Anomie and general strain theory both aim to explain the reasoning behind the inclination to commit crime. These theories argue that people commit crime due to pressure or strain. Pressure or strain can result from a multitude of sources. Not all individuals respond to strain with crime, but those who do often lack to ability to cope with strains in a legal way. Criminal coping becomes more likely for countless reasons including, when people are susceptible to negative states, undergo repeated chronic stressors, the costs of crime are low and when they are unable to achieve goals. According to anomie and general strain theory these stressors and others account for the increase in likelihood of criminal activity (Kubrin, Stucky, & Krohn, 2009). …show more content…
They encompass a broad range of strains that can cause people to commit crime. Strain can occur in the form of negative emotions, lacking a job or income, or perceived mistreatment, as well as many other forms. Therefore I believe that general strain theory and anomie are promising theories. There are issues with the theories though that causes them to be slightly unreliable. Strains can be measured in numerous ways. Every study of general strain theory can look at completely different strains and measure them in different ways. Looking at different strains while implementing different measurement techniques makes determining the accuracy and validity of strain theory to become difficult. Theories need to be empirically tested and replicated to determine their value. Merton’s (1968) general strain theory tends to focus on the idea that only crimes committed for economic gain result from strain. This creates a narrow application for strain theory and eliminates its application to other crimes. Other theorists though have expanded general strain theory to include various crimes. If general strain theory was truly intended to only apply to crime committed for economic gain this theory would be much to narrow and might not have the staying power it has
There are many criminological theories that attempt to explain criminal behavior or crime patterns. For instance, Agnew’s General Strain Theory can be applied to explain why the criminal John Dillinger committed various crimes. Agnew’s General Strain Theory assumes that all individuals experience strain, which, in turn, causes negative emotions that can result in legitimate or illegitimate coping, depending on an individual’s constraints or dispositions. Thus, the continuous criminal behavior throughout John Dillinger’s life can be explained using Agnew’s General Strain Theory in relation to strain, negative emotions, and dispositions.
Strain theory is no different. During the 1930s, Americans were facing some of the worst, if not the worst, economical times in American history. The collapse of the stock market in 1929 lead to an era we now call “the Great Depression”. During this time extreme poverty and unemployment increased drastically, along with suicide and crime rates, particularly murder rates (Siegel 2010, p. 44). Robert Merton’s influence for the development of strain theory came from his observation of how influential the economic institutions were in regards to all other social factors. He drew heavily from Emile Durkheim’s earlier concept of anomie, or normlessness, to develop his own theoretical structure (Merton 1938; Merton
The two theories I have decided to merge are Agnew’s General Strain Theory and Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory. I picked General Strain Theory because it does a good job at discussing some of the things that can trigger the release of a person’s negative emotions which in turn may lead to deviant behavior. I also decided to write about Social Bond Theory because it describes some of the factors that keep people from committing crime. Both of the theories have strengths and weaknesses individually, but when merged they help fill in each other’s gaps. (Agnew, 2011; Hirschi, 2011) +1 (888) 295-7904
...riminal activity. This is because individuals become enthralled with their status in the community and want to achieve it anyway possible. This type of social structure "produces a strain toward anomie and deviant behavior. The pressure of such a social order is upon outdoing one's competitors (Thio, 2006)." Anomie strain theory is a good but difficult theory to implement. It offers "a way of constraining crime by improving the legitimate life chances of those who may otherwise make the choice to innovate defiantly (McLaughlin, 2001)."
According to Robert Agnew, “Strain Theory is based on the idea that delinquency results when individuals are unable to achieve their goals through legitimate channels, achievement or strike out at the source of their frustration in anger”. (Agnew, R. (1985). A Revised Strain Theory of Delinquency. Oxford journals. 64(1).151-166). The norms are violated to alleviate the strain that accompanies failure. When a good look is taken at the theories the strains might not only come from peoples frustrations with acquiring “ The American Dream”, but it becomes a mixture of strains such as economic deprivation, abuse, neglect, or the loss of a loved one. However, most people that experience strains do not commit crimes.
General Strain Theory was discussed by Robert Agnew, and first published in 1992. According to General Strain Theory individuals engage in crime because of strains or stressors which produce anger and anxiety (Agnew, 1992). Crimes become the outlet that the individual uses to cope with or remedy the strains or stressors. Agnew states that there are three different types of deviance producing strains.
For anomie to occur, the goal becomes more important than how you get it. Society has placed structural blocks that prevent a portion of a population from accessing legitimate means to achieve that goal. 9). The syllable of the syllable. Strain theory does not apply to the case When Need Turns to Greed because strain is when negative emotions lead a person to commit a crime.
