What is Merton's Strain Theory primarily concerned with?

Merton's Strain Theory is fundamentally focused on the relationship between culturally defined goals and the legitimate means available to achieve these goals within a society. According to Merton, in societies where there is an emphasis on success and achievement—often measured through wealth or status—individuals may experience "strain" or pressure when there is a disconnect between these aspirations and the means to attain them legally.

This strain can lead to various adaptations or responses, including conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. Importantly, Merton posited that individuals who lack access to legitimate means might resort to deviance or crime as alternative pathways to achieve these culturally prescribed goals. Thus, Merton’s theory is primarily concerned with the legitimate means of achieving cultural goals, emphasizing how societal structures can create disparities that lead to deviant behavior.

The other options reflect different themes in sociology that are not the primary focus of Merton's Strain Theory. The positive aspects of deviance relate more to the functions of deviance in social cohesion and change, while the encouragement of illegal activities by government does not align with Merton's emphasis on individual responses to societal pressures. Finally, the psychological development of criminals might be related to the broader field of criminology