Strain Theory: The Effects Of Family Conflict And Delinquency

Just as all criminological theories have strengths and weaknesses, GST displays several strengths and weaknesses in Agnew?s research. To begin, general strain theory reminds us that strains and stressors are multifaceted and how individuals cope with the strains and stressors holds a greater importance than the fact that strains and stressors exist. In fact, Agnew emphasizes the importance of strains and stressors on deviant behavior, he makes it a point to explain that not all individuals engage in crime when faced with a strain or stressor. Because cognitive, behavioral, and emotional adaptation varies, certain individuals have the ability to cope and adapt to strains and stressors in noncriminal ways (Broidy and Agnew 1997:276). Another strength of Agnew?s general strain theory is the reconceptualization of Merton?s theory by broadening the perspective from just a structural condition, to the individual level (Aseltine, Gore, and Gordon 2000:257). By Agnew creating a broader perspective, it allows criminologists to research and review how structural stressors effect individuals, later resulting in criminal and delinquent behaviors. Even though Agnew?s theory continues to be used by criminologists today, there are weaknesses that need to be addressed. Because of Agnew broadening the

Strain theory describes the idea that there are certain events and conditions in an individual’s life that are disliked and involve the inability to achieve goals, loss of positively valued stimuli, and presentation of negative stimuli (Brezina and Agnew). Child neglect and abuse can be described by this theory, and often is, because of its elements and the effect it has on children. Before the idea of child abuse and neglect causing juvenile delinquency can be argued, juvenile delinquency must be defined. Brezina and Agnew define juvenile delinquency as law violations committed by minors. One of the largest debated consequences of child abuse and neglect is it causes juvenile delinquency in victims. Juvenile offenders are view by the justice system as “‘immature’ in the sense that they are less capable of appreciating the consequences of their actions, less able to exercise self-control and more easily lead astray by others.” Supports of this claim say abuse causes delinquency because weak bonds, low self-control, and confrontation with negative stimuli.

The new sample is comprised of 1,086 students between the ages of ten and eighteen. Various surveys, questionnaires that require a positive response to be rated on a Likert scales, and self-reports garner information about the offender’s socioeconomic status, life stressors, home life, coping styles, alcohol/drug use, and mental health problems (Aebi et al., 2013). After a statistical analysis, the overall conclusion is that children and adolescents who exhibit behavioral problems, consume alcohol, and are of low socioeconomic status are at risk for delinquency (Aebi et al., 2013). Additionally, the article notes that juvenile offenders who have a propensity to avoid coping with stress

The general strain theory is an established theory that provides a basic understanding relating to different elements leading to specific criminal behaviors. The theory has been of importance in trying to map criminal patterns among individuals involved in criminal behavior, thereby creating a platform for their rehabilitation. The general strain theory has had a close connection to juvenile delinquency, as it creates a platform where psychologists can define some of the key factors prompting teenagers and youths to engage in criminal behaviors. According to Zhang (2008), teenagers and youths tend to become highly vulnerable to lack of emotional control attributed to an aspect of negative emotions, which do not include anger, thereby creating a platform for them to engage in behaviors that would be characterized as criminal. The main research problem of this report is to create a connection between the general strain theory and juvenile delinquency.

Mental health history and the familial dysfunction/disruption is studied when it comes to the female juvenile delinquency rate. Comparing data from multiple sources the authors will show how the recidivism rate is directly correlated to the home life of the youths. Any variable associated with the misbehavior

When it comes to juvenile delinquency an adolescent personality is usually impacted from different factors such as early child hood experiences of witnessing a crime, seeing a violent act, being the victim of a crime, or being around others or family who engaged in criminal activity, these factors can either create an adolescent with a positive or negative attitude, or an anti-social behavior which could create a path for a delinquent behavior (Wilson, p. 34). A study has shown that family interactions accounts for about 40 percent of the cause of an adolescent with an anti-social behavior, the study also shown that aggressiveness which is a common trait of adolescent who engage in delinquent acts is usually created from peer influences (Wilson, p. 34).

Strain Theory could have a strong influence on a youth’s lifestyle and be a theory explaining why juveniles have turned towards delinquency as a building block in the direction of adulthood. The following essay will be introducing a belief on why strain theory is one of the foremost concepts leading to misbehavior in adolescents.

