outline and highlight the contribution of Merton’s strain theory to criminology. Robert K. Merton was an American sociologist that wrote in the 1930’s putting out his first major work in 1938 called Social Structure and Anomie. After publication‚ this piece was we worked and tweaked to counter criticisms. The importance of the time frame of which Merton initially began his work is significant‚ as during this time crime and the approach to crime was examined predominantly based on the individual
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important to understand why people commit crime in an effort to address it appropriately. There are many theories that have emerged from different perspectives of criminal behavior. Rational choice theory states that people generally act in their self-interest and make decisions to commit crime. This means that people are living in such a way that knowingly disobeys law and order while thinking of the consequences at hand. Social disorganization theory believes that a person’s social environment
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Main assumptions of Strain Theory and its contributions to understanding crime In general‚ a group of theories‚ called Strain Theory‚ contends that most people in society share the same goals of achieving wealth and success. But in every society there is division between lower class and their wealthier counterparts. Those people from lower class don’t have the same opportunities that those from upper class do. As a result‚ lower class gets frustrated because they are not able to achieve upper
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The general strain theory reports that women tend to respond to strain emotionally with depression and anger‚ that anger is then internalized into guilt and shame and this can result in self-destructive behaviors. On the contrary‚ men respond emotionally to strain with anger‚ followed by moral outrage and this can result in a violent crime. In these findings‚ the result of females generally having stronger relationship ties which help to reduce strain as opposed to males who have lower social control
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Why People Commit Crime: A Strain Theory Perspective SOCI150 Criminology Deviance‚ criminal behavior and wrong doings; why do they occur? People don ’t just wake up one morning and say "I ’m off from work today so why don ’t I just go rob a bank". There has to be something in their past or present experiences that cause one to engage in criminal behavior. So what makes people commit crime and most importantly why do they fell they need to so? Criminologists have studied this question for many years
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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
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The Strain Theory is distinguished from social control and differential association/social learning theory. Agnew‚ 1992‚ states that there are significant amount crimes that are committed everyday by the hands of adolescent and young adults. The Strain theory helps to establish understand the important of choices and consequence. Violent has many consequences that can affect all racial and ethnic groups (Agnew‚ 1992). The negative impact that is affect by the choices that we make and allow to overcome
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individuals to either blend in the structure the society has to offer or else become an associate of deviance subculture in the endeavor to attain these goals. Merton termed this theory as Strain theories. These theories are amid the first candidly sociological explanation of the sources of deviant behavior. The theory seeks to in-depth and better understand deviance by centering on social patterns and structures that emerge as either groups or individuals react to conditions in which in the real
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There are several reasons why juveniles commit crimes and act up. Some of these can be explained by theories or in other words educated guesses. Although theories are only educated guesses they can be used to decide why juvenile delinquents come through the court systems. Theories can be helpful in determining why children or teenagers become a criminal. It also helps to determine what can help deter crimes by juveniles. In this essay theories will be explained that could fit some of the children
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commit crimes but their surroundings cause strain in their life and force them to partake in illegal behavior. However‚ some of the actions taken are less serious than others like: a teen speeding on the street to make curfew or stealing from a store to pay your rent. The actions of speeding can have a dramatic effect such as getting pulled over for drunk driving and having your parents find out and making them miss bills due to bailing you out. These illegal actions taken were due to the strain put
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