Merton's strain theory — five modes of adaptation
Merton identified five ways people adapt to strain between cultural goals (wealth, success) and institutional means (legitimate opportunities): conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
Real World
Bernie Madoff accepted the cultural goal of wealth but used fraud (an illegitimate means) to achieve it — a textbook example of Merton's 'innovation' mode of adaptation at the highest level of society.
Exam Focus
Learn all five adaptations with a one-word trigger; exam questions often ask you to 'apply' a specific mode, so misidentifying it loses all marks.
How well did you know this?