Violent Behavior Theories

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 important theory of deviance is the structural strain theory. The structural strain theory is defined as when the goals in which society sets for an individual are not met, that individual will defer to deviance. A perfect example is throughout the entire movie of the images of the streets, the hopelessness in each frame express what the strain theory is based upon. It is the idea that crime and violence are an immediate result between people's goals and the means to accessibly achieve them. They cannot overcome their deviant behavior because it is necessary to survive. Another example is in the beginning of the film Doughboy had said he was going to store. Ricky asked him why, as he did not have any money. Doughboy yelled, "aww I don't care."(Singleton) Instead of conforming to how Middle American youths obtain money, such as chores, Doughboy has to find alternate methods of achieving. Doughboy robs a store and is arrested. In a society where economic status is held on a pedestal, change is very difficult. This shows there is an unequal distribution of wealth which is a major cause of violence and robbery. A common theory among Americans is that society wants what it cannot have. It there was an equal distribution of wealth the strain theory would not exist as people would be satisfied with what society gave them, there would not be selfish ambition to obtain all you can. Another

Robert Agnew’s General Strain theory expands prior theorist’s concepts which emphasizes that the obstruction of an individual goal or the inability of an individual to achieve conventional goals through appropriate means causes unlawful innovations, such as crime (Brezina, 2010). More so, Agnew’s expanded the concept of stressors in an effort to make stressors classless. In addition, Agnew states that the strains that generate strong pressure which tend to lead to criminal behaviors are chronic strains, strains that are rationalized to unjust or severe, and strains that can be resolved by crime (Agnew, 2001). Lastly, Agnew believes that criminal response is most likely to occur when normal coping strategies are absent.

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.

Strain theory is described as the cause of crime due to the social class or environment in which a person grows up in. In our society, people strive to obtain wealth, education, materialistic possessions and power. Due to the environment lower social class people are born into, they are unable to obtain these aspirations through legal means. Feelings of frustration lead to strain and can cause these people to resort to external and illegal means to obtain these resources or lead them to abusing drug substances in an effort to feel better.

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.

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.

There are two types of the Modern Strain Theory, General Strain Theory and Institutional Anomie Theory. General Strain Theory (GST) was developed by Robert Agnew in 1992. This micro-level theory tries to explain why individuals who feel strain commit crime. Agnew claims there are three sources of strain, the first is the failure to achieve goals, it is based off Merton 's strain just explained a little different. Merton says the disjunction between culture and structure leads to failing to achieve the American Dream. Agnew makes it more general and talks about achieving any goals, not just the American Dream. The second source is the removal of positive stimuli, having something good taken from you. For example if you are dating someone

The theoretical framework of strain theory can be credited to sociologist Emile Durkheim. Durkheim research on formed a platform for other sociologist to further develop strain theories of crime. One of which is Robert Merton. One of Durkheim’s major works that opened the door to further research on strain theories was his book, Suicide. In this book Durkheim sough to understand the why led to one’s own self-destruction. Emile Durkheim studied suicide rates and its association with crisis. Durkheim noticed trends in suicide rates that were associated with economic prosperity and economic crisis.

The author explains Strain Theory as being "certain strains or stressors increase the likelihood of crime" (Hartmann, 27). The text goes into an explanation that as people become more uncomfortable, as they feel more uneasy, they are more likely to be involved in criminal activity. This happens due to an increase of anger, frustration and depression (Hartmann, 27). These feelings create a mindset in the individual that is more capable of justifying taking actions to improve their environment.

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,

Sociology professor, Robert Agnew, expanded on Merton’s Strain Theory significantly, calling his findings General Strain Theory (GST). Agnew refers to strain as the circumstances or occurrences that are disliked by an individual. When put under considerable pressure or strain, one’s likelihood of committing crime increases (Agnew 203). Agnew argued that there are multiple sources of strain and that the stressors most likely to lead to crime include economic deprivation, discrimination, homelessness, and harsh erratic discipline (207). These types of strains inevitability give way to a wide range of emotions such as depression, anger, fear, and frustration. Legitimate coping mechanisms (religion, exercise, athletics, etc.) are used as an outlet when people experience strain but if these are not readily available in an area, people reject this and resort to illegitimate coping means like

Findings from Brown, Esbensen and Geis (1991) show that strain theories operate from the view that certain strains or stressors are influential, that is, they can increase the likelihood of crime occurring. The assumption is that, individuals have goals, however, under this theory; the strains make it almost impossible for these goals to be achieved Brown, Esbensen and Geis (1991). Durkheim (1951) argued that, crime is inevitable; it is a normal phenomenon that is found in all societies. He indicates that, criminals are useful in the sense that they identify the limits of acceptable behaviour in a society. In addition to this, Brown, Esbensen and Geis (1991) proposed that individuals have things they wish to achieve in their life, defined as ‘aspirations’ complimenting this are ‘expectations’, what the individual believes to be realistic for them. These findings suggest that if there is a gap between these two elements, the strain may increase

I also do not think that we can shelter our children from violence and negative behaviors they learn from others since many invalidating, and influential factors are part of our world and our reality. In any case, one thing I know without a doubt is that we, as parents (or even as adults), we can be good role models. We can model proper emotional control and anger management. We can teach our children how to express their emotions and sentiments (both positive and negative). We can demonstrate that people can be assertive without being aggressive. We can also model effective problem-solving skills that can help them with their frustration. We can't supervise our children 24/7 because they will see and learn things outside our home, but we can

Aggression and violence are common in every day life, so common everyone is exposed to it. Krahe’ defines aggression as behavior that has intention to inflict negative consequences on a target with an expectancy the action will have a particular outcome (2001).There are an innumerable amount of studies to explain why aggression and violence occur, which are ranged from social and biosocial explanations as seen by the frustration and aggression theory (Dollard, 1939), the excitement transfer theory (Zillman, 1979), and the social learning theory (Bandura, 1961). Also ranged from biological theories, such as, psychodynamic (Freud, 1920), evolutionary (Buss, 1990), and ethological (Lorenz, 1966). Aggression has many forms, from social, verbal and physical aggression and other serious kinds of violence (Karriker-Jaffe, Foshee, Ennett, & Suchindran, 2008). Based on theories and studies; I will propose my FIVEstop approach, which are 5 solutions that may help reduce aggressive in society, and why the solutions may work.