CSS Solved Criminology Past Paper CSS 2025 | R.K. Merton’s Strain Theory and Its Effects
Question Breakdown
In this question, the examiner demanded a detailed discussion on Strain Theory by Robert K. Merton. Basically, the question has three main parts that require explanation, comprising: Strain Theory of Deviance by Robert K. Merton, its impact on youth, as well as remedies to overcome those impacts. To make the answer outstanding, one can add scholarly definitions, examples, mainly from Pakistan, and various theories linked with it. Despite this, one ought to explain how strain theory affects youth across the world, and how one can deal with those effects. Moreover, the quality of the answer can be accentuated by adding diagrams, relevant quotations and flow charts.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Understanding the Strain Theory by R. K. Merton
3-Effects of Strain Theory on Youth
- ✓Increase in Crime Rate
- ✓Mental Health Problems
- ✓Radicalization and Terrorism
- ✓Juvenile Delinquency
- ✓Substance Abuse
4-Remedies to Overcome the Effects of Strain on Youth
- ✓Vocational Training
- ✓Community Policing
- ✓Strengthening Law and Order
- ✓De-radicalization of Youth
- ✓Poverty Alleviation
5-Critical Analysis
6-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
In the Strain Theory, Robert K. Merton states that societal pressure to achieve specific culturally legitimized goals leads to criminal activities. Discrimination and economic deprivation contribute to stress and strain among people, particularly youth, which forces them to achieve their goals through illegitimate means. The most vulnerable segment of developing societies such as Pakistan, is youth due to the economic disparities, political instability, unemployment, as well as social inequalities. Due to this strain, youth engages in criminal activities, adopts a radical mindset, faces mental health issues and indulges in substance abuse. For fostering peace and minimizing effects of strain on youth, education, vocational training, employment opportunities, economic stability, law enforcement, community policing, and de-radicalization is paramount. Robert K. Merton, in his work titled “On Theoretical Sociology” of 1967, states,
“When legitimate opportunities are blocked, individuals innovate new ways to achieve success, often leading to criminal behavior.”
Understanding the Strain Theory by R.K. Merton
Strain Theory is a sociological and criminological viewpoint which proposes that socio-economic disparities such as lack of fundamental resources like sufficient income and quality education create a stress among individuals which leads to crime. Robert K. Merton is a renowned sociologist who had put forth this theory in 1938, according to which societal structures define certain objectives and means to attain those objectives that pressurize the populace. Thus, causing frustration, aggression and violence, leading to criminal activities. The theory gained prominence in the 1950s when American criminologist like Albert Cohen and sociologists including Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin also put forth their ideas. The focus of Strain Theory was the underprivileged groups as they were incapable of achieving their goals that led to their indulgence in criminal behavior.
| Types of People | Accept Culturally Recognized Goals | Accept Institutionalized Means |
| Conformists | ✓ | ✓ |
| Innovatives | ✓ | × |
| Ritualists | × | ✓ |
| Retreatists | × | × |
| Rebellions | ✓/× | ✓/× |
Effects of Strain Theory on Youth
Several socio-economic issues such as high rates of poverty, unemployment, economic inequality and limited access to high-quality education, as well as healthcare services, in developing countries like Pakistan, cause stress, thus leading to deviant behavior and social unrest.
Figure 1: Effects of Strain Theory on Youth
- Increase in Crime Rate
Due to economic disparities and increased unemployment, youth suffers from financial stress and engages in criminal activities such as mobile snatching and robbery, etc. Rational Choice Theory delineates that man is a rational being and commits crime after analyzing the costs and benefits. According to Dawn, in 2023, more than one lakh street crimes were reported in Karachi. Moreover, the same year, Cybercrime Wing of Federal Investigative Agency reported a 30% increase in cybercrime complaints in Pakistan.
- Mental Health Problems
Economic stress and social pressure lead to mental health issues among youth such as anxiety and depression. For example, children and adults of low income households in Great Britain are more vulnerable to mental health issues as compared to those living in high income households as indicated by the Mental Health Foundation.
- Radicalization and Terrorism
According to the Rebellion Mode of Strain Theory, youth replaces the legitimized goals with alternative ideologies and extremist notions. As a result, the unemployed and financially deprived individuals are recruited by militant groups, particularly in the tribal areas of Pakistan, as indicated by a report of the Federal Investigative Agency in 2023.
