Pressured into crime paperback robert agnew oxford. Following the work of emile durkheim, strain theories have been supported by robert king merton, albert k. In short, strain theory posits that the cultural values and social structures of society put pressure on individual citizens to commit crime. 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. Jock young draws on mertons anomiestrain theory in his recent book, the exclusive society 1999, locating crime in relation to both structural and cultural processes. Aside from the kind of specific weaknesses weve just noted, traditional strain theory has some important general features that provide a valuable contribution to. 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. African americans currently and historically have demonstrated against social injustice to get lawmakers to enact legislation that more evenly.
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. In this revitalized version, called general strain theory, strain is hypothesized to have three distinct sources. The theory states that social structures may pressure citizens to commit crimes. In these works, anomie, which refers to a widespread lack of.
Mertons strain theory quickly became one of the more popular crime and deviance positions. The theory recognizes that people in society are placed under several different forms of stress. Although the theory has been examined by many and enjoys empirical support, some limitations of previous studies need to be addressed. The premise of strain theory is that a something or someone in a persons life is causing the strain that leads them to commit a crime in order to alleviate that strain agnew, 2001. By integrating genderspecific theory with general strain theory gst, this dissertation provides an explanation of female crime and the gender gap in crime. Written to be studentfriendly, pressured into crime features numerous realworld examples, insightful and colorful quotes from former and active criminals, clear. Agnews general strain theory university of illinois springfield. This paper draws on robert agnews general strain theory gst to more fully describe the relationship between family dynamics and delinquency. Community, strain, and delinquency western society of criminology. 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. 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.
Women are much less involved in crime than men and are involved with different types of crimes. Feminist theorythe inability to accomplish gender through legitimate channels may result in violence under specific provocations. Publications national criminal justice reference service. Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Robert agnew 1992 breathed new life into the tradition with his general strain theory gst. Crime is one possible response, especially when people lack the. Pdf strain theories state that certain strains or stressors lead to negative emotions, which create pressure for corrective action. Deviance becomes crime when it is designated by the institutions of society as violating such a law or laws. This lack of social or ethical norms places a strain on a society at local, regional, national, or global levels based on the choices made, requiring a response from. While durkheims concept of anomie was rather vague, merton explains the idea in quite a detailed way. General strain theory gst has secured a fair degree of empirical sup. When the social atmosphere changed and the crime rate peaked towards the end of the. Merton harvard university t here persists a notable tendency in sociological theory to attribute the malfunctioning of social structure primarily to those of mans imperious biological drives which are not adequately restrained by social control. Crime and deviance crime is a type of deviant behavior, but not all deviant behavior would be called crime.
Cohen, richard cloward and lloyd ohlin, robert agnew, and steven messner and richard rosenfeld. Cullen university of cincinnati although agnews 1992 general strain theory gst has secured a fair degree of support since its introduction, researchers have had. Offering examples of previous integration efforts, we maintain that mertons theoretical model can benefit from the input of. The difficulty of empirically defining and measuring concepts like social success. This general theory, it will be argued, is capa ble of overcoming the theoretical and empirical criticisms of previous strain theories and of complementing the crime. While mertons theory was based on 20 th century america, it is transferable to any contemporary, western, developed capitalist society. Our values, beliefs, goals, and identities are developed in the cultural realm.
It is therefore crucial that gst more precisely specify the types of strain most likely to lead to crime and delinquency. Merton asserted that societies are composed of two core aspects. Despite the plethora of international research supporting anomie and strain theories, comparatively few studies have examined the impact of anomie and strain on crime and delinquency within an australian or new zealand context. Although the theory has been examined by many and enjoys empirical. Whether the unjust situation is a result of their own actions or hundreds of years of systematic oppression, a. If so, then at some level, you have become familiar with the anomie and strain theory. 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. Strain theory has recently been reformulated into a theory of broader scope. Critically evaluate strain theory and the functionalist theory of deviance and crime from the perspective of conflict, feminist and symbolic interactionist theories.
Strain theory is different from social control and social learning theory in its specification of the type of social relationship that leads to delinquency and the motivation for delinquency. General strain theory gst agnew, 1992, 2001, 2006a is an established criminological theory. Amasya phd gokhan koca aksaray abstract extending the studies of merton 1938. Have you ever had an event occur that you described as a selffulfilling prophecy. Theorizing media and crime contents media effects 10 mass society theory 11 behaviourism and positivism 12 the legacy of effects research 15 strain theory and anomie 17 marxism, critical criminology and the 19 dominant ideology approach the legacy of. Chapter 2 theories of organized criminal behavior 61 commission exists whose function is to arbitrate disputes between families and assign territory discussed later in the chapter.
