Robert Merton Developed Structural Strain Theory to Explain Why Deviance

question 65

Multiple Choice

Robert Merton developed structural strain theory to explain why deviance happens. What sort of strain does the theory's name refer to?

• A) strain between criminals and law enforcement
• B) strain between deviant and nondeviant citizens
• C) strain between social norms that are codified in laws and those that are not
• D) strain between different value systems within a society
• E) strain between socially approved goals and the means an individual has for realizing them

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Definitions:

Symmetry

In mathematics, a property by which an object is mirroring on one or more axes or points, showing balance and uniformity in its shape or form.

Positively Skewed

Describes a distribution of values where the longer tail is on the right side, often with a concentration of data towards the lower end.

Distribution

Refers to the way in which something is shared or spread out across a range or area, especially the arrangement of a statistical data set.

Negatively Skewed

A distribution of data where the tail on the left side of the distribution is longer or fatter than the right side, indicating that the bulk of the values lie to the right of the mean.