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Theories of crime causation
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Theories of crime causation
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Which theory do you think does the best job of explaining criminal behavior?
Strain theory explained criminal behavior the best. Strain and stress is the causation of crime. Individuals that suffer from stress and strain strive for corrective actions. Driven from anger and frustration, individuals often seek revenge and self-conscious. Individuals engage in crime to reduce and escape the strain their experiencing. Strain is likely to result in delinquency when the reward is high and punishment much lower.
Explain in detail why you think this theory does the best job of explaining criminal behavior.
Strain theory has been founded to be one of the most influential and accepted criminological theories of the 20th century. Merton’s strain theory has been utilized to explain the classes of crime. Classes of crime include gender, age, race, and population differences. In credit of Merton strain theory, researchers were able to discover the relationship between classes in crime. For example, middle-class populations are likely to commit white-collar crimes. Lower-class communities are likely to commit minor crimes.
Agnew defines strain as the events disliked by other individuals. Since the development of Agnew strain theory, GST has been applied to a variety type of crime and
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deviance. Robert Agnew developed a general strain theory that has focused on a broader scope of strains. Such strains include but not limited to, parental rejection, unemployment, homelessness, marital problems, excessive discipline, and child abuse as the causation of stress that lead to crime for coping. GST has the ability to explain not only the strains that increase the likelihood of crime, but the reason why these strains increase crime. Agnew has developed three categories that explain why strain occurs. One, lose something valuable, two received something bad, and three cannot get what one desire. For example, a juvenile involved in a gang could be a result of parental rejection. Parents that display little affection and proper supervision lose control in properly structuring their child. Or an individual unemployed may believe theft is a solution and justifiable to make ends meet. As stated before, Individuals that suffer from stress and strain strive for corrective actions. Cloward and Ohlin believe strained individuals associate themselves with criminals to cope with their strain. Researchers believe social learning of crime is somewhat associated with strain. Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin applied Merton theory to juvenile gangs. It was believed juveniles cope with strain by joining gangs. The acceptance and respect of gang members were what they desired to achieve. Discuss the history of the development of the theory. Strain Theory was developed by Robert K. Merton. Merton stain theory was influenced by Emile Durkheim concept of anomie. Emile Durkheim developed the first modern strain theory of crime and deviance. Durkheim believed strain was the causation of not only deviance but suicide. In differ Merton focused on acts of deviance. Merton believed strain and stress increase the chance of crime occurring. Merton developed the first strain theory in 1938. Classic strain theory focused on the inability to achieve monetary success.
Merton believed individuals living in the United States had a monetary goal. Due to blockage of that goal, frustration developed and individuals utilized crime to cope with their frustration. Prostitution, gambling, theft and drug distribution all spiked in increase. However, overall most individuals did not cope with stress through crime during the time. Majority individuals coped with monetary lost through cutbacks, borrowing, and working overtime at work. Between the 1970s-1980s, the classic strain theory declined due to challenged research. Researchers argued that crime is the result of strain to achieve
goals. Merton discovered five adaptations to strain, conformity, ritualism, innovation, retreatism and rebellion. Conformity allowed individuals trail the conventional goals of society in regards to working effectively in school or at their employment. Ritualism allowed individuals to adapt in their positions through enjoyment of the job and or the pay. Innovation allowed individuals to achieve goals without much effort. Retreatism influenced individuals to deter from society goals. Rebellion, most known to be criminals, adapts to society goals just not the ones in place. Rebellion is described be the most complex adaptation. Rebellion is the most complex because rebels are trying to put an end to the current societal structure. In 1992, Robert Agnew developed a general strain theory. Agnew focused on a broader scope of strains. Agnew believed the lack to achieve goals, loss of valuable possessions, and poor treatment causation of strain that lead to crime. The development of Agnew strain theory, GST has been applied to a variety type of crime and deviance. Robert Agnew general strain theory is the leading version and one of the major theories of crime. Has the theory been empirically supported? Most empirical studies of strain theory continue to rely on the strain models developed by Merton, A Cohen, and Cloward and Ohlin. Researchers have discovered strain contributes to certain forms of delinquency. Solid evidence has proven negative stimuli increase delinquency. Several studies have been provided displaying a significant measure between strain and delinquency. In addition, empirical support has been examined in regards to coping strategies and its effects individuals have when adapting to strain. What policies could be implemented if the theory were to be adopted by the criminal justice system? Merton argued society do not offer the resources to achieve cultural goals.
Agnew’s theory pulls from sociological literature concerning mental health, focusing on associations between taxing experiences, negative emotions, and social behavior. According to Agnew (1992), there are three forms of strain that one may experience: “prevention from achieving positively valued goals, removal or the threat of removal of positively valued stimuli, and presentation or threat of presentation of noxious stimuli or negatively valued stimuli” (Agnew, 1992, p. 48). General strain theory (GST) also suggests that there are “strains, particularly conflicting social relationships, that engender negative affective states (e.g., anger, fear, frustration) that create internal pressure for corrective action” (Aseltine, 2010, p. 257). The corrective action can be seen as a way to escape the negative emotion or rid one’s self from the pressure or strain.
