The Problem Of Anomie Strain Theory Essay

What causes people to commit crime? This million dollar questions has place many criminologists and researchers searching for answers. In the past decades, people have tried to explain crime by referring to the earliest literature of criminal’s atavistic features to human biology. Recent studies have shows that crime is described in the social environment. While, no one theory can prove the causes of crime, strain theory has gain support in academic research for its five mode of adaptation.

Throughout my life I have struggled when it came to the education system and learning itself. I have had highs and lows; I have been through several tutors, and have spent a lot of money in attempting to learn certain concepts and subjects. Although school has not come as easy to me as it does to others, I have not let that stop me from developing a mind of my own and self-educating myself. I never failed school, but I always struggled through most subjects. I would be the girl who tutors other students in Chemistry, but would then fail a test on the same subject matter that I just taught to the students I tutored. This took a toll on me mentally; it creates a sense of anger and a

In 1995, a very heinous, mysterious crime was committed the murder of two innocent boys by their mother. This crime was thought to be completely unexplainable. This mother convinced America that a black man had stole her car and kidnapped her children. Little did we know this suicidal woman would be capable of committing such a crime. There are many theories that you can apply to this case. However the theory that fits it most closely is the general strain theory.

Rebellion is the denunciation of both conventional and cultural goals, but aims to replace both foundations with new goals and means of obtaining these.

While reading Too Cool for School by Ellis Cose I have became aware of various aspects of my ‘schooling’ experience. I realized that I may not have had the best schooling experience, but I never pushed up against the system to get any better. Throughout my life I have attended over 10 schools some very high end others bottom of the barrel. Like Cose, I always knew my intellectual abilities, but I was always so dissatisfied with my situation I didn't make the best of it. Instead of soaking up as much knowledge as possible and making a lesson out of my situation I became complacent. I started to slack off and allow myself to become stagnant to what I knew my abilities were. I allowed myself to be a product of my environment when I should I have

And similarly to the young boys of the Oakland study, I rebelled against the unjust punitive social controls punishing me despite my innocence and restricting my freedom, and I withdrew from the school despite its second place state ranking and the spot it would have guaranteed me at the number one high school in Tennessee. I started home-schooling instead, a decision that helped my stability but has also handicapped me to this

There was no academic support because the school ended up being a dump for out-of-control and

Classic Strain Theory, as introduced and defined by Robert Merton, is a Social Structure Theory used to help explain the effect one’s community, most notably lower class areas, has on their ability to achieve predetermined goals, usually considered culturally normal. Merton theorized that all people in a various culture and social structure have similar values, goals, and norms. He stated that within this social structure there are individuals who come from affluent upbringing and are therefore more likely achieve these goals, and most likely this will be attained through legitimate, culturally acceptable means. There are however, Merton said, lower class areas where individuals suffer from lack of educational and economic opportunities

In Merton’s (1938) strain theory social structures account for the criminal tendencies found in offenders. Individuals adjust to societal pressures in five distinct ways. Adaptation I, which entails conforming to both culture norms and means, is the most common. The popularity of this adaptation allows a society to function effectively. In contrast, adaptation IV is the least common and gives rise to the rejection of both cultural goals and means. Those that adopt this culture pattern are societal misfits and usually include some such persons as psychotics, psychoneurotics, chronic autists, vagrants, and chronic drunkards or drug addicts.

In the 1980’s, Criminologist, Robert Agnew, presented his theory of general strain, in which he covers a range of negative behaviors, especially how adolescents deal with stresses of strain. General strain theory focuses on the source, such as anything that changes in the individual’s life that causes strain. His theory provides a different outlook on social control and social learning theory for two reasons: the type of social relationship that leads to delinquency and the motivation for the delinquency (Agnew, 1992). He states that certain strains and stresses increase the likelihood for crime such as economic deprivation, child abuse, and discrimination. These factors can cause an increase of crime through a range of negative emotions. For some people it can take a lot of willpower to take a corrective action and try to deter away from committing crime in a way that they can relieve these negative emotions. When people cannot cope with the stresses of the strain, they turn to crime as a coping mechanism. Agnew also states, that not all people that experience the stresses of strain will go forward to committing crime and live a deviant life.

It seemed the harder I tried, the worse grades I received. My parents punished me for not achieving high marks by grounding me on the weekends to keep studying more and more. All this punishment did not help because I began hating the pressure of school because I did try hard and had a desire to get good grades however the more effort that I put in, the harder school seemed to get. Additionally, each year every student was obligated to perform in a talent show for the whole student body and community of parents. I remember feeling like these shows were put on so the parents could laugh, make fun of and be entertained at the expense of the unfortunate children. I remember feeling sorry for some students that just didn’t have the talent they were trying to portrait. Being a student in the 1970’s, you did what you were told to do, without question, and if you did do something that was out of line, your parents were called to pick you up, and you were punished at home. I really did not like grammar school much. I was in the lower average of my class, I did not have a great talent, and I was made fun of for being different than others students---I have red hair. I really dreaded going to school as a child due to the pressures that the school, teachers and my parents put on me.

Whether it is in a particular subject or extracurricular, there was a constant comparison and a hunger to beat other. This not only brought large amounts of stress and anxiety but an idea that your self-worth was completely dependent in these areas. I have seen people have constant breakdowns, and feel a surge of accomplishment that never really resulted in happiness. A constant I found through these experiences was that being the best only brought you a temporary high, happiness, and satisfaction. It never brought you true happiness as you were constantly protecting your throne from others who are fighting viciously to get it. You were in constant anxiety and stress, and that brief moment of happiness wasn't worth the whole journey you put yourself through. I have been in the situation where I ask myself, was this even worth it? Was the constant stress worth it? Were the breakdowns worth it? Was the feeling of constant defensiveness worth it? Was feeling that brief moment of satisfaction worth it? No. It wasn't. You might've held onto that crown for a brief moment, but what is that when you could've been so much happier all

Introduction- This paper will cover Anomie Strain, and Differential Opportunity theory. This will be done by an overview and explanations of the two theories, and by comparing and contrasting the theories based on the explanations Robert Merton, Richard Cloward, and Lloyd Ohlin proposes. To begin, the question that inspired Robert Merton, Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin was to explore what was the cause and explanation of why delinquents commit delinquent acts. Robert Merton created and dedicated his research on this question that later developed into his theory that he named Anomie Strain theory. Using the framework of Robert Merton, Richard Cloward and Lloyd

The book “Crime and the American Dream” is an example of the Strain Theory. Social class and living conditions are some of the factors that increases the vulnerability of a certain group to commit crimes. People are eager to be part of the ideology of the dream that the United States has to offer. The United States promise people that if they form part of the American society they will be successful and have the opportunities that they did not have in their home country. Most people believe that since the United States is the land of opportunity. Many people come to this country chasing the American dream while leaving behind the restrictions of their home land.

I remember going into my freshman year of high school nervous but excited because I thought I’d learn so many new things. Next thing you know I found myself dreading school. Was I being lazy? Was it my lack of motivation? I still can’t grasp why exactly I lost that excitement or that yearning to go to school. I was raised to have the idea that school was a place to learn not socialize. But at the age of 14, what teenagers don’t want to socialize and that’s what got a hold of me. I spent too much time worrying about other things that didn’t involve my education.