General Strain Theory Essay

Improved Essays
I have chosen to write my essay on the article, “Building on the Foundation of General Strain Theory: Specifying the Types of Strain Most Likely to Lead to Crime and Delinquency” by Robert Agnew. Since I first heard of strain theory, I found it to be a fascinating concept that was easily seen in both everyday life and in the media. My favorite example of strain theory involves the plot of the television series, Breaking Bad. In the first few episodes of the show, we learn that the show’s main protagonist, Walter White, had lung cancer and may die; leaving his wife, teenage son, and (soon-to-be-born) daughter with very little to no money. The fact that Walter had little money to begin with was already a strain he was facing then the added …show more content…
It is hard not to when I myself have experienced strain several times in my adult life. As I read the article, I took notes the information that Agnew discussed that I found particularly interesting. A main concept being that most of the research conducted was based on objective strains (which are conditions or events that are disliked by most people within a group), while strain might be more accurately studied as subjective strain (conditions or events that are disliked by the individuals experiencing them) (Agnew, 2001, p. 320-321). Agnew then went on to explain how emotional responses vary and how that will affect the way individuals react to different strains. While I have believed in strain theory since I first learned about it, I never thought about how there would be different individualized reactions to strain. It is a concept that seems quite elementary but one that had eluded me (for reasons I still can not explain) until I read this …show more content…
Another concept that Agnew discusses is the strain’s likelihood of leading to crime. This is generally influenced by the criminal and non-criminal coping options and how appealing those options may be. Strains that are usually viewed as being associated with crime or criminals will usually result in crime as the coping option. It is added that criminal coping may be the individual’s most effective means of dealing with the strain. This reminds me of my initial example of Walter White turning to crime to cope with his strain. While his decision may not have been the only way to solve his problem, in his mind it was the most effective means of obtaining the amount money he desired for his family. I found every assigned article to be very interesting. However, I have always been interested in the concept of strain theory and therefore chose to write my essay about the article discussing General Strain Theory. I have learned quite a bit and agree with the concepts. I feel that knowledge I gained from this article will help me in my future criminology

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    North Memphis Case Study

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The crime problem will never be achieved, but it can be controlled through punishment for breaking laws. The North Memphis District will possibly continue to experience ongoing crime because of the lack of funds the government fail to invest in the community, which can make it a better environment in Memphis. The Social Disorganization, Social Control, and Strain theory attempts to express why and how crime remains in certain societies and what steps should be taken to lessen criminal behavior. Therefore, patterns of crime in cultural occurrences can greatly affect all of the theories from group to group with societal context that include time and space (Porterfield,…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The parallels with the macrolevel of anomie and control theory were discussed in research conducted by Agnew and Passas. The two theorists highlighted that the microlevel theory should be separate from the control theory (Agnew and Passas, 1997). Dr. Agnew also made a connection with strain theory to both control theory and social learning theory (Agnew, 1992). These theories are very different because of the type of social associations that they covered and the motivations of which they were based on. Control theory is based on the idea that society’s failure makes room for people to commit crime.…

    • 120 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In response to the multiple criticisms pinned against Merton’s Classical Strain Theory, Robert Agnew revitalized Strain theory to make it more broad and applicable. This theory shifted from the ideals that crime was caused by the unattainability of the American Dream to crime being precipitated by the inability to cope with negative affective states. Agnew noticed a miscorrelation between increasing crime between adolescent population and Merton’s Theory of Classic Strain. CST didn’t give reasoning to why crime rates among adolescents was increasing; this questioning is what initiated Agnew’s theory. Merton and Agnew had the same hypothesis, (strain causes delinquency), but different operational definitions of what strain is.…

    • 1279 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Hirschi's Control Theory

    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Using both Hirschi’s Control Theory and Merton’s Strain Theory, it can be established that a lack of familial and social bonding leads to individuals rejecting cultural norms and expectations, and ultimately leading to showing criminal behaviour and committing criminal acts as shown by Justin Bourque and his murder of three RCMP…

    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The theories are also similar in the fact that they are both cyclical. The strain theory is cyclical because it demonstrates the immigrants desire to reach the American dream. Due to the lack of opportunities afforded to them, they are unable to attain that dream. As a result, they have an inclination to resort to criminal activity as a means of attempting to achieve the American dream. Due to the lack of opportunities the immigrants are often pigeon holed into low income neighborhoods…

