There have been several attempts to modify strain theory in order to generalize it and the most important of these modern strain theories is robert agnews general strain theory. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology. Strain theory suggests that the reason for deviant behavior is a situation in which there is an apparent lack of fit between the cultures norms about what constitutes success in life goals and the cultures norms about the appropriate ways to achieve those goals means. Her father was involved in gang activity as well, and she was introduced to the gang mentality at a young age. With this in mind we present a very preliminary framework of the processes leading to and from gang membership. The contribution of social psychological strain theory to the explanation of crime and delinquency. The central concept of strain theory is that society sets universal goals for its populace and then. The subculture theory of delinquency and gang development grew out of the strain theory and is based on the assumption that all youth share similar goals and economic aspirations. We see mertons influence on social control theory and can clearly see how one idea led to the next. Strain can be felt throughout any community, large or small. An overview of general strain theory by robert agnew provides an overview of general strain theory gst, one of the leading explanations of crime and delinquency, developed by author robert agnew.
In gst, strains pressure people to take corrective action by generating negative emotions, especially anger. To those people, a gang provides identity, status, and love, among other things, in turn they develop loyalty to the gang they join. Analysis of freedom writers 2 in the film freedom writers, the concept of the sociological imagination can be used to analyze the circumstances of each character in the film. Eva feels like she doesnt have a choice but to be involved in gang life, partially because of her economic status. The term anomie was first used by emile durkheim one of the founders of sociology to refer to. Mertons strain theory in relation to gang behavior with an emphasis on. As applied to joining gangs, gang members are often confronted with barriers to and lack of economic opportunities. Whereas sutherland talks of illegitimate means and merton talks of differentials in legitimate means, cloward and ohlin talk of differentials in both legitimate and illegitimate means to successgoals. Data suggest that these strains do increase the likelihood of crime and violence. This article proposes robert agnews general strain theory gst as an alternative. The strain theory, developed by robert merton, suggests that people who find their way blocked and do not experience equal opportunity are more likely to follow a deviant path henslin, 229. Agnews general strain theory argues that criminal behavior is a potential response to a persons failure to achieve positively valued goals. This leads to strain which may lead individuals to commit crimes, like selling drugs or becoming involved in prostitution as a.
Theory and strain theory of gang violence 1842 words. Strain theories souccj230 introduction to the american. General strain theory gst provides a unique explanation of crime and delinquency. The first, similar to the strain theory of delinquency see the theories. Our values, beliefs, goals, and identities are developed in the cultural realm. Specifying the types of strain most likely to lead to crime and delinquency. Strain theory has also been used to help explain ethnicracial, age, class, and community differences in crime see agnew, 2006 for an overview. His name turned out to be christopher johnson mccandless. The resultant inequality of opportunity causes a strain on cultural goals.
Pdf strain theories state that certain strains or stressors lead to negative emotions, which. Strain theory fails to explain crimes based in gender inequality. While gst can help make sense of the peak in crime and deviant activity in adolescence for many offenders, it can also be used to explain persistence versus desistance from crime in young adulthood. Social theories of crime in explaining gang violence. This is a view that has caught on in many circles, including the police department. If you are writing a paper on gst, or want to better understand why some people commit crime, you need to read this book. For example, western society places value on economic success, even though wealth is accessible to just a small percentage of people. Strain theory, delinquency, and street gangs associated.
The original strain theory has its roots in mertons anomie theory and cohens social control theory, which deal with the social structures that might influence an individual to commit crime. This suggests that our society is creating criminals, sending them to prison, hoping theyll shape up, and then. Strain theory is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1938 by robert k. General strain theory an examination of school violence. Strain theory is a licensed cannabis farm growing and operating in humboldt county, ca. General strain theory explains the increase of violence as more males from lowincome neighborhoods turn to gangs and drug trafficking for economic sustenance. This paper will be discussing social strain theory and differential association theory and how they can cause gang crime. Feb 03, 2011 strain theory, delinquency, and street gangs associated.
The central concept of strain theory is that society sets universal goals for its populace and then offers the ability to achieve them to a limited number of people. Gang involvement and delinquency among hispanic and africanamerican adolescent males. Strain theory and violent behavior chapter 25 the cambridge. In the first section, strain theory is distinguished from social control and differential associationsocial learning theory. Criminology and criminal justice, criminological theories. Gangs and strain theory gangs and strain theory according. Cloward and ohlin integrated sutherlands and mertons theories and developed a new theory of criminal behaviour in 1960. Strain theory, in sociology, proposal that pressure derived from social factors, such as lack of income or lack of quality education, drives individuals to commit crime. They will easily find problems in the system and have a hard time accepting cultural norms. Strain theory, violence, and aggression slocum major. General strain theory gst is the most comprehensive version of strain theory and can explain both instrumental and expressive violence.
