Merton's Five Modes of Adaptation - Essay Example

Similarly, Merton is of the view that the mode of innovation uses a small, yet substantial change with the perspective of the people while the mode is still in conformity but is in the process of tilting towards innovation. The third mode is ritualism where the deviant behavior rejects the attitude towards goals but believes staunchly within the attitude to means.

            Retreatism is the fourth mode of adaptation which rejects both attitudes towards goals and means while rebellion, being the last of Merton’s five nodes seems to be in a fix regarding the rejection or acceptance of the attitudes towards cultural goals and institutionalized means. Merton’s paradigm of deviant behavior is one theory that dedicatedly believes on the premise of tying up the five modes which significantly outline the differences between the institutionalized means and the cultural goals (Merton 1942). The theory is commonly made use of within the study of criminology where the strain theory is highlighted in essence.