Explaining Crime
CRIM3001 EXPLAINING CRIME
ASSIGNMENT 2 ESSAY
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ANOMIE, STRAIN, AND SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY:
INTERPRETING CRIME
Causes of crime are arguably criminology’s most important and largest research topic. In this process of research, criminologists and academics have used numerous theories in attempts to explain how and why people resort to crime (Ellis, Beaver, Wright, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to examine a case study first with the use of strain theories (ST), followed by social learning theory (SLT). The first section will involve a summary of the case of R v Mark Andrew HUGHES (2009) NSWDC 404 involving an outline of the offender’s personal life, of his crimes, and his punishment handed down by the New South Wales District Court. It is important to outline these facts in order to refer to them and appropriately analyse them.
The following section will use strain theories to analyse factors and causes that lead the offender to commit his crimes. Anomie and strain theory will be used here with respect to Merton’s concept of “retreatism” (Merton, in Alder, Laufer, 1995), as well as Agnew’s general strain theory (GST) as it accounts for individual and emotional strain derived from negative relationships (Agnew, 1992). These will be the primary theories used for analysis in this paper as they are most relevant. The final section will involve the application of SLT.
Drawing from the case of R v Mark Andrew HUGHES (2009) NSWDC 404, the offender is a forty seven year old man named Mark Andrew Hughes and will be referred to as Mr Hughes for the duration of this paper. Mr Hughes childhood involved a significant degree of negative stimuli. For example, Mr Hughes experienced rejection through the failed relationship of his mother and father at a very young age, resulting in the complete absence of his biological father. Mr Hughes was then subjected to his mother’s new marriage and relationship with a man who was to become his
ASSIGNMENT 2 ESSAY
________________________________
ANOMIE, STRAIN, AND SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY:
INTERPRETING CRIME
Causes of crime are arguably criminology’s most important and largest research topic. In this process of research, criminologists and academics have used numerous theories in attempts to explain how and why people resort to crime (Ellis, Beaver, Wright, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to examine a case study first with the use of strain theories (ST), followed by social learning theory (SLT). The first section will involve a summary of the case of R v Mark Andrew HUGHES (2009) NSWDC 404 involving an outline of the offender’s personal life, of his crimes, and his punishment handed down by the New South Wales District Court. It is important to outline these facts in order to refer to them and appropriately analyse them.
The following section will use strain theories to analyse factors and causes that lead the offender to commit his crimes. Anomie and strain theory will be used here with respect to Merton’s concept of “retreatism” (Merton, in Alder, Laufer, 1995), as well as Agnew’s general strain theory (GST) as it accounts for individual and emotional strain derived from negative relationships (Agnew, 1992). These will be the primary theories used for analysis in this paper as they are most relevant. The final section will involve the application of SLT.
Drawing from the case of R v Mark Andrew HUGHES (2009) NSWDC 404, the offender is a forty seven year old man named Mark Andrew Hughes and will be referred to as Mr Hughes for the duration of this paper. Mr Hughes childhood involved a significant degree of negative stimuli. For example, Mr Hughes experienced rejection through the failed relationship of his mother and father at a very young age, resulting in the complete absence of his biological father. Mr Hughes was then subjected to his mother’s new marriage and relationship with a man who was to become his
References: Agnew, R., (1992), “Foundation For A General Strain Theory of Crime And Delinquency”, Criminology, Vol.30, pp.47-87. Agnew, R., (2006), Pressured Into Crime: An Overview of General Strain Theory, Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury. Agnew, R., (2006b), “Storylines As A Neglected Cause Of Crime”, Journal of Research in Crme and Delinquency, Vol.43, p.119-147. Akers, L, R., (1994), Criminological Theories, Roxbury, Los Angeles. Akers, L, R., (1985), Deviant Behavior: A Social Learning Approach, Wadsworth, Belmont, CA Bandura, A., (1977), Social Learning Theory, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Bernard, j, T., Snipes, B, J., Gerould, L, A., (2010), Vold’s Theoretical Criminology (eds), Oxford University Press: New York Burgess, R, Akers, L, R., (1966), “A Differential Association-Reinforcement Theory of Criminal Behavior.” Social Problems, Vol.14, pp.363-383. Ellis, L., Beaver, M, K., Wright, J., (2009), Handbook of Crime Correlates, Elsevier Science. Hinshaw, S, P., Lee, S, S., (2003), Conduct And Oppositional Defiant Disorders, In Mash, Barkley, R, A., Child Psychopathology (eds.), pp. 144-198, New York, Guilford Press. Lynskey, M. T., Fergusson, D. M. (1995) Childhood Conduct Problems, Attention Deficit Behaviors, And Adolescent Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit Drug Use, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, Vol.23, pp.281– 302. Matthews, K, S., (2011), Self-Complexity and Crime: Extending General Strain Theory, Justice Quarterly, Vol.28 (6), pp.863-902. R v Mark Andrew HUGHES (2009) NSWDC 404.