Two of the major criminological theories of the twentieth century are Merton's strain/anomia theory and Shaw and McKay's social disorganization theory. Both theories were very important in their time and still influence theorizing today. This article will discuss both theories and highlight similarities and differences. Robert Merton created his tension/anomia theory with great influence from Emile Durkheim's anomie theory. Durkheim stated that anomie is “the absence of norms or deregulation” of society. One of Durkheim's main points on which Merton focused his theory is that "Western society placed great emphasis on 'achieving industrial prosperity' without corresponding attention to curbing people's appetite for success." (Lilly, Cullen, & Ball, p. 65) Merton focused his tension/anomie theory on the concept of the “American Dream.” He argues that society encourages everyone to pursue economic and material success at all costs. When people fail to achieve their goals of success through legitimate means, this is where crime occurs. The institutionalized “norms” of society weaken as people are forced to resort to illegitimate means. One of the key points of Merton's theory is that “the disjunction between what culture exalts and what social structure makes possible therefore places large segments of the American population in the tension-generating position of desiring a goal they cannot achieve through conventional methods." means…It produces intense pressure for deviation.” (Lilly, Cullen and Ball, p. 65) One of the main problems lies in the fact that the opportunities to achieve these financial goals are not equal or are not easily accessible. Merton explains: “Social structure limits access to the goal of success across… the middle of the paper… society, regardless of economic class, conforms to the idea of ​​chasing the American dream. In contrast, Shaw and McKay's theory of social disorganization states that crime and deviance are rooted in urban slums. This theory believes that the middle class lives by a strong set of conventional values, and that these values ​​are rejected by the lower class. In conclusion, both the tension/anomie and social disorganization theories are both very important theories in explaining the causality of crime and social disorganization. deviance. Many theorists today often rely heavily on these theories. As crime and society continue to change, these theories will continue to provide a solid foundation for future theories created. Works Cited Lilly, J.R., Ball, R.A., & Cullen, F.T. (2011). Criminological theory: context and consequences. Los Angeles, CA USA: Sage.