Question One
General Strain Theory General strain theory is based off of many different theories from multiple disciplines (King, 2016a, para. 7). Agnew states that deviance and crime are adaptations to strain (Akers & Sellers, 2013, p. 187). Deviance does not occur automatically from strain though, it only occurs when the conditions of strain are in conjunction with a psychological state of “negative affect” such as anger, disappointment, embarrassment, or frustration (King, 2016a, para. 2). Crime and deviance are only one of many possible outcomes of strain. Strains are more likely to lead to deviant behaviour when factors such as coping resources, social support, temperament, prior learning history, and normative beliefs are lacking (Akers …show more content…
p. 47). It connects the operation of the human automatic nervous system (ANS) with human behaviour that is at a higher risk of committing crimes or anti-social behaviour (King, 2016c, para 2). The ANS can be subdivided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system acts as an accelerator during times of heightened arousal (King, 2016c, para 3). This results in increased blood flow to muscles and the brain, enhanced vision through dilated pupils, and enhanced oxygen intake through dilated lungs and airways (King, 2016c, para 3). When the period of high arousal ends, the parasympathetic nervous system acts as a break and returns the body to normal functioning (King, 2016c, para …show more content…
604). When individuals have an inefficient ANS, they are slow to rebound from heightened arousal periods and are at a greater risk of committing socially unacceptable behaviour (King, 2016c, para 4). These individuals are less likely to learn how to control anti-social behaviour (Akers & Sellers, 2013, p. 50). People with inefficient ANS can be controlled with proper child upbringing, social learning and environmental factors (Boman, 2010, p. 604). If parents have poor functioning ANS and they pass the trait onto their children, they may be unable to provide proper upbringing, social learning, and environmental factors and therefore the child would be at a greater risk of committing
General Strain Theory General strain theory is based off of many different theories from multiple disciplines (King, 2016a, para. 7). Agnew states that deviance and crime are adaptations to strain (Akers & Sellers, 2013, p. 187). Deviance does not occur automatically from strain though, it only occurs when the conditions of strain are in conjunction with a psychological state of “negative affect” such as anger, disappointment, embarrassment, or frustration (King, 2016a, para. 2). Crime and deviance are only one of many possible outcomes of strain. Strains are more likely to lead to deviant behaviour when factors such as coping resources, social support, temperament, prior learning history, and normative beliefs are lacking (Akers …show more content…
p. 47). It connects the operation of the human automatic nervous system (ANS) with human behaviour that is at a higher risk of committing crimes or anti-social behaviour (King, 2016c, para 2). The ANS can be subdivided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system acts as an accelerator during times of heightened arousal (King, 2016c, para 3). This results in increased blood flow to muscles and the brain, enhanced vision through dilated pupils, and enhanced oxygen intake through dilated lungs and airways (King, 2016c, para 3). When the period of high arousal ends, the parasympathetic nervous system acts as a break and returns the body to normal functioning (King, 2016c, para …show more content…
604). When individuals have an inefficient ANS, they are slow to rebound from heightened arousal periods and are at a greater risk of committing socially unacceptable behaviour (King, 2016c, para 4). These individuals are less likely to learn how to control anti-social behaviour (Akers & Sellers, 2013, p. 50). People with inefficient ANS can be controlled with proper child upbringing, social learning and environmental factors (Boman, 2010, p. 604). If parents have poor functioning ANS and they pass the trait onto their children, they may be unable to provide proper upbringing, social learning, and environmental factors and therefore the child would be at a greater risk of committing