Question

According to Robert Merton, Individuals adapt society's goals and means through all of the following way except this:

A. Conformity

B. Innovation

C. Restitution

Answer 1

Robert K. Merton, an American sociologist, developed theories and concepts such as modes adaption, strain theory (anomie theory), etc. Merton analyzed how individual adapts to environmental pressures like choosing means to achieve goals, channelize pressures to handle mismatch, etc. This analysis resulted in typology of individual's adaptations to means and goals of society, which is also known as social strain theory or anomie theory.

Merton mentions 5 typology of deviance which includes conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism (escapism), and rebellion.

Conformity refers to individual moving towards socially accepted goal with accepted means. Example: Earn money by working to achieve socially accepted goals like having food, shelter, education for offspring, etc.

Innovation refers to individual adapting new ways which are not known to society to achieve socially accepted goals. Example: Individual trying to introduce new service or product to society, so that individual can bypass existing competition for old products, and earn good income to have quality lifestyle.

In ritualism, the individual is bound to socially accepted means or ways but rejects the commercial goals like earning profits through business and expand business. They usually concentrate on noncommercial services and serves for social cause rather than profit.

Retreatism is also known as escapism, where the individual tries to escape from both goals and ways (means) to achieve goals. Example: Individual not willing to work hard and earn may not be interested in achieving goal of good lifestyle.

Rebellion refers to individual questions existing socially accepted goals and means; individuals here try to recreate new goals considered as substitutes for existing goals.

Restitution refers regaining back or resilience.

Hence, answer here is option C (restitution), which is not mentioned by Merton in his theory.