This framework draws together concepts from criminological theory and integrates them with relevant psychological factors see fig. Franklin frazier 1894 1962, was an american sociologist, first africanamerican chair at university of chicago. After strain theory a new theory called the social control theory emerged. Ncjrs abstract national criminal justice reference service. Gang involvement and delinquency among hispanic and african american adolescent males.
However, sociologists believe that it is not merely due to broken homes or a search for a new family, but rather members are motivated by money, drugs, girls, anonymity in committing. Apr 10, 20 mertons strain theory works well to explain why disadvantaged classes of individuals commit crime, but however the theory cannot be applied to the general population. Strain theories of crime criminology theories iresearchnet. Chapter 4 anomiestrain theory 3 strain theories are generally macrolevel theories, and they share several core assumptions. Strain theories strain theories look through a structural scope to examine crime in society.
Street youth, strain theory, and crime sciencedirect. Gangs from different sociological perspectives and theories. Society sets universal goals for its populace and then offers the ability to achieve them to a limited number of people. This paper presents a general strain theory of crime and delinquency that is capable of overcoming the criticisms of previous strain theories. In contrast to control and learning theories, gst focuses explicitly on negative treatment by others and is the only major theory of crime and delinquency to highlight the role of negative emotions in the etiology of offending. Many explanations of gang membership have focused on the risk factors that support social learning theory sutherland and social bond theory hirschi. The ideas underlying strain theory were first advanced in the 1930s by american sociologist robert k. However, it differs in postulating that instead of striving to attain the same goals as middleclass youth, lowerclass youth create their own, new, subculture in. General strain theory, persistence, and desistance from crime. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. He defined gangs by the process they go through to form a group.
Cohen, richard cloward and lloyd ohlin, robert agnew, and steven messner and richard rosenfeld. Another important aspect of general strain theory is how individuals cope with stressful life experiences. Cohen 1955, richard cloward and lloyd ohlin 1960, neil smelser 1963, robert agnew 1992, and steven messner and richard. An increase in strain can lead to an increase in crime.
A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Merton 1938 concluded that americans were socialised into believing in the american dream. Building on the foundation of general strain theory. Classic strain theory essays 1443 words 6 pages classic strain theory, as introduced and defined by robert merton, is a social structure theory used to help explain the effect ones community, most notably lower class areas, has on their ability to achieve predetermined goals, usually considered culturally normal. The basic premise of the strain theory is that the society sets universal goals for the whole population and then offers only the ability to reach these goals among few individuals. Politicians and others have blamed school crime on several factors including the effects of mass media violence, an increase in gangs, the absence of page 108. The textbook presentation of strain theory is typically. The strain that underclass youth feel in failure in school performance and respect among their peers status frustration leads them to develop a system of values that is contrary to the middleclass standards and values. Anomie strain theory chapter 4 anomie strain theory in april 1992, a young man from a welltodo east coast family hitchhiked to alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of mt. The shooting in the early morning of june 12, 2016, a single shooter killed 49 people and wounded an additional 53 people at a pulse, a popular gay night club in orlando. Following the work of emile durkheim, strain theories have been supported by robert king merton, albert k. Strain theories also assume that human beings are naturally good. Gang membership kent academic repository university of kent. Doc strain theory and juvenile gangs cody pennington.
Gang crime, criminal acts of violence committed by a group of individuals on a regular basis, is explained by the social strain theory and differential association theory. Dont be afraid to teach strain theory in an alternative way. Gst 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. I wrote this story after thinking about what it must be like for students to listen to someone teach strain theory in a traditional, linear, textbook fashion. Mertons theory is not very critical of the social structure that he says generate the strains. One of the social theories that could explain the existence of gangs, gang membership and gang behaviors is the strain theory. General strain and urban youth violence oxford handbooks. This suggests that our society is creating criminals, sending them to prison, hoping theyll. Elaine cassel claims that a youths likelihood to be involved in a gang can be told based on their behavior from an extremely early age. Merton asserted that societies are composed of two core aspects. She suggests that from ages 5 to 10 children begin to show warning signs through disrespect. Mertons strain theory works well to explain why disadvantaged classes of individuals commit crime, but however the theory cannot be applied to the general population.
