The following theory of criminal activity asserts that when individuals are unable to achieve societal goals through legitimately defined channels, their respect for these channels is weakened, and then they seek to achieve the desired goals through illegal means:

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Anomie theory, proposed by sociologist Robert K. Merton, suggests that when there is a disjunction between societal goals and the legitimate means to achieve those goals, individuals may resort to deviance, including criminal activity, to achieve those goals. This theory emphasizes the strain or pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals without the means to do so legally, leading to a weakening of adherence to those means.

The Following Theory of Criminal Activity Asserts That When Individuals