Before one can truly try to implement a strain theory based policy‚ one must first be able to understand what the theory entails. Strain theory‚ as defined in criminology‚ involves the social configurations that serve as elements of a society that can influence/force individuals to move towards criminal behavior. This can be subdivided into two forms‚ structural and individual strains. Structural strains are societal processes that have an impact on the way an individual view what he/she has‚ wants
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expecting so much from a person‚ it can create unnecessary pressure. “Merton’s theory blames deviance on society’s failures to provide all people with legitimate means to achieve success. This theory‚ explains the higher rates of robbery and theft among lower class people‚ who are pressured to commit crimes by their lack of good jobs and other legitimate means of success.” (Thio 174) Somewhat similar is the Power Theory‚ in which people who have more power are more likely to continue to gain more
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The GST states that stressors or strains increase the probability of negative emotions like frustration and anger in an individual. These “types of emotions tend to create pressure for counteractive action‚ and crime is one possible response” (Agnew 1992). The crime might be a technique for lessening strain‚ alleviating negative emotions or seeking revenge (e.g.‚ like bad grades). General strain theory (GST) builds on preceding strain theories in more than a few ways: the most notably‚
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Robert Agnew published the general strain theory of crime and delinquency in 1992 as an improvement upon previous strain theory arguments proposed by Merton (1938)‚ A. Cohen (1955)‚ and Cloward and Ohlin (1960). The general strain theory explains crime and delinquency at an individual level‚ with a particular focus in social-psychological factors in the individual’s life. Despite the individualized approach‚ general strain theory includes some discussions of implications on the macro-‚ or structural
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The general assumptions of strain/anomie perspective basically discuss that social structures within our culture could coerce people into group and situations that would push them to commit crime. The reason why I chose this over subcultural perspective is because the strain/anomie perspective has more application to explaining the causes of crime though expounding upon certain goals and motivations than to claim that certain groups and subcultures of people just have a great affinity for crime that
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Strain theory applies because Jordan was under the impression he was being detached from the family or he was not given the attention he needed to receive. At the age of eleven‚ a young child is going through emotions and needs parental figures to provide unconditional
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General strain theory was meant to explain that stress caused crime‚ that crime was sort of a coping mechanism for stress. The main propositions of Agnew’s general strain theory were that there were three types of stain that produced deviance: Failure to achieve positively valued goals‚ removal of positively valued stimuli‚ and confrontation with negative stimuli. Removal of positively valued stimuli refers to stress of adolescents caused by loss of a person or thing of great worth‚ such as‚ the
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Strain theory was originally pioneered by Robert K. Merton and it was later expanded on by Robert Agnew. Merton’s strain theory argues that individuals engage in deviant or criminal behavior when they cannot achieve socially approved goals by legitimate means (Merton‚ 1938). Essentially‚ deviance is the result of the strain that individuals feel from not being able to achieve their goals through legitimate means. Merton used the American Dream ideology to explain his theory. For example‚ the American
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Agnew’s general strain theory is an extension on Merton’s strain theory. This theory argues there are three sources of strain: failure to achieve positive goals‚ introduction of negative stimuli‚ and the removal of positive stimuli. These sources and lead to an affective state classified by depression‚ anger‚ disappointment‚ and a withdrawn state. This can also lead to antisocial behaviors like drug and alcohol use‚ violence and dropping out of school. Agnew’s theory can be seen in Nicole’s scenario
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Merton used Durkheim’s concept of anomie to form his own theory‚ called Strain Theory. Merton argued that anomie is not created by dramatic social change‚ but rather by a social structure that holds the same goals to all its members without giving them equal means to achieve them. Merton stated that all members of a capitalist society have goals such as "wealth‚ status and personal happiness"‚ (Merton‚ 1938) and that the means available to achieve this success are unevenly distributed throughout
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