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Merton Strain Theory

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Merton Strain Theory
Crime has been a part of society since the very beginning. There cannot be rules without people who will break them. The question is, why do people commit crimes? Why do they steal, rape, and murder? There are many suggestions as to why people commit crimes, especially in impoverished areas. One of the more common and sensible explanations for this phenomenon is that of Merton’s Strain Theory.
Merton’s strain theory is fairly straightforward in its application. It explores the idea that many people who commit crimes in impoverished areas do not do so out of maliciousness or simply because they can. Rather, they commit these crimes because they feel they have no viable legal options. As a society, we impose goals upon our citizens, such as the
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