Merton’s strain theory best explains financial crimes and white-collar crimes. The theory affirms that crime is an outcome of periods and conditions where pressure provokes an individual to maximize material gain, which is unattainable as the means of maximizing the gain are unavailable. In other words, it explains the possible reasons for lower-class crimes. According to Merton, deviance occurs when there is an inequality between the goals and the means essential to achieve the goals. He identifies four ways of adaptations, such as rebellion, ritualism, innovation and retreatism . Most of the lower-class individuals believe that they can achieve Continue reading...
