Strain Theory And Its Impact On Society Essay - 1641 Words

Within the social science field, strain theory has been expanded and advanced by many theorists over the last century. Created by Emile Durkheim in a study surrounding suicide, it quickly adapted to other areas of criminology and sociology. Strain theory can explain many forms of crimes, it cannot account for all forms of crime and deviant behaviour within society. Strain is prevalent throughout many forms of societal life, but not all can be linked to the crimes of which are committed by those within society, it tends to turn a blind eye to some forms of crime of which have not been acknowledged by the theorists. Though explicitly arguing the idea that strain theory does not account for all types of deviance, this will also include the arguments which have been put forward to say that strain theory does account for all kinds of crime. What is strain theory? Strain theory has two somewhat similar and well-known approaches, initially touched upon by sociological theorist Emile Durkheim; it has then been further expanded upon by Robert Agnew (1953) and Robert Merton(1951). General strain theory (GST), which has been expanded upon by theorist Robert Agnew. He says that GST in its simplest form is, â€Å"individuals who experience strains or stressors often become upset and sometimes cope with crime. Such individuals may engage in crime to end or escape from their strains(Agnew, 2006).† General strain theory can be used to explain deviant behaviour such as an adolescent may engageShow MoreRelatedStrain Theory And Its Impact On Society1736 Words   |  7 PagesStrain theory is a `more prominent issue in today’s world than many seem to think. Strain theory is the answer to several of life’s greatest questions, including, â€Å"Why do people riot?† and â€Å"Why are people pressured to live a life of crime?† The answer to that is strain theory: certain individuals fall into the pressure that the rest of society puts on everyone, that in order to be worth something and respected, they must be of a certain status. In order to be deemed worthy of others, everyone mustRead MoreThe General Strain Theory Of Social Psychology1647 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The general strain theory has developed into among the greatest crime theories of social psychology with a fairly developed research body. General Strain Theory is thought to be a strong philosophy, and has gathered a lot of experimental confirmation, and has additionally extended its essential degree by offering clarifications of wonders outside of criminal conduct. There are diverse negative relationships with strain or stress that result in negative emotions along with encouragingRead MoreGeneral Strain Theory And Its Effect On Human Behavior990 Words   |  4 Pagesof his theory. Noxious events avoidance impacts the ability to maintain or come up with relationships, resulting in alternative reactions. An adverse environment perception will result in emotions that are strongly negative that motivate a person to engage in crime. Being involved in crime is sporadic according to Agnew, and the criminals would desist were it not for the persistent negative effect and events. General strain theory is mainly concerned with the strain types and not the strain sourcesRead MoreTheories on Crime1253 Words   |  5 PagesTheories on Crime: The field of criminology is basically described as the study of crime through which the causes, prevention, and correction of offenses are examined. 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Such beliefsRead MoreGeneral Strain Theory And Its Effects On Adolescent Delinquency913 Words   |  4 Pages There are many ways in which general strain theory can be implemented in policy. Programs created to reduce delinquency and crime must be focused on the negative emotions, behavior and actions of the individual, and relationships developed through interaction. A family based program is a program that could be implemented. The idea behind a family oriented program would be designed to address family bond and communication between the parents and children. Studies done in the past support the notionRead MoreAnomie and General Strain Theories of Crime Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesAnomie/Strain Theory Historical Background The theoretical framework of strain theory can be credited to sociologist Emile Durkheim. Durkheim research on formed a platform for other sociologist to further develop strain theories of crime. One of which is Robert Merton. One of Durkheim’s major works that opened the door to further research on strain theories was his book, Suicide. In this book Durkheim sough to understand the why led to one’s own self-destruction. Emile Durkheim studied suicide ratesRead MoreThe Major Theories Of Criminal Behavior And The Impact Of Crime On Victims And Society1580 Words   |  7 PagesEvaluating the Major Theories of Cause of Criminal Behaviour and the Impact of Crime on Victims and Society London Foundation campus 1. Introduction Akers Sellers (2013) noted that there are various common theories that are pertinent to the study of crime as the extents of crime explanations range from the genetic/biological through to the economic and social perspective. Howitt (2012) divided these theories into four categories: macro-level or societal theories; locality or communityRead MoreThe Boyz N The Hood Based On Criminology Concept Of The General Strain Theory1622 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction In this paper, I will analysis the film Boyz N the Hood based on and around the criminology concept of the General Strain Theory. The film Boyz N the Hood depicts a story about an African-American boy growing up in â€Å"the hood† of South Central LA. South Central is a place where on average 1 out of 21 African American men will be die as a result of â€Å"the streets†. African Americans within the African-American community are more susceptible to becoming a casualty to gang affiliation andRead MoreMerton s Strain Theory And Victimology Theories1483 Words   |  6 Pagesof Howard Becker who looked at the labelling theory, Merton’s strain theory and victimology theories in order to compare and contrast three different criminological theories. It will focus on similarities and differences and some contradictions which my lie in these theories as well. Robert Agnew’s strain theory states that there are many strains and stresses in ones lives which could influence the likelihood of one committing a crime. The strain theory suggests there are two main factors that could