- Juvenile Delinquency
Due to lack of proper attention from parents, psychological issues and economic deprivations, juveniles engage in criminal behavior such as theft, use of narcotics and violent crimes. Differential Association Theory puts forth that children learn criminal behavior from their environment (family and peer groups). Since 1995 till now, the world has experienced an increase in juvenile crimes from 30% to 60%.
- Substance Abuse
Due to socio-economic disparities, youth is pushed towards substance abuse and criminal activities. According to the Social Disorganization Theory, weak societal structures and increased poverty lead to an increase in criminal behavior and use of narcotics. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported in 2023 that Pakistan had more than seven million drug addicts and most of them were under the age of 30 years.
Remedies to Overcome the Effects of Strain on Youth
Figure 2: Remedies to Overcome the Effects of Strain on Youth
- Vocational Training
In order to minimize the stress due to deprivation of fundamental needs and economic instability, training the youth is paramount. Through the Kamyab Jawan Program, five lakh people were provided with vocational training in Pakistan in order to minimize crimes that are caused due to unemployment.
- Community Policing
In order to align the goals set by the society with aspirations of the public, engaging them in policing, decision-making as well as negotiations is paramount. Community-based initiatives not only strengthen camaraderie but also mitigate stress among people. For instance, community policing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa led to a 12% decrease in criminal activities by youth. Moreover, through community policing, mutual confidence between law enforcement agencies and the public is enhanced, which leads to increased reporting of crimes and surveillance by the public as well.
- Strengthening Law and Order
Law enforcement holds excellent significance in minimizing the criminal behavior among youth because it ensures a stable environment for people, decreasing strain. For instance, during the Cold War era, youth, particularly teenagers, were engaged in criminal activities in Germany. However, the comprehensive youth programs introduced by the country that focus on providing education and strengthening social cohesion, helped in decreasing crime rates in the contemporary era.
- De-radicalization of Youth
Efforts ought to be made in order to empower youth by improving the education and employment opportunities so that youth susceptibility to deviant behavior can be reduced. In addition, de-radicalization programs in order to transform negative notions and destructive behaviors of youth into positive mindsets and constructive behaviors are crucial. For example, the Sabaoon Project in Swat by the Pakistan Army helped in transforming hundreds of radicalized youngsters.
- Poverty Alleviation
Sustainable development and poverty alleviation can help people to achieve their objectives through legitimate means. Among the four elements of disorganization presented by Sampson, poverty is a substantial one that leads to crimes. For example, rates of juvenile delinquency are relatively higher in the impoverished areas of Bangladesh.
Critical Analysis
Strain Theory of Deviance by Robert K. Merton explains how culturally defined goals and institutionalized means to achieve those objectives can cause stress among individuals, thus, leading to crimes. Strain caused due to goals and means defined by the society not only leads to crime but also causes mental health problems, the prevalence of use of narcotics and an increased crime rate. Socio-economic disparities in developing countries such as Pakistan lead to stress among natives because people are living below the poverty line and are unemployed. According to the Relative Deprivation Theory by Robert Tedd Gurr, when an unprivileged group or an individual perceives injustice and feels deprived as compared to a relatively privileged group, then it can cause conflict or violence. Therefore, in order to reduce strain and its effects among youth, structural reforms should be introduced and equitable opportunities ought to be provided. Nonetheless, skill development and de-radicalization of youth along with poverty alleviation and strengthening law and order are crucial for minimizing stress among individuals.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Strain Theory proposed by Robert K. Merton provides a criminological and sociological framework for understanding the root causes of deviance in various societies. The theory delineates that there are certain goals and means to achieve those goals determined by the society, however, due to socio-economic disparities, people are not able to reach those goals through legitimate means. As a result, youth is adversely impacted due to the stress caused by socio-economic inequalities. Despite the increase in crime rates, radicalization and mental health problems are also experienced by youth due to this stress. In order to minimize this stress, providing education and vocational training to youth is essential, along with de-radicalization of their preconceived extremist notions. In addition, tackling the issues like economic disparities, social inequality, corruption, insufficient resources, as well as opportunities is paramount. These issues can be dealt with through implementation of policies that are inclusive and generate equitable opportunities and integrate communities in the process of development. In his speech on Crime Prevention in 2014, Barack Obama said,
“Education and employment are the most effective weapons against crime. When young people see a future, they invest in it rather than destroy it.”
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