There is always a new measure that might salvage the theory p. Gst attempted to merge the revised theory with prior strain theories, and it drew heavily on the stress, emotions and justice literatures. Prior to agnews revision of strain theory, strain theory could not explain crimes such as domestic abuse, sexual assault, and drug use as those crimes are not means to achieve an economic goal. Mertons strain theory argued deviation from social norms is a result of the strain a person feels when theyre unable to achieve legitimately legally. According to gst, the experience of strain or stress tends to generate negative. While the revised theory attracted some attention in and of itself, it was important largely because it laid the foundation for my general strain theory gst of crime and delinquency agnew 1992, 2007. Extending general strain theory robert agnew emory university timothy brezina tulane university john paul wright francis t. Robert agnew developed the general strain theory, sometimes referred to as gst, in 1992. General strain theory oxford research encyclopedia of. Many criminologists argue, however, that available empirical. This paper applies general strain theory gst to the explanation of whitecollar crime, including a occupational crimes committed by higher class individuals, b economic offenses such as fraud and embezzlement, which are committed by lower as well as higher class individuals, and c. Strain theory fails to explain white collar crime, the perpetrator of whom have many opportunities to achieve through legal and legitimate means. 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.
Depending upon the type of stress they encounter, there is a greater likelihood that certain individuals may choose to commit a crime. Strain may be structural, which refers to the processes at the societal level that filter down and affect how the individual perceives his or her needs. This research paper describes a the types of strain most conducive to crime, b why strains increase the likelihood of crime. Applying strain theory to the crime epidemic in chicago. Criminology is the study of crime from a scientific perspective. They have presented many theories to serve as such explanations with strain theory being one of them. Ethnicity is a key to the alien conspiracy theory of the organized crime phenomenon. Apr 16, 2016 the continuing relevance of strain theory. Tests of general strain theory agnew, 1992 have focused primarily on the relationship between strain and crime, ignoring the intervening role of negative emotions and legitimate coping strategies. Sep 01, 2012 while the revised theory attracted some attention in and of itself, it was important largely because it laid the foundation for my general strain theory gst of crime and delinquency agnew 1992, 2007. The main concept of strain theory is that the media and society insidiously tell people that they need to gain material wealth in order to achieve a certain type of respectable status and if they are poor or in an unfortunate socioeconomic. Aside from the kind of specific weaknesses weve just noted, traditional strain theory has some important. Strain theory best applies only to the lower class as they struggle with limited resources to obtain their goals. Extending general strain theory robert agnew emory university.
General strain theory gst is usually tested by examining the effect of strain on crime. Strain theory fails to explain crimes based in gender inequality. This paper presents a general strain theory of crime and delinquency that is capable of overcoming the criticisms of previous strain theories. Strain theorynegative personal treatment may result in crime or violence. Originating in the tradition of classical sociology durkheim, merton, anomie theory posits how broad social conditions influence deviant behavior and crime. The revival of the strain theory researchers are constantly looking for explanations for criminal patterns and crime rates among juveniles. General strain theory of delinquency international journal of. Agnews modification of the definition of strain enabled strain theory to explain any type of crime rather than strictly financial crimes. Oct 22, 2003 we contend that scholars who are critical of strain theory should not automatically discard mertons anomie theory, because the perspective of anomie is compatible with several other theories of crime and delinquency. This paper applies general strain theory gst to the explanation of whitecollar crime, including a occupational crimes committed by higher class individuals, b economic offenses such as fraud and embezzlement, which are committed by lower as well as higher class individuals, and c corporate crimes. General strain theory, persistence, and desistance from crime.
Anomie is the lack of a social or an ethical norm within an individual or group. The ideas underlying strain theory were first advanced in the 1930s by american sociologist robert k. Ethnicity is a key to the alien conspiracy theory of the organized crime. Strain may be structural, which refers to the processes at the societal level that filter down and affect how the individual perceives his. Robert k mertons strain theory explained sociology. Mertons strain theory is a modern day example of environmental aspects of why people commit crime. There were several attempts to revise strain theory, most arguing that crime may result from the inability to achieve a range of goalsnot just monetary success or middleclass status. Strain theories are among the dominant explanations of crime, and, as discussed in this research paper, certain strain theories have had a major impact on efforts to control crime. The contribution of social psychological strain theory to the explanation of crime and delinquency.
Reflection on a revised strain theory of delinquency. In the first section, strain theory is distinguished from social control and differential associationsocial learning theory. A revised strain theory of delinquency oxford academic journals. Oct 18, 2019 the discussion of strain theory extends beyond crimes of acquisition. Street youth, strain theory, and crime sciencedirect. Social strain theory was developed by famed american sociologist robert k.
Discuss how robert mertons strain theory fits into the functionalist theory of deviance and crime. Anomie theory oxford research encyclopedia of criminology. General strain theory and whitecollar crime springerlink. Control balance theoryprovocations make one aware of control imbalances, which ultimately result in violence. Journal of research in crime and delinquencyagnew general. Strain theories state that certain strains or stressors lead to negative emotions, which create pressure for corrective action. While the structuralmacro version of general strain theory agnew 1999 was not explicitly advanced as a multilevel explanation of the effect of strain on crime, this. The difficulty the theory has in explaining noneconomic forms of crime. In criminology, the strain theory describes social structures inside society that may support people to carry out crime. For agnew, crime occurred when persons sought criminal means to cope with their negative emotions. Despite continued increase in research on general strain theory gst, previous studies on the relationship between gst and other. Strain theories of crime criminology theories iresearchnet. 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.
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