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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A seven page paper which looks at various theories of deviance, criminality and delinquency and considers which are the most appropriate models for assessing deviation from societal norms.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: JL5_JLdevian.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
be seen as reflecting not only Mertons theoretical perspectives but also his own experience and observations of American society. Merton distinguishes between two main elements in social culture: goals and
aspirations, and the means by which these may be achieved. The former comprises all those elements which individuals are expected to want from their lives, such as financial reward, material
possessions and social status. The latter is the means by which such goals can be achieved whilst conforming to socially acceptable norms of behaviour, such as becoming educated, working, obeying
the law and so on. Merton stated that society
would be able to function in a balanced way as long as people were able to achieve their desired goals through these conformist forms of behaviour: where there was a
discrepancy between what was desired and the means of achieving it, however, this would lead to a lack of balance and eventually criminality. Individuals would only continue to conform if
they felt there was an intrinsic reward (the satisfaction of acting according to the rules) coupled with an external one, that of material gain.
However, in some cases the desired goals would not be equally available to all social groups, in others there might be too
great an emphasis on the importance of the goal, and less on the importance of achieving it through socially acceptable means. When such disparities occurred, it was more likely that
individuals within the disadvantaged groups would use illegitimate means to achieve their goals. Merton felt that the strong emphasis on material gain which is prevalent in American society, coupled with
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