General Strain Theory

Hay and Evans (2006) examined three General Strain Theory (GST) hypotheses regarding the relationship between violent victimization and involvement in delinquency. The first hypothesis is violent victimization should be positively related with later involvement in delinquency. Second, if GST's view of this relationship is correct, the effects of victimization on delinquency should be at least partly explained by the juvenile's level of anger. Third, if GST is to be further supported, the effects of victimization should depend in part on variables it identifies as factors that condition the effects of strain. These elements were studied on juveniles to see if their behavior was affected by family or peer group victimization. The researchers collected longitudinal data first interviewed in 1976 when the children were ages seven to eleven, with a follow-up then conducted in 1981 when respondents

were ages twelve to sixteen.in the research, children from different social class and ethnicity was considered to determine diverse or equivalent results from interview one and two. The results showed that juveniles who suffered from victimization develop anger issues that lead to delinquency. The victimization come from family members or peer groups who engage with the juvenile’s regular activities.
During the research, the evidence between delinquency and juveniles showed limitations that affected the research data.

First, the authors did not consider anger as a mediating variable between victimization and delinquency. The variables that were considered in the research were peer pressure, lack of parenting skills, and low self-control of juveniles with unstable families. However, the studies show that anger, alongside to the rest of the variables, was a key factor to determine the relationship between victimization and delinquency among juveniles. The overall analyses between victimization and delinquency showed a significant increase in juvenile delinquency that researchers provided recommendations to prevent future juveniles to become delinquents. The researchers stated that rehabilitation programs in schools would help juveniles to overcome their low self-control behavior and anger issues. These programs will target their negative behavior throughout time where their deviant behavior will decrease leading to more academic achievements and socialization among

peers.
The article examined effective points and findings about the relationship of juvenile victimization and delinquency. The authors explained that peer pressure and family violence affect a juvenile’s cognitive behavior that prevents them from maintaining a positive conduct. Once they are victimized, they develop anger issues which can start small crimes leading to severe crimes. The evidence was a crucial aspect of the study to determine the risk factors which causes negative behavior in juveniles. In the study, the authors gathered data from juveniles with different race/ethnicity, however, the results did not suggest if Black juveniles were most likely to be victimize than Whites or Latino juveniles. If so, the findings would have shown which racial group are more likely to be victimized than others. The article concludes by recommending juveniles who have been victimized must attend to rehabilitation and therapy programs that would help reduce anger issues and crime. The focus of these programs will treat the juvenile and educate them the consequences of committing crimes. If, faculty or staff are involved in these programs, the likely hood chance of juvenile’s behavior will change for the better and this will result in decrease of crimes, which later would lead them to attend school to pursue an education. Overall, the article explained the relationship between victimization and delinquency that affect juveniles’ behavior and recommended solutions to stop their behavior before they proceed to commit sever crimes and end up in prison.