    • 466 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Strain Theory Strain theory is a criminology theory that has multiple interpretations. At its core, the theory states that individuals commit crimes because there is a strain between the social expectations placed on individuals and the opportunities available to them. Thus, if there is a social expectation that individuals will be able to provide for themselves, but their communities do not provide them the opportunities necessary to find a good job, then they will resort to crimes in order to meet that goal. In the original strain theory, there were two types of strain, structural an individual (May et al, 2015).…

    • 938 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Child abuse and neglect, excessive physical punishment, negative relations among friends and negative school events can be the stimulation needed for prompting deviant behaviors. The general strain theory encompasses the belief that experiences and strains among the individuals life are why certain individuals become criminals. With this theory, criminals are not born but made. With the strain triggers, the general strain theory has been expanded to when criminal behavior will likely result from. Strains that are more likely to result in crime can be seen unjust which provokes anger, in high magnitude which generate more anger since one’s ability to cope in a nonviolent way is unsettled, associated in low social control formed from the labor market, and creation of pressure or incentive to engage in criminal coping (Riedel, Welsh, 2016).…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Nicholas Crisafulle Dr. Greg Lukasik SYG 1000 Section 011 November 15, 2016 SYG Paper Assignment #2 Throughout the last few years, there has been a concern for those who are joining gangs at a young age. There are multiple variables within society to take into consideration for this decision being made by the younger generation. Strain Theory is one explanation for this choice.…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Unlike Merton who blames society as creating goals for the individual as monetary only, and then almost entirely eliminating legitimate means to achieve those goals, Agnew argues that environment, immediate goals, failure to achieve goals, and bad influence/stimuli all effect whether a person will turn to delinquency and crime or not (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 72, & Merton, 1938, Pg.672,675, &…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The strain theory states that there is an unequal emphasis placed on the means and goals in different societies. The goal in the American society is always wealth, and the means would be hard work, education, and honesty. There is more emphasis placed on wealth in the American society, but not everyone has the access to legitimate means like those listed above. This causes people to resort to illegitimate means, like burglary, robbery, or selling drugs. Harry and Marv, like other burglars, are motivated by wealth and want to make it out of houses around Kevin’s neighborhood with as many valuables as they can.…

    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Theories Of Hate Crime

    • 1590 Words
    • 7 Pages

    According to this strain theory, “criminal and deviant acts are one possible adaptation to stress. The three major types of deviance-producing strain are: failure to achieve positively valued goals, removal of positively valued stimuli, 30 and confrontation with negative stimuli.” (Akers & Sellers, 2013). When these groups of individual’s stressors are hit they react in an angry…

    • 1590 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In Agnew’s new strain theory, Merton shortcomings was address. According to Agnew, different form of strain causes people to attain negative feelings such as depression, anger, and fear. According to Agnew, people resort to crime when they are unable to cope with their negative emotions. In the strain theory, which explain that a person’s coping strategies is the primary factor of whether they are likely to participate in crime or…

    • 1778 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Strain Theory is similarly effective as it concludes that the yearning for monetary success is to blame as the most significant factor contributing to the commitment of crime. Money as the motive applies to the criminal justice system in many investigations where they are searching for a motive that may lead them to capturing a criminal. Wholly, both theories are tremendously useful in terms of understanding crime in regards to criminal…

    • 1553 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    More specifically, this theory holds “crime occurs when members of the lower class experience anger and frustration over their inability to achieve success” (Siegel, p. 143). Individuals feel this way because they fail to achieve what they deem as success through traditional societal means. Considering the individual does not feel successful, the “strain” pushes them to seek other means for success, such as criminal activities. Understanding the background of the strain theory is valuable in order to understand the main concept. Inspired by the Great Depression, Robert K. Merton developed the first major strain theory, which explains why the concept primarily focuses on an individual 's inability to achieve monetary success (Agnew, p. 30).…

    • 1771 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In: NEWBURN, T, Criminology. 2nd ed. Routeledge, pp. 170-176. The crime in which an individual commits will have strong negative effects on the healthy minds of society. It almost disturbs their feelings and consequently triggers a need or desire to fight back or seek justice in order to restore them back to their healthy state of…

    • 1262 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays

Related Topics