example in an earlier paragraph, if someone is potentially going to cheat in college, it would most likely be the wealthy, but emotionally neglected male child. It may seem strange that the wealthier child who has the financial means to succeed would lower himself to cheat. Let’s look at the scenario—wealthy male’s childhood as compared to the poor male child. The wealthy male was neglected emotionally by his parents yet given everything—he never had to earn it (innovation). The lower income male child did receive love and support from his parent and knew that education must be earned (conformity).

Formal Deviance

Formal deviance is an explicit violation of established social norms, laws, and rules within a given society. The actions and/or behaviors of the individual are met with consequences in the form of criminal prosecution, legal sanctions, or removal from society.

Criminal deviant behavior that negatively impact victims and society: sexual assault, battery, homicide, robbery, burglary, theft, shoplifting, rape, child pornography, fraud, embezzling, child abuse, making/selling drugs or narcotics, animal abuse/neglect, driving while intoxicated, assault.

Informal Deviance

Informal deviance is a violation of society’s informal expectations of appropriate behavior.

Interrupting when someone is speaking, lying, burping out loud after drinking/eating, ignoring personal space when near a stranger, flatulence in public, cutting in line, using foul language, gossiping, picking your nose.

References

Khan Academy (2014). Perspectives on deviance [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSucylf4KhY

Roberston, S. (n.d.). Foundations in sociology. Retrieved on September 20, 2023 from https://openpress.usask.ca/soc112/chapter/non-conformity-and-social-control-criminal-and-social-justice/