According to Strain Theory, how is organized crime viewed in society?

Strain Theory, developed by sociologist Robert K. Merton, suggests that society sets culturally approved goals and socially acceptable means to achieve them. When individuals are unable to attain these goals through legitimate means, they may experience strain or pressure, which can lead to deviant behavior, including organized crime.

In this context, organized crime is viewed as a normal response to the societal pressure for economic success that some individuals may feel unable to achieve through conventional avenues. Those who engage in organized crime often do so because they believe they lack sufficient opportunities or resources to reach the societal markers of success, such as wealth or status. In this view, organized crime is not merely seen as an illegal activity, but rather as a type of adaptation to the limitations imposed by society's structure and the unequal distribution of opportunities.

This understanding can help clarify why individuals involved in organized crime may see their actions as legitimate within their social environment, as they are responding to the pressures and challenges imposed by the overarching societal framework.