Strain Theory Crime
Strain Theory and Crime
Metropolitan State University
Allison Schaber
Abstract
Strain theory focuses primarily on socially defined goals and the permissible modes to achieve the goals. The theory attributes delinquency and crime as a response to the pressure of social instability created when there is difficulty attaining the goal or the goal becomes an end in itself. The early development of strain theory examined the social structure at a macro-level and related anomie while later studies on strain theory resulted in general strain theory, which emphasized individuals and their direct social environment. Several empirical studies on strain theory including, generalized strain theory and their components are reviewed within this paper. Lastly, a theoretical framework of general strain theory will be applied to an existing criminal justice program to make the program more effective.
Robert Merton (1938) developed strain theory which examined defined goals, modes to achieve said goals, and the strain created when people could not achieve the goal thus resulting in anomie. Anomie is social instability resulting from the breakdown of standards and values (Merriam-Webster, 2016). Merton (1938) defined the social structure as …show more content…
regulating acceptable modes to achieve goals while the cultural structure defined the goals, purposes, and interests of each social group. Specific culturally defined goals were determined to be valued more than others and often were considered aspirational with varying degrees of status and sentiment (Merton, 1938). It is important to note that social and cultural structure varied by each social group. An effective balance in society is achieved when people experience satisfaction from achieving the goal and taking satisfaction in the modes of attaining the goal (Merton, 1938). Furthermore, Merton (1938) believed this balance illustrated an individual had conformed to the cultural goals and the institutional means to achieve them. When social order was disrupted two different types of cultural malintegration were said to occur in society. Cultural malintegration was defined as defective integration and disrupted social order (Merton, 1938). When the value of a specific goal was stressed without any institutionally appropriate means available to attain the goal, and legitimate alternatives were limited, it created cultural malintegration (Merton, 1938). This imbalance resulted in people resorting to illegal measures to accomplish the goal. This type of defective integration created an over emphasis on the goal itself, no satisfaction in the method to reach the goal, and people taking the most efficient, and often illegal, course to achieve the goal (Merton, 1938). Another form of cultural malintegration occurred when people failed to focus on the goal and instead had a strong adherence to the mode to reach the goal (Merton, 1938). Groups that engaged in this type of behavior were said to have stability within their social structure, but a strong fear of change and were considered a “tradition- bound society” (Merton, 1938. Pg. 673). Merton (1938) and Messner and Rosenfeld (2013) identified material success, in the form of money, as an overly emphasized goal placed on all members in society by the American culture. Merton (1938) stated, “The extreme emphasis upon the accumulation of wealth as a symbol of success in our own society militates against the completely effective control of institutionally regulated modes of acquiring a fortune” (pg. 675). Messner and Rosenfeld (2013) remarked, “…in American culture, success is signified in a distinctive way: by the accumulation of monetary rewards” (pg. 73). Merton (1938) believed the people who evaded the law to achieve monetary success knew the institutional rules existed, but emotional support for the rules were ineffective due to society exaggerating the success of the goal resulting in illegal behavior becoming common.
Messner and Rosenfeld (2013) asserted social instability continued due to the economic institution in America dominating the “institutional balance of power” (pg. 70). The overemphasis on the economy institution resulted in “anomie, weak social controls, diminished social support, and, ultimately, high levels of crime” (pg. 70). The institutional structures in American society were identified as the economy, polity, family, and the educational system (Messner and Rosenfeld, 2013). These social structures were all said to overlap and depend on the other meaning the functioning of one institution had consequences for the others (Messner and Rosenfeld, 2013).
Messener and Rosenfeld (2013) determined the economy dominated the institutional balance of power through devaluation, accommodation, and penetration of the other institutions.
Devaluation of the education system is demonstrated when teachers are paid less than other professions and students work instead of going to school (Messner and Rosenfeld, 2013). The family system is devalued through low compensation of child care workers and Messner and Rosenfeld noted in their work remarks made by Kelly Campbell, a former president of the International Nanny Association, “until we get to the point where we value our children as much as our material possessions, we’re going to have problems with child care” (pg.
80).
Education, politics, and family depend on the economy for survival so they accommodate the economy. The timing of school schedules reflects occupational demands rather than “personal interest in the pursuit of knowledge” and people go to school or seek higher education to prepare themselves for higher wage occupations illustrating how the education system accommodates the economy (Messener and Rosenfeld, 2013). Politics and politicians rely on private funds cultivated through the economy to operate effective campaigns as demonstrated by the costliest election in 2008 per Messener and Rosenfeld (2013). For the 2008 campaign Messener and Rosenfeld noted, “approximately $5.3 billion was spent by candidates, political parties, and advocacy organizations on the presidential and congressional campaigns” (pg. 85).
Penetration
References
Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30 (1), 47-88.
Jackson, Theron. (2012). Pressured into deception: using general strain theory as a framework for testing the validity of self-reported drug use of respondents in jail. Journal of Drug Issues, 42 (4), 373-395.
Merton, Robert. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3 (5), 672-682.
Messner, Steven and Rosenfeld. (2013). Crime and the American Dream. (5th Edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 69-104.
