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25 Deviant Behav. 1 (2004)

handle is hein.journals/devbh25 and id is 1 raw text is: 


Deviant Behavior, 25: 1-26, 2004             I'  Taylor & Francis
Copyright ( Taylor & Francis Inc.                Taylor&Francis Group
ISSN: 0163-9625 print/1521-0456 online
DOL 10.1080/01639620490253992



fame and strain: the
contributions of mertonian
deviance theory to an
understanding of the
relationship between celebrity
and deviant behavior


Patrick F. Parnaby
McMaster   University, Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada

Vincent  F. Sacco
Queen's   University, Kingston,
Ontario, Canada

This paper argues that Merton's original
means/goals gap theory can be usedto understand
the emerging relationship between deviant
behavior and the acquisition of celebrity status.
The intent is to illuminate how forms of deviant
behavior have become  adaptive responses to the
structurally anomic conditions that have resulted
from popular culture's incessant emphasis on the
desirability of fame and celebrity status, and the
structurally limited means by which it can be
legitimately achieved. Merton's original forms of
adaptation-innovation, retreatism, rebellion, and
ritualism-are explored in relation to this
increasingly important phenomenon.



  Received 6 February 2003; accepted 30 April 2003.
  Address correspondence to Patrick F. Parnaby, 8 Humber Trail, Bolton, Ontario L7E 5R8
Canada. E-mail: pparnabyl@rogers.com


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