Strain theory occurs when people engage in deviant behaviour when they are unable to reach socially accepted goals by legal means. This strain leads to the use of socially deviant ways to attain their own goals. This theory has four modes of adaption, the final one being rebellion. This mode reject societies cultural goals and institutionalized means and replaces existing goals and means with their own. If society emphasizes something or there is an economic recession, it is expected to have an increase in criminal organizations that produce money illegally (Henslin 2012). Essentially it breaks down to the less opportunities available in society, the more likely crime is going to increase. In regards to human trafficking, our society emphasizes the need for money to survive but there are limited job opportunities. Since that type of organization is a profitable one, it would be a means for a person to reject socially acceptable ways and diverge towards criminal
Policy implications from Merton’s Anomie and Strain theory could result in almost anything that can reduce strain among individuals with a direct result in the reduction of crime. However, changing the systematic avenues of approach will seek to alleviate strains in society that ultimately reduce strains among individuals. Simply put, if Merton’s anomie and strain theory were to be implemented across the criminal justice system and society during its conception and in today’s system, it would have to being with changing both society and the individual. However, both are direct results of each
Both theories by Merton and Agnew are similar because their focus is that social situations and conflicts an individual’s comes in contact within his/her life, may produce crime by emphasizing the a goal of success, much more than the means to achieve it. With Merton’s theory he adopted Durkheim’s concept of anomie to explain deviance. Merton’s theory combined both structural and cultural factors. Merton insists that society promotes goals for their citizens and norms for other’s behavior in attempting to reach these goals. In Merton’s theory people do crime when they are unable to reach or accomplish goals. Merton’s theory also explains how an individual’s social structure prevents an individual from becoming economically fortunate. His theory of modern anomie and strain express that individuals respond to strain in 5 individual ways. Those five ways are conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. On the other hand Agnew general strain theory, feels strain comes from sources other than economic failure. Agnew general strain theory focuses on a few other types of strain and stress. Like the presentation of a negative stimuli, and the loss of a positive stimuli. Agnew feels that this sort of strain leads to a negative state of mind. The emotions like angry, frustration and fear, lead to crime and criminal behavior. One
In classic strain theory it is said that, Classic strain theory focuses on that type of strain involving the inability to achieve success or gain a middle class status. General Strain theory focuses on a broad range of strains, including the inability to achieve a variety of goals, the loss of valued possessions, and negative treatment by others. General Strain Theory has been applied to a range of topics, including the explanation of gender, race/ethnicity, age, community, and societal differences in crime
... people commit crimes and are not limited to one aspect like the original theory. For example, Merton strain theory just looked one aspect of blocked opportunities to unable achieve economic success. Differential Opportunity theory helped explain the different illegitimate means that causes people to commit crimes for example poverty and high concentrations of youth living in slums (Murphy & Robinson, 2009). Agnew General Strain theory takes a micro approach into looking at the different types of strain that causes people to commit crimes (Lilly et al.2010). Even though these theories explain certain aspects of what causes crime, it does not explain the sole cause of why criminal behavior occurs or why one commits different crimes. However integrated theories are helpful to understand certain aspects of why people commit crimes and engage in deviant behavior.
Strain theories of criminal behaviour have been amongst the most important and influential in the field of criminology. Taking a societal approach, strain theories have sought to explain deficiencies in social structure that lead individuals to commit crime (Williams and McShane 2010). Strain theories operate under the premise that there is a societal consensus of values, beliefs, and goals with legitimate methods for achieving success. When individuals are denied access to legitimate methods for achieving success, the result is anomie or social strain. This often leads an individual to resort to deviant or criminal means to obtain the level of success that they are socialized to pursue. This is the basic premise of strain theory. This paper will explore the evolution of strain theories by first examining their intellectual foundations which laid the foundation for Robert Merton’s theories of anomie and strain. Merton’s strain theory will be discussed in detail including the modes of adaptation that people use when faced with societal strain. Finally, the paper will conclude with the strengths and weaknesses of Merton’s strain theory and an examination of the criminological theories and social policies it has influenced.
This could explain the effect of strains on crime by taken this theory into account. Once strain causes bonds to weaken amongst conventional groups and institutions such as family, school, and peer networks will open up doors to delinquent behaviors, because by being in these social roles causes the person to regulate by role expectations.
Strain Theory states that people are born innocent and with good intentions but society causes them to commit crimes (cite). After reading this case it seems as through Jeanine is a troubled youth who because of strain in her family due to her sexual abuse has led her to become affiliated with an Aboriginal gang. This gang although has also placed strain on Jeanine because of the sexual exploitation she has faced with them as well. Jeanine has proven to be a very smart and athletic girl which shows her innocent and good intentions in life; but through the strain she has felt, reaching out to a gang and feeling as though she is important and incorporated into something, possibly for the first time, has led her to commit violent crimes. Her violence and delinquent behaviours could be a form of her reaching out for help because it seems as though her mother and father will not give her that form of relief. According Strain theory a juvenile who hates and/or dislikes their parents should be higher in delinquency in comparison to another juvenile who just simply does not care about their parental