One of the biggest causes of delinquency is the lack of stable family structure. For instance, a child could be hurt, if not receiving passionate love and care from their parents. Those not receiving love from their parents or their guardian as a child will probably act out for attention or start creating bad behavioral habits. I know every family is not a perfect and not every child is fortunate to have their parents in their lives. In this paper there are four objectives that I will talk about the lack of stable

There are many ways in which general strain theory can be implemented in policy. Programs created to reduce delinquency and crime must be focused on the negative emotions, behavior and actions of the individual, and relationships developed through interaction. A family based program is a program that could be implemented. The idea behind a family oriented program would be designed to address family bond and communication between the parents and children. Studies done in the past support the notion that relationship between the parents and child, as well as the strain experienced, can lead the child to delinquency. A survey conducted from 1,026 secondary school students in Guangzhou in Mainland China, and from 1,116 in Hong Kong indicated the intimate relationship between parents and adolescents, verify that family strain has a very strong impact on adolescent delinquency (Cheung, Ngai, & Ngai, 2007). Any family oriented program would be geared toward teaching families how to solve problems constructively. It would also show parents how to interact and discipline their children effectively. The goal of the program is to reduce the negative emotions families feel when there is conflict and strain.

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

It is a fact that girls or rather females in general, are emotional people who can easily traumatized by events or acts that happen to their lives, and, thus, the consequences of it affect them adversely. The traumatic conditions produce alterations in a person’s body stress responses that disrupt both the emotional and cognitive processes, and, thus, the increasing likelihood of risky habits is more likely to happen. The correlation between traumatic childhood experiences and delinquency is factual because a delinquent behavior in juveniles can be elucidated from the emotional regulation perspective. The latter may be impaired by persuasive and chronic child maltreatment (Asscher, Van der Put & Stam, 2015). Since children respond differently to abuse, they tend to deal with it in a way that will make them feel good and happy. In addition, abused or maltreated children, especially girls have cognitive problems causing them to be unable to recognize plus respond to risks that may precede a violent, aggressive or deviant behavior. Thus, girl juvenile delinquency is a coping mechanism in response to a traumatic experiences. A study done to investigate why

The thesis paper, Examining Juvenile Delinquency Contributors through Life-Course and Strain Theory, written by Caitlin Burns (2013), discusses the connection between life-course theory and general strain theory as an explanation to juvenile delinquency. Her paper goes on to discuss how the presence of strain theory in a juvenile’s school environment, family environment and peer groups, leads to delinquency. Burns states that, “There are several known contributors to juvenile delinquency, but the one that has shown the most significance is an adolescent’s commitment to school and the social environment that an individual develops while in this particular atmosphere” (Burns, 2013). In Burns (2013) paper, she also indicates that a juvenile’s peer group has been proven to be a contributor to juvenile delinquency, but that a juvenile’s school environment influences what type of peers to choose.

Across the nation, social scientists and criminologists have researched and hypothesized the main contributing factors that promote juvenile delinquency. The Strain/ Anomie theory introduced by Robert Merton and later revised by several other theorists, attempts to explain why juvenile subculture tend to behave certain ways when confronted with pressures from everyday life. Revised by other theorists, the Strain theory attempts to provide the framework of juvenile delinquency and its sources in order to analyze the effectiveness of this assumption, as well as to implement certain crime prevention policies and programs to curb this problem. This paper is going to analyze how the Strain theory contributes it’s principles of delinquency

There are many reasons why juveniles become delinquent. Stress is a huge factor when dealing with juveniles. The Strain Theory suggests that strain/stress and negativity may directly and/or indirectly lead to delinquency. Stain/stress lead to negative emotions which can fuel delinquency including violence, vandalism, truancy, illegal drug use, and theft. According to Sickmund & Snyder, males tend to be more aggressive and involved in violent crimes than females. A 2003 survey suggests that 33 percent of high school students have admitted to being involved in one or more physical altercations within the past 12 months. Of the 33 percent of students, males were substantially more likely to fight than females, and more likely to commit a violent act (Sickmund & Snyder, 2006).

Girls who grew up in stepfamilies were involved in more delinquent behavior compared to girls who lived in in-tact homes. For boys, living in a single parent family greatly increases the chance of delinquent behavior while living in a stepfamily does not. The test also showed that a good relationship with the mom and dad helped lower delinquent activities in girls. For boys, having a good relationship with their dad and lower conflict in the family helped lower delinquent activity.