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).…
The biographical film Blow (2001), directed by Ted Demme, depicts the life of American cocaine smuggler George Jung and his involvement with Pablo Escobar in the Medellín Cartel. During the 1970s and early 1980s, Jung was responsible for the majority of the cocaine that was trafficked into the United States. Narrated by George himself (Johnny Depp), the film follows a chronological sequence of events beginning with his childhood growing up in Massachusetts up until his final arrest as a result of the combined efforts of the FBI and DEA, in which he was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison.…
4. Clinard, B., M., & Meier, F., R. (2011). Sociology: Sociology of Deviant Behavior, (Edition 14). Cengage Learning, Belmont, CA.…
Robert Merton created the structural strain theory in 1938. This theory states that deviance occurs when a society does not give all of its member’s equal ability to achieve socially acceptable goals (Conley 192). The goals Merton is referring to is the ‘American dream’; everyone wants to have a good job, a nice home, and a nice family. In the strain theory Merton talks about 5 different types of people that make up society. There are conformists, innovators, ritualists, retreatists, and rebels. Conformists are the people who accept the goals of society and the means of achieving those goals. Innovators accept the goals of society but find new means of achieving these goals. That’s where J.T. falls. Ritualists don’t really accept the goals of society but they accept the means of…
Merton’s Strain Theory o Deviance depends on the extent to which society provides the means to achieve cultural goals…
This theory meshes some aspects from both the social disorganization theory and the strain theory. The main premise of the cultural deviance theory is that conformity to the prevailing cultural norms of lower class society causes crime. The lower class subculture has its own set of values, rules, and beliefs that clash with the mainstream values of the middle-class and wealthy. Criminality is a manifestation of conformity to lower class subculture values. Members of the working and lower class commit crimes of different variations as they respond to the cultural norms of their own class in an effort to deal with adjustments of the socioeconomic classes.…
“Deviance in sociological context describes actions or behaviors that violate cultural norms including formally-enacted rules (e.g., crime) as well as informal violations of social norms.”…
Deviance, social sanctions, and the control theory are other sociological concepts observed in the film. Deviance depicts an action that disobeys social norms. Every character in the film is seen as deviant by either their actions that forced them into detention, or executed actions during the detention. For example, Claire is deviant because she skips class so she can go shopping, and during detention, she instigates a relationship with John. Allison appears in detention because she was bored on a Saturday, and during detention, she steals Brian’s wallet. Andrew is deviant when he smokes since he is a varsity-lettered wrestler. John is incessantly deviant because he challenges and argues with Principal Vernon, does not partake in school clubs…
Strain theory is "a micro-level, process explanation of individuals criminal behavior based on notion of goal frustration" (Howell, 2015). The general strain theory of crime and delinquency was developed by Robert Agnew's in 1985 (Akers & Sellers, 2009). The theory has three explanatory factors which is first the strain that lead to negative emotion then to behavior, but what can impact a person response to a strain is the internal and external constraints. An internal constraint is the type of value structure, self control, or even the amount of emotion management (Howell, 2015). Where the external constraint is the amount of social support or bonding and there is the nature of peer association. Strain can come from three situations which are failure to achieve positively valued, removal of positively valued stimuli, and confrontation…
Deviance incorporates behaviors, norms and traits considered a violation of the societal norms or those that trigger negative reactions from the society. There is a wide array of social deviance definitions depending on aspects such as time, situation and the culture. It is also important to note that while some forms of social deviance involve large groups of the community such as piercings and tattoos while, others are only perpetrated by very minute portions of the community such as those who commit murders. Interaction also results in the formation of certain deviant behaviors while others result from conflict or genetic markers. The criminal justice system…
Strain theory means when individuals feel the strain of being pressured to succeed in socially approved ways, they turn to crime and delinquency. Studies indicate a positive relationship between strain and delinquency. Individuals exposed to various types of strain parental abuse, victimization, discrimination, peer abuse are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors. The studies found that strain predicted anger, which in turn influenced deviant behaviors. Robert Agnew elaborates on characteristics of strain most likely leading to delinquency. He argues that strain, when perceived as unjust, high in magnitude, associated with low social control, or creating incentives for criminal coping, is more likely to be related to delinquent behaviors. Furthermore, he identifies specific types of strain parental rejection,…
Many sociologists have said that the sociology of deviance is dead, such as Colin Sumner in 1975. It was said that behaviors are not deviant but rather just seen as not normal in society, but the term ‘normal’ cannot exactly be defined. Deviance is a discipline in Sociology that many claim is now ‘dead’. Deviance is an act with refers to ‘norm-breaking’ in our society. A social norm is appropriate behavior for a social group and an appropriate behavior for the environment an individual is in. Deviance is the act of breaking these social norms whether it be your behavior or something you do. Once you break…
Strain Theory also known as the anomie theory is based off of Robert Merton. “Industrialized U.S. society heavily emphasizes the cultural value of success (The American Dream) he believes that deviant behaviors is caused by innovation (Thio, 2013). Meaning that individuals in lower social class will become deviant due to lack of resource and education. According to this theory individuals will become deviant because they have little to nothing to work with, while are trying to reach the American dream. An individual in a social lower class will also have a problem with conformity because to achieve their goal, most will have to commit crimes. Some lower class individuals will become retreatism which means withdraw from society. You cannot teach a lower class person to become a higher class person because the higher social class cannot really have a true understanding for what the lower class is truly going through. Society has made it hard for people of the lower class to move to another class and one possible reason is “fallacious premise”. Meaning society discourages the individual from engaging in deviant activities. Morton believes in the opposite society encourages the individual to engage in deviant activities. The U.S. paints a picture that anyone from any class should have the same goals (The American Dream), and should be able to reach it no matter what one’s social class…
Strain Theory was developed in 1938 by Robert Merton to explain how the crimes in the US fluctuated significantly during that time. Merton believed that society was built on this idea which assured the public that there was equal opportunity that was available to anyone, regardless of class, gender or ethnicity, called the American Dream. The ‘American Dream’ painted this idea in the heads of individuals to seek success through wealth and material possessions. Americans were expected to seek out this perfect life by going to school, and gaining experience. The stigma in America was if you are ambitious and work hard then they should be rewarded with wealth.…
Deviance is part of every culture and society, it is the border line between acceptable and intolerable behavior. Each micro society holds it's own definition as to what deviant behavior actually is. The deviant is one to whom that label has successfully been applied, deviant behavior is behavior that people label. Through out history, there is no doubt in my mind that deviant citizens have been a contributing part to each generation. It is all relative, a label of deviance remains a label of deviance; the question that remains really is "what is deviance?". Being labeled as an outside is not foreign for some people. Matter of fact it is acceptable and a norm to be labeled as deviant for some people. No matter what group of people you deal with through out history or life today, there are social rules written and sometimes unwritten, nonetheless meant to be broken.…