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juvenile delinquency's problem
factors that contribute to the strain theory
factors that contribute to the strain theory
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Juvenile delinquency is a prevalent issue that society faces, regardless if the community is primitive or modern, rich or poor, and so on. Juveniles are juveniles under 18 years of age. Delinquent acts range from something as minor as being out past curfew to more serious acts like physical assaults. Strain Theory suggests juvenile delinquency is at its highest during ages 10-17, because of several factors: desire autonomy, financially dependency upon their guardians, and often experience a lack of social support from family and friends. In the past, there have been multiple theories that examined juvenile delinquency from a biological or social lens. For example, Lombroso’s biological theory claimed that kids resulted in committing acts for …show more content…
SLT examines the learned behavior and attitudes as a result of having relationships with deviants and Strain Theory explores how strains pressure juveniles into committing acts as a coping mechanism. Strain theory highlights why youths engage in more crimes than adults do and clarifies the causations of delinquency by taking a social approach, clarifying how strains trigger delinquency. Strain Theory provides an answer for delinquent causation, not an excuse. Strain Theory reveals how strains often resulting in delinquency as a result of wanting to change a situation. The pressure a child faces between their aspirations and the actuality of a situation is what creates a strain. Therefore, juvenile delinquency is one way to cope with feelings of frustration or unpleasant situations. Juveniles have far less behavioral control over themselves, which leads to impulsivity. Responsible adults have far much more to lose (job, assets, relationships, etc.) and as a result of their strong morals, values, and self-disciple do not engage in acts of crimes. Strains are defined as dissatisfied relationships one finds him or herself …show more content…
Unwanted situations or environments as the ones mentioned above, that one might bear are defined as strains. As stated by Baron (2006), strains cause either fear or depression producing the need to take counteraction. In particular, juveniles who have a strain on fiscal resources often turn to stealing or robbing as a way to reduce emotional distress and financial situation. These strains foster an abundance of negative experiences such as lacking positive relationships with adults, school difficulties, and difficulties overall. A 2015 comparative study conducted by Jun and Choi examined 777 South Korean middle and high school students, American middle school and high school students. Jun and Choi found that 11% of overall juveniles who spent much more time on electronic devices such as phones, computer, etc. lacked face-to-face interaction, leading to antisocial behaviors and suffered internet addiction. Minors used electronic devices to facilitate relationships, for entertainment, and exchange information while simultaneously gaining an internet addiction and as a result suffered from depression or anxiety when withdrawing from devices. In South Korea, academic achievement is greatly valued but demanding because of homework, school expectations, and deadlines, thus electronic devices are used
The general strain theory hypothesizes that socioemotional problems cause strain in people’s lives and that the accumulation of stressors leads to criminal behavior. According to Agnew (2001), strain events can be characterized as involving “goal blockage, the loss of positive stimuli and/or the presentation of negative stimuli” (p. 323). These events can be seen by an individual as being unjust, undeserved, or threatening, especially for an adolescent. As we look back at the life of Jesse James, we
Higgins, G.E., Piquero, N.L. & Piquero, A.R. (2011). General Strain Theory, Peer Rejection, and Delinquency/Crime. Youth Society, 43(4), 1272–1297. doi: 10.1177/0044118X10382032
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.
Classic Strain Theory, as introduced and defined by Robert Merton, is a Social Structure Theory used to help explain the effect one’s community, most notably lower class areas, has on their ability to achieve predetermined goals, usually considered culturally normal. Merton theorized that all people in a various culture and social structure have similar values, goals, and norms. He stated that within this social structure there are individuals who come from affluent upbringing and are therefore more likely achieve these goals, and most likely this will be attained through legitimate, culturally acceptable means. There are however, Merton said, lower class areas where individuals suffer from lack of educational and economic opportunities afforded the upper class, leading to resentment and anger individuals at their inability to achieve stated objectives and goals through legitimate means.
