Cumulative Strain Theory

These three origin theories combine to create Cumulative Strain Theory. Stage 1 of Cumulative Strain Theory is “Chronic Strain.” In this stage, strain intensifies and continues across a lengthy time period, becoming chronic. Strains are various life pressures and difficulties that lead to anger, frustration, disappointment, depression, fear, and ultimately crime. At this stage, chronic strain or frustrations, and a string of failures to achieve one’s goals, increase the likelihood of anger and aggressive behavior. Chronic Strain is a persistent theme in the lives of school shooters and this strain often crosses many areas from home life to school relationships. Some school shooters have addressed home life strain by attempting to murder their family members right before they shot students at the school, as seen through the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting. In the school environment, a source of chronic strain could be on-going and persistent bullying, or challenges from other youth surrounding a male’s masculinity (Levin & Madfis, 2009). Stage 2 is “Uncontrolled Strain.” In this stage, those who have experienced chronic strain lack positive social bonds and attachments with people and as a result, do not receive adequate support to manage their chronic stress. This lack of conventional and pro-social relationships with no protective …show more content…
This loss serves as the catalyst or precipitant to violence. As in medical nomenclature, acute symptoms develop rapidly and have a substantially shorter lifespan than chronic symptoms. Acute strain is short-term but catastrophic to someone who is already experiencing chronic strain. With school shooters, the catastrophic event is often a humiliating loss of face, rejection from a romantic interest, loss of academic standing, eviction from a peer group, or a major illness (Levin & Madfis,