Strain Theory
- Submitted by: dianaluis
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- Category: Politics: Crime and Drugs
- Date Submitted: 07/18/2010 12:02 PM
- Pages: 3
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Robert Agnew developed the Foundation for a General Strain Theory of Crime and Delinquency.
(a) Explain his argument, and be sure to include in your discussion comments on
• The strain theory is the only theory that is focus explicitly on negative relationships with others (he or she is not treated as he she want),
• The strain theory view as the result of pressure
• The strain theory has a central role to play in explanations of delinquency/crime, but that the theory has to play this role.
• The theory is written at the social-psychological level: it is focuses on the individual and his or her immediate social environment.
• The theory focuses in adolescents because most of the data available is adolescents.
• The strain theory like control and differential association are sociological theories.(they explain delinquency
The strain theory argues that adolescents are pressured into delinquency by the negative affective states-most notably anger and related emotions- that often result from negative relationships.
1) the major types of strain
Strain as the failure to achieve positively valued goals
i. Three different types of goals for which members for the society strive are
1. Money is a cause of strain when it is not available to the individual through legitimate means found that monetary strain was related to crime in a limited fashion, and that the previous studies may not be accurately measuring all aspects of monetary goal blockage. The findings from this study do seem to confirm that delinquents desire to gain large amounts of money
2. Status and respect. This is an especially important factor in regard to masculine status. This type of status differs culturally, but in order for an individual to prove their masculinity, they may resort to crime to achieve that status. Traits that are associated with masculinity are often displayed through criminal behavior
3. Autonomy (valued in a society) Strain induced by autonomy mainly...
(a) Explain his argument, and be sure to include in your discussion comments on
• The strain theory is the only theory that is focus explicitly on negative relationships with others (he or she is not treated as he she want),
• The strain theory view as the result of pressure
• The strain theory has a central role to play in explanations of delinquency/crime, but that the theory has to play this role.
• The theory is written at the social-psychological level: it is focuses on the individual and his or her immediate social environment.
• The theory focuses in adolescents because most of the data available is adolescents.
• The strain theory like control and differential association are sociological theories.(they explain delinquency
The strain theory argues that adolescents are pressured into delinquency by the negative affective states-most notably anger and related emotions- that often result from negative relationships.
1) the major types of strain
Strain as the failure to achieve positively valued goals
i. Three different types of goals for which members for the society strive are
1. Money is a cause of strain when it is not available to the individual through legitimate means found that monetary strain was related to crime in a limited fashion, and that the previous studies may not be accurately measuring all aspects of monetary goal blockage. The findings from this study do seem to confirm that delinquents desire to gain large amounts of money
2. Status and respect. This is an especially important factor in regard to masculine status. This type of status differs culturally, but in order for an individual to prove their masculinity, they may resort to crime to achieve that status. Traits that are associated with masculinity are often displayed through criminal behavior
3. Autonomy (valued in a society) Strain induced by autonomy mainly...