In part 2 forthcoming we suggest some examples of how general strain theory has been used to explain differences in deviant responses. Presented a theory of gang formation that used mertons strain theory as a basis for why individuals resort to such group behavior. Merton deals with individuals forms of responses instead of group activity which crime involves. Subculture theory subcultural theory subcultural substance. Conflict theorist perspective regarding gangs, a conflict theorist would see this social issue as a pattern of domination, submission, and struggle between people of high and low standing brym and lie 10. It is characterized by the following types of behavior. Reports of street gang activity in england, germany, switzerland.
The idea of sociological imagination implies that people are able to step outside from their own personal norms, and examine a. Oct 18, 2019 strain theory explains deviant behavior as an inevitable outcome of the distress individuals experience when theyre deprived of ways to achieve culturally valued goals. Invision employees share their remote work secrets. I doubt students love strain theory as much as we do. The strain theory is made up of anomie and social disorganization theories. Agnew 1992 identifies several cognitive, behavioural and emotional coping strategies, which all emphasize that many actors may be able to cope with strain through legitimate. The ideas of innovation are present in the ideas of belief within the social control theory. While durkheims concept of anomie was rather vague, merton explains the idea in quite a detailed way.
Four months later his decomposed body was found by a party of moose hunters. Strain theory, then, can partly explain gender differences to crime. Motivation and membership the strain theory explores how anomie may result in criminal activity. The gang is an interstitial group originally formed spontaneously, and then integrated through conflict. Strain theory neglects the inter and intrapersonal aspect of crime. Learning theory and juvenile delinquency concept of social delinquency theory juvenile delinquency reducing violent street gangs and delinquent activity in a costeffective manner problems of the juvenile. While mertons theory was based on 20 th century america, it is transferable to any contemporary, western, developed capitalist society. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Merton, whose work on the subject became especially influential in the 1950s. At strain theory, we strive to embody a fullysustainable approach to how we farm cannabis by remaining as carbonneutral as possible, employing lowwaste farming practices, and using only the cleanest methods of growing in our greenhouses to offer the safest and most high quality. Apr 16, 2016 the continuing relevance of strain theory.
These strains involve the inability to achieve ones goals e. While strain theory served to stimulate research, it generally produced weak results. Using general strain theory to understand drug and alcohol. In sociology and criminology, strain theory states that social structures within society may pressure citizens to commit crime.
Written to be studentfriendly, pressured into crime features numerous realworld examples, insightful and colorful quotes from former and active criminals, clear summaries of. Gst is particularly relevant to urban youth violence. Gangs and strain theory according to strain theory. Pressured into crime is a great overview of general strain theory one of the more popular contemporary criminological theories out there. In fact, certain of these strains like criminal victimization are the most important.
Gang members often focus on the missing father or the lack of opportunity. When people fail to meet societal goals, they feel a strain in their lives. Studied gangs in a systematic way, analyzing gang activity and behavior. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle. General strain theory oxford research encyclopedia of. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. Robert agnew developed his general strain theory gst in 1992, and it has since become the leading version of strain theory and one of the major theories of crime. Understanding the similarities to strain theory and. Update we look briefly at traditional strain theory and suggest a morecontemporary interpretation that can be introduced to students through agnews general strain theory gst. Increased incidences of gang related activity in urban neighborhoods contributes to adolescent attitudes that poverty is escaped through illegal activities ojjdp, 2001.
Mertons strain theory is an important contribution to the study of crime and deviance in the 1940s it helped to explain why crime continued to exist in countries, such as america, which were experiencing increasing economic growth and wealth. In criminology, the strain theory describes social structures inside society that may support people to carry out crime. Strain theories state that certain strains or stressors increase the likelihood of crime. Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Merton, whose work on the subject became especially influential in the 1950s other researchers set forth similar.
Merton developed strain theory, a concept connected to both the functionalist perspective on deviance and emile durkheims theory of anomie. An examination of robert agnews general strain theory. Gang crime, criminal acts of violence committed by a group of individuals on a regular basis, is explained by the social. Background strain theory initiation gangs society change works sited gangs and motive. Written to be studentfriendly, pressured into crime features numerous realworld examples, insightful and colorful quotes from former and. General strain theory has been around for over a decade now, and had developed out of earlier theories especially the original strain theory itself. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology tutor2u. The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals such as the american dream, though they lack the means. However, equal access to those goals did not exist.
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