Social and Environmental theories of Crime Causation

The social and environmental definition of crime focuses on individuals societies and living spaces and how it relates to crime and victimisation. A theory on this is Robert Merton's social strain theory. This theory believes that there are culturally defined goals within society, however the means to achieve these are institutionalised. For example, in America there is the American Dream which everyone in society strives for. However, society puts too much pressure on individuals in reaching these goals that to reach them some people may take part in illegal and criminal activity so that they can achieve these societal goals (Boundless, 2016). 

Merton believed that there was five different types of deviant behaviour: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion. Conformity is the acceptance of these cultural goals and the means by which to achieve them. Innovation is the acceptance of cultural goals but rejection of the means to achieve them. For example, drug dealers earn money and make a living off the money thay they have made but the way in which they have earned this money is illegal and deviant. Ritualism is when the rejection of cultural goals but the acceptance of the means to achieve them. Retreatism is when cultural goals and the means to achieve them are both rejected. Furthermore, rebellion is the complete rejection of both goals and means and an attempt in trying to create new cultural goals and means within society. Therefore, this theory shows that individuals can turn to committing deviant behaviour in the hope of reaching society's cultural goals. Social goals and values can produce deviant behaviour in two ways. For example, an individual can reject the social goals and is therefore seen as deviant or they can accept the social values but turn to deviant behaviour in order to obtain the goals (Boundless, 2016).  

Merton's theory is at strength as it highlights how society can produce deviant behaviour through cultural goals. It also shows the different type of deviant behaviour that individuals in society can partake in. However, Merton's theory does not give an explanation for crimes such as murder or rape, rather it focuses on money related crimes.  

Reference:  

Boundless. (2016). Strain Theory: How Social Values Produce Deviance. [online] Available at: https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/deviance-social-control-and-crime-7/the-functionalist-perspective-on-deviance-62/strain-theory-how-social-values-produce-deviance-375-6183/ [Accessed 1 May 2017].