Merton, R. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3 (5), 672-682.

Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3 (5), 672-682.

Merton’s seminal essay of sociology outlines social strain theory as an intellectual framework that can explicate the cause of crime in America. Merton posits when social structures create aspirational references for the population at large and simultaneously restrict those aspirations for individuals within that population, criminal activity occurs on a considerable scale. When an individual desires more than he/she can possibly achieve he/she must cope by adapting into one of five modes of reaction: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Innovation, the mode most pertinent adaptation to criminal activity and my essay concerning Grand Theft Auto (GTA), occurs when an individual accepts the cultural aspirations but rejects the conventional means for their obtainment. Instead of working for the American dream, innovators turn to crime as a means of acquiring the material goods they desire but are unable to obtain due to a strained existence.

Merton's strain theory will work wonderfully in my analysis of GTA because the game focuses on Niko Bellic’s journey to acquire the American dream. Merton writing in the late 30’s used the concept of the American dream to construct his argument and claims when people cannot obtain the dream they may turn to crime instead. Certainly, the hip-hop culture Barrett, and Murray argue Rockstar appropriated to construct CJ’s universe in San Andreas express feelings of strain and the desire for innovation; 50 Cent’s album title, Get Rich or Die Trying, pretty much says as much. Albeit Merton’s theory is over seventy years old, it remains a founding framework in the field of criminology and has been recently revamped into Agnew’s General Strain Theory. It is important to read Merton in context with Agnew to evaluate the theory and address the frameworks' limitations.