Metropolitan State University
Allison Schaber
Abstract
Strain theory focuses primarily on socially defined goals and the permissible modes to achieve the goals. The theory attributes delinquency and crime as a response to the pressure of social instability created when there is difficulty attaining the goal or the goal becomes an end in itself. The early development of strain theory examined the social structure at a macro-level and related anomie while later studies on strain theory resulted in general strain theory, which emphasized individuals and their direct social environment. Several empirical studies on strain theory including, generalized strain theory and their components are reviewed within this paper. Lastly, a theoretical framework of general strain theory will be applied to an existing criminal justice program to make the program more effective.
Robert Merton (1938) developed strain theory which examined defined goals, modes to achieve said goals, and the strain created when people could not achieve the goal thus resulting in anomie. Anomie is social instability resulting from the breakdown of standards and values (Merriam-Webster, 2016). Merton (1938) defined the social structure as …show more content…
regulating acceptable modes to achieve goals while the cultural structure defined the goals, purposes, and interests of each social group. Specific culturally defined goals were determined to be valued more than others and often were considered aspirational with varying degrees of status and sentiment (Merton, 1938). It is important to note that social and cultural structure varied by each social group. An effective balance in society is achieved when people experience satisfaction from achieving the goal and taking satisfaction in the modes of attaining the goal (Merton, 1938). Furthermore, Merton (1938) believed this balance illustrated an individual had conformed to the cultural goals and the institutional means to achieve them. When social order was disrupted two different types of cultural malintegration were said to occur in society. Cultural malintegration was defined as defective integration and disrupted social order (Merton, 1938). When the value of a specific goal was stressed without any institutionally appropriate means available to attain the goal, and legitimate alternatives were limited, it created cultural malintegration (Merton, 1938). This imbalance resulted in people resorting to illegal measures to accomplish the goal. This type of defective integration created an over emphasis on the goal itself, no satisfaction in the method to reach the goal, and people taking the most efficient, and often illegal, course to achieve the goal (Merton, 1938). Another form of cultural malintegration occurred when people failed to focus on the goal and instead had a strong adherence to the mode to reach the goal (Merton, 1938). Groups that engaged in this type of behavior were said to have stability within their social structure, but a strong fear of change and were considered a “tradition- bound society” (Merton, 1938. Pg. 673). Merton (1938) and Messner and Rosenfeld (2013) identified material success, in the form of money, as an overly emphasized goal placed on all members in society by the American culture. Merton (1938) stated, “The extreme emphasis upon the accumulation of wealth as a symbol of success in our own society militates against the completely effective control of institutionally regulated modes of acquiring a fortune” (pg. 675). Messner and Rosenfeld (2013) remarked, “…in American culture, success is signified in a distinctive way: by the accumulation of monetary rewards” (pg. 73). Merton (1938) believed the people who evaded the law to achieve monetary success knew the institutional rules existed, but emotional support for the rules were ineffective due to society exaggerating the success of the goal resulting in illegal behavior becoming common.
Messner and Rosenfeld (2013) asserted social instability continued due to the economic institution in America dominating the “institutional balance of power” (pg. 70). The overemphasis on the economy institution resulted in “anomie, weak social controls, diminished social support, and, ultimately, high levels of crime” (pg. 70). The institutional structures in American society were identified as the economy, polity, family, and the educational system (Messner and Rosenfeld, 2013). These social structures were all said to overlap and depend on the other meaning the functioning of one institution had consequences for the others (Messner and Rosenfeld, 2013).
Messener and Rosenfeld (2013) determined the economy dominated the institutional balance of power through devaluation, accommodation, and penetration of the other institutions.
Devaluation of the education system is demonstrated when teachers are paid less than other professions and students work instead of going to school (Messner and Rosenfeld, 2013). The family system is devalued through low compensation of child care workers and Messner and Rosenfeld noted in their work remarks made by Kelly Campbell, a former president of the International Nanny Association, “until we get to the point where we value our children as much as our material possessions, we’re going to have problems with child care” (pg.
80).
Education, politics, and family depend on the economy for survival so they accommodate the economy. The timing of school schedules reflects occupational demands rather than “personal interest in the pursuit of knowledge” and people go to school or seek higher education to prepare themselves for higher wage occupations illustrating how the education system accommodates the economy (Messener and Rosenfeld, 2013). Politics and politicians rely on private funds cultivated through the economy to operate effective campaigns as demonstrated by the costliest election in 2008 per Messener and Rosenfeld (2013). For the 2008 campaign Messener and Rosenfeld noted, “approximately $5.3 billion was spent by candidates, political parties, and advocacy organizations on the presidential and congressional campaigns” (pg. 85).
Penetration
References
Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30 (1), 47-88.
Jackson, Theron. (2012). Pressured into deception: using general strain theory as a framework for testing the validity of self-reported drug use of respondents in jail. Journal of Drug Issues, 42 (4), 373-395.
Merton, Robert. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3 (5), 672-682.
Messner, Steven and Rosenfeld. (2013). Crime and the American Dream. (5th Edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 69-104.