To begin, Jim Jones idea of mass suicide can be understand through the reflection and analysis of the strain theory. The strain theory is a pattern of rational thought to act in crime or violence as the only solution for escape (Jrank). For Jones, his escape plot of mass suicide arose when the Guyanian government started to question the practices of his society. The government was doing background checks of Jones based on tips of members who were questioning his leadership (Bio). Paranoid, Jones only idea of escape was through ass suicide that was well thought through. To elaborate, Jones felt as if he had lost control and was surrounded by overwhelming paranoia that resulted in his mass suicide campaign, which clearly shows the strain theory.
http://www.lycoming.edu/schemata/pdfs/soc_criminology_schemata_fall09.pdf http://law.jrank.org/pages/814/Crime-Causation-Sociological-Theories-Strain-theory.html criminology.pbworks.com/f/Hirschi++Testing+a+General+Theory+of+Crime.pd http://www.biography.com/people/jim-jones-10367607#the-peoples-templef