Preview

Strain Theory

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1687 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Strain Theory
The criminological theory that best describes why individuals engage in this violent act is Strain Theory. Strain theory is that someone is being pressured into achieving accepted goals. Even though they may not have the means to do it, they are expected to achieve it. Strain Theory can lead to the lack of being able to achieve a goal, the loss of a loved one or friend, and negative stimuli that means being physically or verbally abused. These can all lead to a violent act because of all the pressure that is being put on them, they become so strained that they cannot handle it anymore. Sometimes people expect so much from someone and do not take the chance to really understand a person and what they can handle. Sometimes if a person loses someone …show more content…
Such strains indicate the likelihood of crime, which include the harsh discipline of a parent and discrimination. Research says that these increase crime because of the emotional abuse in brings on someone. Sometimes research finds support for these strains but sometimes they do not. With strain theory, there is a likelihood of crime and it leads to negative conditions such as bullying, teasing, humiliating, and anything that has to do with verbal or physical abuse. There are two types of general strain theory, which is subjective and objective strain. Objective is events that are disliked within a given group. Subjective strain is events that are disliked by the person experiencing them. “As the larger stress literature demonstrates, individuals often differ in their subjective evaluation of the same objective strains. For example, some students are devastated by low grades, while others care little about their grades.” (Agnew 654). Sometimes grades affect students and if they get a bad grade when they put all their effort into it, these students do not understand why and think it is unfair. Strain can cause anything and especially if someone has so much work at school, family problems, or even problems with their peers it can cause them to act out. Some of these offenders have never committed a crime in their life and because of all the stress that they are getting they just cannot handle it. Bullying happens all the time and it is something we cannot stop because no matter what there will always be someone bullying another. Bullying is one cause of strain theory because if someone is being bullied for a long time they probably cannot handle

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    First Paper

    • 2310 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Adler, F., Mueller, G., Laufer, W., & Grekul, J., (2012), Criminology, Chapter 5- Strain Theory.…

    • 2310 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Agnew's Strain Theory

    • 110 Words
    • 1 Page

    Dr. Robert Agnew studied strain theory and spoke about the criticisms that were discovered in the original theory. The original strain theory found an increase in delinquency would result from an increase in aspirations as well as a decrease in expectations. This was later found to be false. The initial theory was a prediction of a focus of lower class delinquency. Research into this claim was found to be just as likely to happen in both middle and upper classes. The original strain theory ignored different variables, which Agnew addressed. Both the abandonment of crime in late adolescence as well as the quality of family relationships was overlooked (Agnew, 1985).…

    • 110 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Blood Lust Quotes

    • 251 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Blood Lust People enjoy violence because it gives them an escape. Since the beginning of time people have had to fend for themselves, whether it was fighting off dinosaurs or roaming people. We as people are genetically driven to hate, kill and attack. With the recent televising of violent assaults/actions, our genes allow the human race to enjoy watching. These effects added to the recurring amount of violence causes it to be normalized.…

    • 251 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    To understand the development of Strain Theory which was developed by Robert King Merton, we first have to examine the history context from Emile Durkheim. The beginning of Anomie Theory evolves from the famous Sociologist name Emile Durkheim. The term anomie is the any social or rapid changes in society that threatens or weakens the collective consciences which disable people the inability to form the shared values, norms, and beliefs. Therefore, individuals are unable to regulate each other behavior which results in crime (Durkheim, 1897; quoted in Lanier & Henry, 2004:238). As a student who studies under Emile Durkheim, Robert Merton borrows the term Anomie and uses it in his own languages. Merton transforms Anomie into his own language by asserting that the social structures within society that is culturally defined goals may pressure individuals to commit crime through illegitimate mean when people is face with block opportunity for them to gain access to the American dreams (Merton, 1995; quoted in Lanier & Henry, 2004:240). Those who are able to achieve the American dreams is subject to owning a house, car, and providing comfort. Other person who is restricted to the opportunity becomes strain. Though, some people who experiences strain does not commit crime, others other who expose to strain adapt to strain by five modes of adaptation. These five modes of adaptation include conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and…

    • 2253 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Structural Strain Theory

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the theory of structural strain, there two overall categories: institutionalised means and cultural goals, and five smaller categories: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. (Structural Strain Theory, 06-14-16). Structural strain is the pressure of society negatively…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    General Strain Theory

    • 2128 Words
    • 9 Pages

    There are many criminological theories to explain why crime and criminals work the way they work. Five theories are fit into a majority of today’s crime cases are Anomie theory by Emile Durkheim, General strain theory by Robert Agnew, Social Disorganization theory by Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay, Social Bonding theory by Travis Hirschi, and the Containment theory by Walter Reckless. Anomie is when there is a clear lack of social norms and values. This is common among teens who grew up in a dysfunctional, abusive family. General strain theory is used an individual is strained and unable to cope with the strain so they commit their time to doing crimes. Social Disorganization theory shows why certain neighborhoods experience more crime rates…

    • 2128 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Jordan Brown Strain Theory

    • 2114 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Juvenile crimes are the various offenses that children under the age of eight-teen commit. The acts involved in these crimes are called juvenile delinquency. The issue of juvenile delinquency has been a rising issue in the American society for decades. As we take a look into the factors behind this problem we will also look into what changes have been made to the juvenile justice system to combat this. Factors behind juvenile delinquency is said to be mental illness and substance abuse which are the main contributors. It is said to be that roughly thirty to ninety percent of detained and incarcerated juveniles have been found to have some sort of mental illness. In the past, there were times when these…

