Dropping Out Of School Is More Common Than People Think

This “strain” can take on two forms: individual or structural. Individual strain is a reference to one’s own needs and the pains that a person has to endure when trying to gain them. Structural strain is a reference to the pains felt to both fit and achieve on a certain level within specific contexts. All of this information points to strain theory fitting into the category of the Postmodernist School of Criminology. This school of thought teaches of how criminal behaviors are in fact used to correct inequality that is caused by society.

Another relevant theory in regards to the pattern of juvenile delinquency is Strain Theory. In 1938, Robert Merton developed the theory of Strain to describe how social structures within society may pressure citizens (low socioeconomic status) to commit crimes. Merton felt that too much pressure to achieve goals, such as financial well-being, led to behaviors such as selling drugs. Merton’s theory relates to juvenile delinquency in that adolescents might experience overwhelming stress or pressure in their peer groups to have more money, to fit in, or to be influential. These social stressors will perpetuate delinquency because the teens will want to participate in criminal activity to solve such problems. In 1992, Robert Agnew

Strain theories of criminal behaviour have been amongst the most important and influential in the field of criminology. Taking a societal approach, strain theories have sought to explain deficiencies in social structure that lead individuals to commit crime (Williams and McShane 2010). Strain theories operate under the premise that there is a societal consensus of values, beliefs, and goals with legitimate methods for achieving success. When individuals are denied access to legitimate methods for achieving success, the result is anomie or social strain. This often leads an individual to resort to deviant or criminal means to obtain the level of success that they are socialized to pursue. This is the basic premise of strain theory. This

The theory of General Strain is how the strain on an individual leads them toward criminal activities and behaviors. The main concepts of general strain theory explain how a negative relationship affects the individual and their future in the expansion towards delinquency. Negative or harmful relationships are defined as affiliations with others that are partake in similar criminal activity and how an individual believes they should be treated. The strain theory is broken down into three types: (1) Strain as the failure to achieve positively valued goals (Traditional Strain), (2) Strain as the removal of positively valued stimuli from the individual, and (3) Strain as the presentation of negative stimuli.

First of all, what is “Social Strain Theory?” Robert Merton who is a theorist and creator of Strain Theory has allocated that “strains” are instigated by United States social structure which dictates equivalent goals in terms of success and job status within all members of society despite all members not having equivalent means to achieve money and success. Those that have that have obstacles in the way of achieving success and wealth experience strain and could engage in criminal behavior (Merton). In this theory Merton also created “Deviance

Robert Agnew’s strain theory states that there are many strains and stresses in ones lives which could influence the likelihood of one committing a crime. The strain theory suggests there are two main factors that could influence ones decision to commit crimes. The first is the exhibition of a negative stimulus; this could include a traumatic event or abuse. The second being the deprivation of a positive stimulus, this could be the death of a loved one or failed plans. The strain theory has a list of strains which may influence deviance; these include child abuse, criminal victimisation, homelessness, failing at achieving planned life aims.

Furthermore it states that humans, being conformists readily buy into these notions. However, access to the means for achieving these goals is not equally available to everyone. Some have the education, social network and family influence to attain these goals. The socially and economically disadvantaged do not have the opportunity, education or necessary social network for attaining material wealth and economic or political power. Thus the strain theory predicts that crime occurs when there is a perceived discrepancy between these goals and the legitimate means for reaching them. Individuals who experience a high level of this strain are forced to decide whether to violate laws to achieve these goals, to give up on the goals pushed upon them by society, or to withdraw or rebel.

The two theories identified are Strain theory and General strain theory. Strain theories are indicated when certain strains or stressors are increased, there is a probability for a person to commit a crime. According to Robert Merton, strain theory is a form of adaptive problem-solving behavior that is committed in response to problems involving frustrating and undesirable social environments (Schmalleger, 2011). Strain results from an individual failure to achieve one’s goals, such as money, status/respect, autonomy, loss of a positive (death of a friend or love one), and loss of value possession. Strain can be thought of as pressure that individuals feel to reach socially determined goals (Agnew, 2015). A person who experience these strains become upset, which they may turn to crime in an effort to cope. By doing so, crime may be an escape or reduction for them to escape this feeling.

General Strain Theory The concept of criminal behavior and crime has been studied since the beginning of sociology. There have been many theories used to explain why some individuals commit crimes. Strain theory is one of the major theories used to explain society’s role on criminal behavior. Strain theory suggests that society puts strain on an individual which respond by turning to crime.

Agnew argued that strain occurs in the three forms mentioned above: when something good is taken away, when something bad happens, and when we can’t get what we want. Hundreds of other strains fall into these categories, but not all are conducive to crime. General Strain Theory states that there are four factors involved in influencing whether a strain is conducive to criminality. The first is that the strain must be high in impact on the individual, the second is that an individual must perceive the strain as unjust, the third is that the individual must have low social control with little to lose from the stigma and repercussions of crime, and finally the strain must have pressure or incentive toward committing crime. While not all of these must be simultaneously met for a strain to be considered conducive to criminality, they are accepted within General Strain Theory as the most fundamental characteristics of such a strain, meaning that common strains such as childhood discipline are not considered conducive to crime.

Strain theory has two somewhat similar and well-known approaches, initially touched upon by sociological theorist Emile Durkheim; it has then been further expanded upon by Robert Agnew (1953) and Robert Merton(1951). General strain theory (GST), which has been expanded upon by theorist Robert Agnew. He says that GST in its simplest form is, “individuals who experience strains or stressors often become upset and sometimes cope with crime. Such individuals may engage in crime to end or escape from their strains(Agnew, 2006).” General strain theory can be used to explain deviant behaviour such as an adolescent may engage

The strain theory explains the criminal behavior and is a breakdown of why people commit crimes. The theory was developed by an American Sociologist Robert K. Merton (1910-2003). Merton believed that the society influences deviance and plays a huge role in criminals committing crimes. Emile Durkheim (1858-1957) presented the earliest version of the strain theory. He believed that well-built societies set restrictions on individual goals, meaning that the person was given a chance to achieve their goals. Durkheim theory centers on the pursuit of limitless goals, whereas Merton theory targets the lower economic individuals who are incapable of achieving more limited economic goals.

The strain theory, developed by Robert K. Merton in 1957 is not only a criminology theory but it is a sociology theory as well stating that individuals do indulge in crimes because the society exerts pressure and puts a lot of strain on them while they are on the process of achieving socially acceptable goals. A good example of this socially acceptable goal is the American Dream whereas examples of crimes committed under strain theory include

Strain theory refers to when people turn to crime and deviancy when they feel unable to achieve socially approved goals through legitimate means. (Agnew, 1992).

Strain theories imply that particular strains and or stressors can increase the rate for the likelihood of offending. These strains are mostly related to negative emotions. Like a domino effect, these emotions can then lead to crime to satisfy the pressure. Crime is an escape from stressors for individuals that feel the need to alleviate negative emotions. For example, single unemployed mothers may engage in theft by stealing food from the grocery store to feed her children. Agnew’s General Strain theory has become the dominant version of all strain theories, and also the most important theory of all crime. The General Strain Theory focuses mainly on a broad aspect of a variety of strains. This includes the lack of ability to accomplish specific goals, the lack of resources, loss of personal belongings, and adverse treatment by other individuals. This theory can be related to many different topics as well that can vary from the explanation gender, age, sociological differences, race, and crime rates. The General Strain Theory is applied to crime and deviance majority of the time. This can also range from police behavior, terrorism, cyber bullying, and suicide to different disorders. This theory is used to explain the likelihood of crime (Agnew,