Criminal Justice Paper

Criminal Justice Paper

MLA format

3 Pages

two questions must be answered in paper.

1. Discuss the modes of adaptation as presented by Robert K. Merton. What are

people adapting to according to Merton?

2. The most successful strain theory is General Strain Theory (GST) by Robert

Agnew. What are the sources of strain described by Agnew and how do they move

a person toward deviant behavior?

Solution Preview

Introduction

Merton in his book on Social Structure and Anomie gives reasons on why people are deviance and engage in criminal activity. The America society according to Merton is one that has a culture of placing value on material possessions. Everybody wants to live the American dream that states that any person can reach the top if they work hard enough. Success gets mostly viewed as a material possession, and it leads some of the people to start opposing the social values and norms to gain material possession at any cost.

(897 words)