Exam 8: Global Stratification

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According to the strain theory, people feel strain when they are exposed to cultural goals that they are unable to obtain because they do not have access to culturally approved means of achieving them. The goals may be material possessions and money; the approved means may include an education and jobs. When denied legitimate access to these goals, some people seek access through deviant means. Merton identified five ways in which people adapt to cultural goals and approved ways of achieving them: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. According to Merton, conformity occurs when people accept culturally approved goals and pursue them through approved means. Merton stated that innovation occurs when people accept society's goals but adopt disapproved means of achieving them. An example is obtaining money by theft. Ritualism occurs when people give up on societal goals but still adhere to the socially approved means of achieving them. For example, people who cannot obtain expensive material possessions or wealth may nevertheless seek to maintain the respect of others by being a "hard worker" or a "good citizen." Retreatism occurs when people abandon both the approved goals and the approved means of achieving them. Examples include people such as skid-row alcoholics and drug addicts. Rebellion occurs when people challenge both the approved goals and means and instead advocate an alternative set of goals or means. Civil disobedience in support of a social cause is an example.