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Strain theory and criminal motivation
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Criminologists are scientists who study crime. In order to do this they attempt to use the scientific method whenever possible. In the scientific method an individual first puts through a hypothesis to explain why something happens or even why something is. In the case of criminology the main question being asked is “why does crime occur?”, but some theories also attempt to answer another equally interesting question “if being a criminal is the easy choice, why are so many people law abiding?” in order to understand criminal behavior. In order for a hypothesis to be moved forward into the category of a theory it must first be tested, and those tests must be able to be reconfirmed. In the case of criminology most of this testing is done by looking at statistics, because it is not the kind of testing that can be safely done through experimentation. These theories can then be used to create social policy and attempt to limit crime. Three popular theories in criminology are strain theory, social bond theory and differential-association theory.
The idea of a cultural goal is behind the strain theory. Our societies’ cultural goal is to amass wealth and gain success. We are led to believe that this goal is achievable by all individuals, but not all individuals are given the same opportunities and tools to reach the cultural goal. When an individual is blocked from achieving the cultural goal strain develops. Individuals cope with this strain with adaptations as a way to bridge the gap between their means and the cultural goal. An individual may choose to turn to illegal means to reach the cultural goal. This type of individual is called an innovator and would include drug dealers, illegal arms dealing and other crimina...
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...osure occurred, the number of times the individual was exposed and how long each exposure occurred. This can be viewed as a ration of criminal definitions to conformist definitions. When the ratio favors criminal definitions it is more likely that the individual exhibit deviant behaviors. This theory supports programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters which offer children exposure to conformist definitions at a young age which they may not be receiving at home.
There are numerous theories that attempt to explain the causes of crime and how it may be reduced. These theories, like social bond, differential-association and strain theory, not only allow policies to be instituted, but also give a direction for more research. With that research comes more hypotheses which will in turn lead to new and more helpful theories on which we will base policies in the future.
General Strain Theory views most humans as being lawful and moral citizens in their society. The average citizen only turns to deviance when they become inflicted with negative emotions brought on by one or more of the three main types of strain. The three types ...
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.
Criminology is the scientific study of the causes and prevention of crimes. Criminology also uses a vast amount of theories to explain peoples’ actions, mental state, and their drive for committing crimes. Some crimes have monetary benefits, while other crime are committed in revenge or in spite of another, which would be called crimes of passion. Because it can be sometime difficult to understand why certain crime are committed, the only thing we can do is use theories to better decipher thoughts, morals, and reasons behind committing crimes.
The first type of strain, failure to achieve positively valued stimuli, results from an individual’s failure to achieve a valued goal. According to GST, there are three types of goals that members of society strive to accomplish: money, status and respect, and autonomy (Agnew et al., 2002). Strain is elucidated as “negative or aversive relations with others” that gene...
No theories are presented; instead, the authors elect to analyze secondary data from previous studies, surveys, experiments, and other social science literature. Although some of the research cited was conducted by one (or both) authors previously, most of the data comes from Gallup Polls, federal statistics, and literature or experiments published by other criminologists in journals or books.
Ideally, the theory bases its argument on the economical disadvantages social classes in a society claiming that lower class neighborhoods cause stress, frustration, and disorganization that motivates individuals to commit crimes. For instance, children raised in lower class families face hardships, which in return, creates strains. In the event they succumb to the strains, any slight opportunity to commit a crime, like stealing, is quickly utilized. In addition, children raised in upper class neighborhoods are prone to criminal offenses that are associated with influence. Research by Einstadter, Werner & Stuart (2006) says that criminal offenses, such as drug abuse, are more common to people raised in wealthy families. Therefore, the social backgrounds in which a person is brought up influences the type of criminal acts they engage in. Moreover, social structure influences individuals to commit some crimes and not others. As put forward by Robert Marton, the theory views crime as way of responding to existing conditions that limit one’s ability to achieve economic success in
Criminology is defined as the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause and control of criminal behavior. Due to the non-ending threat of crime, violence and even terror threats, criminology has gained in popularity as an academic field of study. Criminology is the scientific approach to studying criminal behavior. {Larry Siegel, Criminology Theories, patterns & Typologies, 2004.}
The third and last type of strain that the general strain theory talks about it is the gained negative stimuli. Agnew states “A person tries to (1) escape from or avoid the negative stimuli; (2) terminate or alleviate the negative stimuli; (3) seek revenge against the source of the negative stimuli or related targets; (4) manage the resultant negative affect by taking illicit drugs” (Agnew, 1992:58). What Robert Agnew is trying to say with that is that an individual in society has a negative stimuli, and he has four different ways to cope with that. He can avoid the negative stimuli, alleviate the negative stimuli, or look for revenge towards the person who this negative stimuli came from, or lastly, fall into use of illegal drugs to forget the negative stimuli.
By definition, criminology is the study of crime, criminal behavior and how it pertains to the law. Criminology is considered a scientific technique. Therefore, those who study and carry out its theories are considered scientists. The theories and practices within the subject help criminologists determine the cause and consequence of criminal behavior; also why criminology is so highly regarded among law enforcement and the legal world.
First and foremost, the theory states that criminal behavior is learned, meaning that the behaviors of an individual are influenced and shaped by those they associate with (Clinard & Meier, 2015). The primary reference point here is the nuclear family. Parents teach their children how to walk and talk, who grow up with siblings or in some cases, elderly relatives. With good reason, it is widely held that these interactions create the foundation of the individual’s conception of societal norms and values. That being said, if the individual is capable of assessing proper behavior in society, they are also capable of learning what is considered
The strain theory examines the cultural goals set up by society and the institutional means of achieving that goal. An individual must decide whether to accept or reject the cultural goals and the means of achieving that goal. Every act of deviance falls into one of four categories that define how an individual handles determining and achieving goals. Innovation is the acceptance of cultural goals, but the rejection of acceptable means to achieve the goals. A drug dealer serves as an example of innovation. They have the desire to become wealthy, but turn to selling drugs as an easy form of income, rather than obtaining a regular job deemed acceptable by society. Ritualism is the rejection of cultural goals, but the acceptance of the institutional means. The individual loses sight of the actual goal, for example someone who attends a job every day, but only does the job as a routine task. Retreatism is the rejection of both the cultural goals and the institutional means, seen as the most deviant. An example would be a homeless person who is homeless by choice. Rebellion is when an individual rejects the cultural goals and institutional means replacing them with their own goal and means. Hippies are perfect examples of rebellion. The s...
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
An integrated theory is a combination of 2 or 3 theories that offers many explanations on why crime is occurring, compared to a traditional criminal theory that just focus on one type of aspect (Lilly et al.2010). The purpose of integrated theories is to help explain many aspects into what causes criminal behavior and why one becomes delinquent. From this an argument arises can integrated theories be used to explain all criminal behavior. Integrated theories are successful in explaining certain aspects of crime on what causes one to become deviant; however one theory alone cannot explain why an individual engages in crime. This paper will examine three integrated theories and look in-depth how these theories can explain different aspects on why criminal behavior occurs and the weakness of each theory. The three integrated theories that will be discussed in this paper are Cloward and Ohlin Differential Opportunity theory, Robert Agnew General Strain theory, and lastly Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond theory.
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.
Criminology centers its attention on the criminal as a person, his behavior, and what has led him or her to a life of crime. Criminology seeks to understand the criminals' genetic makeup, to learn whether there is an inherited tendency to crime. It also takes into consideration such issues as the individuals socioeconomic background, family background, educational opportunities, and childhood associations.