Robert Agnew's General Strain Theory

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It is a common misconception that serial murderers are born evil, entering the world with a hunger for violence, however, it is quite the opposite. This statement is just scratching the surface of the abundant factors that come into play when picking apart the identity and livelihood of society’s darkest individuals. Due to various factors such as physical or sexual abuse, social segregation, poverty, and neglect by institutions, a serial killer is sociologically constructed. When analyzing a serial killer, it is important to take into account all of the elements which compel the individual to commit murder on numerous occasions. Analyzing these victims through a lens of behavioral profiling can give society a deeper insight as to why serial …show more content…

Hirschi 1969, Pg. 78. 57). The syllable of the syllable. Robert Agnew’s “General Strain Theory” also provides a clearer understanding of how abuse, negative relationships, and the steps an individual takes to cope with these hardships can determine their engagement in criminal behavior. Carey 2007, 3 p. These theories will be dissected in this report, and will contribute greatly to further understanding of criminal minds. Background Information Firstly, serial murders are defined as the unlawful homicide of at least two people carried out by an individual. Most researchers agree that for someone to be a serial murderer there needs to be “three or more instances that are considered separate, due to a ‘cooling period’(Weatherby, 2009). For many years serial murders have been of fascination to the public, with most cases reaching headlines in the media. It is a false perception that serial murderers are inherently born evil, and most of these individuals seem to display similar backgrounds and shared trauma. It is evident that many serial killers are riddled with strains from their childhood, such as bullying from a classmate, physical or sexual abuse in the home, or having a parent with a previous criminal history. (Booth 2021, 10) Among further research,

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