In the modern world, the number of youths engaging in criminal activities has increased significantly. Many scholars have continued to evaluate and research why juveniles engage in crime. This paper aims to explore two theories that explain juvenile delinquency; Merton's Strain & Differential Opportunity Theory.
The Mertens theory has remained one of the popular theories in explaining youth delinquency. One of the critical concerns in Mertens's theory is the role of social norms. According to this theory, social norms can be so strong that they compel youths to break the law to accomplish them. Obtaining financial and material wealth has been the major cultural goal of the society in the United States. American society is based on social structures. According to this theory, social structures have a huge impact on juvenile delinquency. Some people in society are pushed to commit crimes due to social structures (Bates & Swan, 2019) . In specific circumstances, people are compelled to engage in nonconforming conduct. There are various legitimate means such as access to education, acquiring reliable jobs, and deferred gratification. These means differ across people in various social-economic statuses in the society. the difference between cultural goals in monetary success and limitation in opportunities in achieving goals that cause significant strain. According to this theory, people adapt in five main ways; conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
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One of the deviant adaptations to strain is conformity. Individuals follow rules and carry out activities as they are told. The stability of the society is based on conformists. Innovators on the other hand encompass people who break rules and laws to acquire material goods. Other people who can be considered part of this group include drug dealers, shoplifting, and burgers. In ritualism, people do things to get societal rewards. This is one of the deviant adaptations to strain according to Mertens. People such as employees who get to work adhering to all rules and regulations to survive through the day can be considered as ritualists. In retreatism, Mertens includes people who have dropped out of society. Some of the people in this category include homeless people, mentally ill people, and chronic drug users. These people initially strive to get rich through legitimate or illegitimate means. Rebellion is the last adaptation. Rebel juveniles reject the culture and aims of monetary success in the American dream. They also reject the legitimate acceptable means to receive rewards.
On the other hand, the differential opportunity theory also provides significant insights into juvenile delinquency. Many people have explored Mertens's theory of anomie. Lloyd Ohlin and Richard Cloward were successful in expanding Mertens's theory in their work delinquency and opportunity. The theory brought some interesting points that were not addressed in previous Mertens theory. They focused on how a person has illegitimate access that shapes their strain and anomie. The differential opportunity theory focuses on the development of youth gangs and the environments in which the gangs are formed and opportunities that provide illegitimate skills. In this theory, the two researchers found out that neighborhoods played a significant role in juvenile delinquency (Bates & Swan, 2019) . In the study, there is a close relation between criminal structures and culture and the young gangs. According to Cloward and Ohlin, many youths become frustrated and result in violence with boys aiming to achieve respect through intimidation and physical force.
Other backgrounds have poor people or working class. The youths in these settings do not get an opportunity in these subcultures. For instance, some teen boys could be considered not to fit in certain teen groups. Such gangs are most likely to fight people from other gangs. They also become vulnerable to engaging in drug and substance use.
Reference
Bates, K. A., & Swan, R. S. (2019). Juvenile delinquency in a diverse society . Sage Publications.