Predominantly, strain theory can be used to explain the criminal behavior of the Homicide in Hollenbeck documentary. In the course on juveni...
Strain theory is no different. During the 1930s, Americans were facing some of the worst, if not the worst, economical times in American history. The collapse of the stock market in 1929 lead to an era we now call “the Great Depression”. During this time extreme poverty and unemployment increased drastically, along with suicide and crime rates, particularly murder rates (Siegel 2010, p. 44). Robert Merton’s influence for the development of strain theory came from his observation of how influential the economic institutions were in regards to all other social factors. He drew heavily from Emile Durkheim’s earlier concept of anomie, or normlessness, to develop his own theoretical structure (Merton 1938; Merton
Both theories by Merton and Agnew are similar because their focus is that social situations and conflicts an individual’s comes in contact within his/her life, may produce crime by emphasizing the a goal of success, much more than the means to achieve it. With Merton’s theory he adopted Durkheim’s concept of anomie to explain deviance. Merton’s theory combined both structural and cultural factors. Merton insists that society promotes goals for their citizens and norms for other’s behavior in attempting to reach these goals. In Merton’s theory people do crime when they are unable to reach or accomplish goals. Merton’s theory also explains how an individual’s social structure prevents an individual from becoming economically fortunate. His theory of modern anomie and strain express that individuals respond to strain in 5 individual ways. Those five ways are conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. On the other hand Agnew general strain theory, feels strain comes from sources other than economic failure. Agnew general strain theory focuses on a few other types of strain and stress. Like the presentation of a negative stimuli, and the loss of a positive stimuli. Agnew feels that this sort of strain leads to a negative state of mind. The emotions like angry, frustration and fear, lead to crime and criminal behavior. One
Agnew, R. (2011). Pressured into crime: General strain theory. In F. Cullen & R. Agnew (Eds.),
In criminology there are numerous theories as to the causes of different types of crime. These theories are extremely important in the continuous debate of the ways in which crime should be managed and prevented. Many theories have surfaced over the years. These theories continue to be explored individually and in combination, as criminologists search for the best solutions in ultimately reducing types and levels of crime. These theories include rational choice theory, social learning theory, and biology amongst many others. In this case study strain theory will be used to describe the reasons behind the white collar crimes of Charles Ponzi.
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.
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.
General Strain Theory was discussed by Robert Agnew, and first published in 1992. According to General Strain Theory individuals engage in crime because of strains or stressors which produce anger and anxiety (Agnew, 1992). Crimes become the outlet that the individual uses to cope with or remedy the strains or stressors. Agnew states that there are three different types of deviance producing strains.
One of the more common theories often used to explain this trend is general strain theory. General strain theory was first introduced Robert Agnew when he was trying to revise anomie theory from a micro level, social psychological perspective (Akers and Sellers, 2013). According to Agnew’s revised theory, he claimed that, crime and delinquency were often an adaptation to stress. For example, if an individual was in desperate need for money, Agnew claims that this individual would often feel frustrated, angry, or experience a range of negative emotions, which could result in this individual coping with this strain through crime (Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox,
... people commit crimes and are not limited to one aspect like the original theory. For example, Merton strain theory just looked one aspect of blocked opportunities to unable achieve economic success. Differential Opportunity theory helped explain the different illegitimate means that causes people to commit crimes for example poverty and high concentrations of youth living in slums (Murphy & Robinson, 2009). Agnew General Strain theory takes a micro approach into looking at the different types of strain that causes people to commit crimes (Lilly et al.2010). Even though these theories explain certain aspects of what causes crime, it does not explain the sole cause of why criminal behavior occurs or why one commits different crimes. However integrated theories are helpful to understand certain aspects of why people commit crimes and engage in deviant behavior.
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
There are many criminological theories that attempt to explain criminal behavior or crime patterns. For instance, Agnew’s General Strain Theory can be applied to explain why the criminal John Dillinger committed various crimes. Agnew’s General Strain Theory assumes that all individuals experience strain, which, in turn, causes negative emotions that can result in legitimate or illegitimate coping, depending on an individual’s constraints or dispositions. Thus, the continuous criminal behavior throughout John Dillinger’s life can be explained using Agnew’s General Strain Theory in relation to strain, negative emotions, and dispositions.
This could explain the effect of strains on crime by taken this theory into account. Once strain causes bonds to weaken amongst conventional groups and institutions such as family, school, and peer networks will open up doors to delinquent behaviors, because by being in these social roles causes the person to regulate by role expectations.
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.