    • 2114 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    English 105

    • 1869 Words
    • 8 Pages

    * Strain leads to negative affective state which causes people to cope with their negative state with either criminal or non-criminal coping strategies.…

    • 1869 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Juvenile Strain Theory

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sociological theory ties into the strain theory and in 1985 Agnew revised the strain theory that basically states that people who are not treated fairly or respectfully experience strain. The indication behind the over-all strain theory is just as its term suggests. The strain theory looks at the strain on a person and whether they will settle toward committing crimes to lessen the strain on their self. The main ideas of the strain theory compact with how a destructive relationship upsets an individual and their future deals with crime. Damaging relationships are defined as relations with others that are not stable on how a person considers that they should be treated. Since the stepfather has been sexually abusing Abby she has become withdrawn from her parent, activities, and school. Having a negative influence in her life Abby feels that she can’t cope with life. Abby is an angry teenager obviously and should be rehabilitated to get back on track with the right intervention. According to the strain theory Abby is experiencing a lot of stress and strain. She has the right to be troubled, and she will continue to…

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Being traumatized at a young age makes it hard for a person to tolerate their existence. Eventually this trauma can turn their immaturity and narcissistic views into “obsessive behavior.” As with adults, some adolescents kill because they are chronically aggressive, cold and unfeeling, deprived of love or gratification, they feel justified while escalating to violence. Some will kill because they "explode" in response to a history of "over-controlled hostility, they tend to lash out after feeling victimized and nurturing longstanding resentment. Usually killings are more dramatic if they are committed by the psychotic, being disturbed and disordered thoughts and a tenuous grasp on reality.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    People tend to do violent things when fear starts to overwhelm them. For example, George Zimmerman killed a 17-year old boy, Trayvon Martin, out of fear for his life. “He argued that Martin had thrown the first punch in the confrontation and that Zimmerman, fearing he was at risk of bodily harm or even loss of his life, had a right to protect himself.” ( Historic U.S. Events) Likewise, the boys killed Simon out of fear for their own lives.…

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Serial Killers usually murder not for terror or revenge, but instead for the thrill of taking lives. Approximately two- thirds of serial killers find motivation by the thrill of power or sexual sadism (Buss 106). Serial Killers enjoy the excitement, the sexual satisfaction, as well as the dominance and power that they achieve over the lives of their victims. On the other hand, the reason mass murders kill can range from revenge to hatred. The most publicized type of mass murder involves the indiscriminate shooting of strangers in a public place by a lone gunman. Many massacres are considered suicidal rampages because before the gunman takes their own life; the gunman intends to get even with everyone he or she holds responsible. Thus, showing even though mass murderers and serial killers have different reasons for the actions they take, the reasons are still beyond understanding for…

    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Why humans murder other humans is a question of insightful concern and practical importance, one that needs a successful scientific explanation. Evolutionary theory has explanations of why murder occurs, the circumstances in which it occurs, and the psychological mechanisms dedicated to murder. Murder is unlawful killing of another human being. As William Blackstone stated the common law definition of murder is ‘when a person, of sound memory and discretion, unlawfully killeth any reasonable creature in being and under the king 's peace, with malice aforethought, either express or implied’. A person kills for a number of reasons. Gang members kill rival gang members for a higher status among their community, more respect in their gang resulting in them getting more sexual partners. Thieves kill their victim incase that person cause them trouble in the future. Husbands kill their wives for having an affair or been expected of having an affair. They kill their wives incase their wife reproduces children with a rival male. Children are abused by people that have too much anger or people that may have been abused in there own childhood; they do this to make themselves feel inferior. Children may also be abused and murdered by step-parents more often than biological parents, as in evolutionary psychology these children are no good to their step-parents as they do not carry their step-parents genetic traits, therefore are useless to them. Men in barrooms with the influence of alcohol, things can get out of control resulting in the men fighting to be the better male. Ancestors would fight to the death to prove they are the stronger male. People kill other people in every culture in the world. In evolutionary psychology, the belief is humans are just like animals, we have evolved to be as we are. As humans murder for wealth/possessions, sex, and status/respect in the community, animals do too. Adult chimps fight to the death to claim their reproductive partner, show they…

    • 2474 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    To begin with, Social structure theories enlighten on how social economic structures can influence economic opportunities in our society, which then could also lay an impact on criminal tendency to a person. According to (author), strain theory, developed by Merton, states that there are certain things or circumstances that could increase the likelihood of a person to commit a crime, these are known as strains or stressor. These strains or stressors create a negative impact to the person’s emotions such as frustration and anger. These types of emotions influence the corrective actions and behaviors of an individual, thus committing a crime is an unavoidable result. Moreover, material success, such as cars,…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Stress and strain

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Simple Stresses and Strains Stress • No engineering material is perfectly rigid and hence, when a material is subjected to external load, it undergoes deformation. • While undergoing deformation, the particles of the material offer a resisting force (internal force). When this resisting force equals applied load the equilibrium condition exists and hence the deformation stops. • These internal forces maintain the externally applied forces in equilibrium. Contd… • Stress = internal resisting force / resisting cross sectional area =…

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays