General Strain Theory In Dawg Fight

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The film Dawg Fight can be viewed through the lens of general strain theory. Robert Agnew’s theory focuses on delinquency as the result of the various negative pressures put on a person. The theory identifies three distinct types of strain: negative-based, failure-based, and loss-based. The fighters in the film each demonstrate failure-based strain. Most of the fighters have criminal records and have served time. When they come out of the prison system they find that though the system claims to have rehabilitated them, potential employers view them as criminals and they are left without any prospects of a career. Their failure to get a job means they are unable to support themselves or their families, which leads them to get involved in backyard

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