Name one theory that explains the causes of crime.

Strain theory is a significant sociological perspective that addresses the causes of crime by focusing on the relationship between societal goals and the means available to achieve them. Developed by Robert K. Merton, this theory posits that society sets culturally approved goals, such as financial success, but not everyone has equal access to the legitimate means to achieve these goals, such as education and employment.

When individuals are unable to achieve these societal goals through accepted pathways, they may experience strain or frustration. This strain can lead to various responses, including conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, or rebellion—of which innovation often involves turning to crime as a means of achieving these goals. For example, someone who feels pressured to succeed financially but lacks legitimate job opportunities might resort to theft or fraud as an alternative path to achieving that success.

This perspective effectively illustrates how structural inequalities in society can foster conditions that lead to criminal behavior, making it a foundational theory within the study of crime and deviance.