Agnew’s General Strain theory focuses on the type of social relationships that lead to delinquency and the motivation for delinquency. His work was based on what was once developed from
General Strain Theory was reinvented by Robert Agnew in 1992 and contributed a new perception to the present strain theory that was popularized a couple eras ago (Agnew, 1992). Classic strain theory is connected; first with Merton’s (1938), Cohen’s (1955) and Cloward and Ohlin’s (1960). Founded on Durkheim’s theory of anomie (1893), Merton industrialized his theory of deviancy inside a societal fundamental context. Merton’s interpretation on the topic is that goal-expectation inconsistencies, composed with social stratification generates strain between underprivileged societies in turn leading them to use any means necessary, such as criminal, in order to accomplish socially defined goals (Merton, 1938). Merton specified that deviance was a creation of inconsistency amongst social goals and the genuine means to attain these goals (Smith & Bohm, 2008). Merton shaped a typology of deviance contingent on how diverse human beings adjust to ethnically persuaded strain. Conferring to Merton, crime can be elucidated by the predictable socially acknowledged goals and the conceivable genuine means of accomplishing them.
Bigger Thomas, a young African American male, Twenty years old; vicious, vile and mean; he hates himself and all human society, especially that part of society which he attributes to making him a monster. Bigger Thomas is in rebellion on what he views as the white caste system; his crime is targeted at white society and the people that he views as being his oppressors. Bigger has the choice of taking on three roles, he can take on the role passivity designed for him by the southern whites and resolve his personal conflicts through the emotional catharsis of religion; or he can strive for and establish his own middle class society and thereby consciously or unconsciously become the white man's accomplice in oppression; or he can reject the entire southern white ideology and assume the role of a criminal, which will inevitably erupt into physical violence.
Robert Agnew is known for his general strain theory. The theory explains that the basis of people getting involved in criminal activity is because of strain. If someone becomes upset, frustrated, depressed, or mistreated they will turn to crime in order to deal with the feelings. Yet, not all people turn to crime in order to deal with strain or stressors. There are different ways to measure strain. Subjective strains are those strains that are disliked by particular person or group. This approached is aimed at how the person reacts to the way they are treated. The second approach is called the objective view. During this approach the researches will as individuals how much they would dislike a specific event. Strains come in three major forms according to Agnew.
Greco, R., & Curci, A. (2017). Does the General Strain Theory Explain Gambling and Substance Use?. Journal of gambling studies, 33(3), 919-936.
There are many theories to choose from and I decided to choose and focus on general strain theory. I chose general strain theory because I believe this particular theory applies to a lot of people across the United States, especially those people who are in the middle class and below. First I am going to explain what general strain theory is and what Agnew finds most important about it. Secondly, what micro level components are used in this theory and how they affect people. Lastly, I am going to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of general strain theory. Not everyone falls victim to general strain theory because not everyone is in the same social and economical predicament. A lot of people are unfortunate to go through these strains/stressors of life and it all comes down to how one chooses to deal with the hand life dealt them.
Chen (2010) also concluded that depending on the context, the desire for autonomy and delinquency could result in creating greater strain for these adolescents by dealing with stricter constraints and limiting their ability to exercise autonomy (As cited in Akers and Sellers, 2013). The desire for autonomy is just one example of strain, as noted above, in which individuals face through out the age of sixteen to twenty, in which could be used to explain why more crime tends to take place during this specific time frame in an individuals
Moon, B., & Blurton, D. (2005). General Strain Theory and Delinquency: Focusing on the influences of strain characteristics.Conference Papers -- American Society Of Criminology, N.PAG.
Agnew, R. (2012). Reflection on “A Revised Strain Theory of Delinquency”. Social Forces, 91(1), 33-38.
Juvenile delinquency is one of the major social issues in the United States today. Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is when “a violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment” (Merriam-webster.com). Although we have one justice system in America, the juvenile system differs from the adult juvenile system. Most juvenile delinquents range from as low as the age of seven to the age of seventeen. Once the delinquent or anyone turns the age of eighteen, they are considered an adult. Therefore, they are tried as an adult, in the justice system. There are many different reasons why a child would commit crime, such as mental and physical factors, home conditions, neighborhood environment and school conditions. In addition, there are a variety of effects that juvenile justice systems can either bad effects or good effects. Finally there are many different solutions that can reduce juvenile delinquency. As a result, juvenile delinquency is a major issue and the likeliness of it can be reduced. In order to reduce juvenile delinquency there has to be an understanding of the causes and the effects.
It is understood that there is no one single cause for juvenile delinquency. There are many factors involved, including biological, environmental, social, and punitive influences. Nathan Fisher acknowledges this in the article “Factors Leading to Bad Juvenile Behavior,” written for Demand Media. Recognizing that there is not a single issue related to why juveniles become offenders helps develop effective prevention and intervention techniques to address the issue of delinquency.