General Strain Theory Analysis

Seung Hui-Cho was the perpetrator of the Virginia Tech shooting in April 2007. He was born in South Korea but immigrated to the United States at a young age, becoming a permanent resident. From a young age, Cho’s relatives expressed concern about his mental health as he did not socialize much with other children. In primary school, he was academically gifted but became noticeably more antisocial and angry in the eighth grade. Notably, Cho mentioned that he wanted to “repeat Columbine.” Cho was later bullied for his speech patterns and shyness. He was diagnosed with selective mutism and began receiving speech therapy and mental health therapy but later rejected it his junior year. After high school, Cho attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute

The originally proposed theory stated that crime arises when there is a separation between the culturally prescribed ends (goals) and access to socially legitimate means. Culturally prescribed goals include financial stability, while socially legitimate means include education and hard work. When an individual does not have access to such means or they do not care for the rules, they will turn to crime to reach their goals. A newer theory, general strain theory, states that crime is a coping measure and expands what constitutes strain. Strain can include actual/anticipated failure to achieve positive goals, removal of positive stimuli, or addition of negative stimuli. Coping selection is influenced by a variety of factors including self-control and beliefs. Cho, as evidenced in his recordings, had a hatred for rich kids and materialism. In South Korea, his parents made minimum wages which led to their immigration to the United States; however, while in the United States, his parents owned a dry-cleaning business which probably did not make much money, either. Thus, from a young age, Cho did not live a lavish life. Throughout his education, Cho’s instructors found it challenging to communicate with him as he had selective mutism. In a discussion-based class, one teacher even threatened to fail him if he did not communicate. Since Cho could not perform well in his classes, this cut off his legitimate means of education to achieve his goals of financial stability and obtaining disposable income. Moreover, Cho had accumulated strain over his life – poverty, being bullied and ostracized by his peers, dealing with various mental illnesses, and being rejected by girls (the victims of his stalking). Faced with all these negative stimuli, Cho decided to use behavioral coping by shooting those around him. He was fixated on getting revenge on the “rich kids”