Structural Strain Theory

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are very few or no other articles that link to this one.
Please help introduce links in articles on related topics. After links have been created, remove this message.
This article has been tagged since November 2006.

The Structural Strain Theory is a term that covers numerous, more specific sociological hypotheses about mental illness etiology. This theory identifies the origins of disorder and distress in the broader organization of society, where certain social groups are disadvantaged when compared to others. Merton's anomie theory (1938) of deviance attempts to explain not only mental illness, but deviant behavior such as criminal, addictive, and rebellious behaviors. Merton's main argument is that American society emphasizes and stresses the importance of wealth and success. Merton's theory simply states that American's are taught to strive for economic success above all other goals. This theory also states that American society views the educational system as the main vehicle to achieving economic success. However, large segments of society, such as the poor and many minority groups, see that their means to success are blocked due to inadequate school systems, poorly trained faculty, financial assistance, and the experience of race and class discrimination not only in schools, but in the work force as well.

Merton's use of the term "anomie" is used to describe the gap between cultural goals (desires for financial success) and the structural means to those goals (access to adequate education and employment). {"A Handbook for the Study of Mental Health; Allen V. Horwitz & Teresa L. Scheid} Merton argues that people who experience anomie adapt to that dilemma in one of several ways: changing their goals, pursuing alternate means, or both. He described five adaptive responses shown below:

Response Adherence to cultural goal of Seek legitimate means

               economic success                   success

Conformity + + Ritualism - + Innovation + - Retreatism - - Rebellion +/- +/-

Notes: + = acceptance; - = rejection; +/- = rejection and substitution of new goals and means.

"Conformists" are people who continue to hold on to culturally shared goals and pursue legitimate means to those goals, despite the awareness that these attempts are likely to be unrewarding. "Ritualists" are people who reduce their ambitions, yet continue to act in socially acceptable ways. "Innovators" are those who continue to desire wealth and success, yet resort to abnormal, illegitimate means to reach their goals. "Retreatists" are people who give up the goal of success and refuse to follow legitimate paths. Lastly, "Rebels" are those who reject both goals and socially acceptable means of achieving these goals, and in response create their own goals and means of achieving their goals. Nonetheless, it is important to note that mental illness is an adaptive response to structural strain; it is not due to one's own insufficiencies, but to the hierarchical organization of society.