Theory of Strain

It is sometimes said that it is not how you play the game, but whether you win or lose. In considering the theory of strain, what social programs have been developed to address the strain theory and discuss how effective you feel they are? The Strain Theory attempts to explain how factors such as poverty, homelessness, lack of parenting and lack of opportunity are a major contributor to crime and the forming of delinquent subcultures. In order to circumvent these factors programs and resources were designed to foster stable family relationships, enhance children’s physical and emotional well-being, and establish an environment to develop strong cognitive skills.The first and foremost of these programs would be Head Start, Launched in 1965 by its creator and first director Jules Sugarman (Administration for Children and Family 's, 2013), Head Start was originally conceived as a catch-up summer school program that would teach low-income children in a few weeks what they needed to know to start kindergarten. Head Start helps to create healthy development in low-income children age’s three to five. It also offers services that depend on each child and family 's culture and experience, to influence all aspects of a child 's development and learning. Everyone in American society which includes the poorest of the poor are socialized to aspire toward high achievement and success. Competition and success rank amongst the highest values in American society, they are taught in school, glorified by public authorities, and glamorized by the media. In America ones worth is measured by material possessions and monetary success. This success however, is expected to be achieved through honest and conventional means. These conventional means are regulated by societal norms. The limitation to the strain theory is that it focuses very intensely on the opportunities given or lack thereof. It takes little into account in regards to other outside influences that may steer ones

References: Administration for Children and Family 's. (2013). History of Head Start. Retrieved from US Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/about/history-of-head-start Datta, L.-e. (1976). The Westinghouse-Ohio Evaluation of Project Head Start. Studies in Educational Evaluation, v8 n3, 129-181. Lee, V. E., & Loeb, S. (1995). Where Do Head Start Attendees End up? One Reason Why Preschool Effects Fade out. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis 17, 62-82. Services, U. D. (2010). Head Start Impact Study: Executive Summary. Rockville, MD: Westat.