Strain theory has been define in varies ways, Robert K. Merton describes it as social structures/societal goals that are presented to people as what they should strive towards in order to be successful in life, but at the same time society does not provide any effective legitimate means to reach that goals (Merton, 1938, Pg.675). Those who are in the lower brackets of society, and do to the pressure that society puts on the individual it leads to those individual finding other illegitimate means of reaching that goal, which Merton defines as being in the middle/ upper class (Merton, 1938, Pg.679). In the other hand Robert Agnew argues that strain theory is more complex than such societal structure, and pressure to achieve what society
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Merton that strain theory, and crime is not created by society alone. Agnew, and Merton differ in their definition of strain theory in two ways; one being that Agnew takes a more individualist approach to strain theory, and Merton takes a more society based approach to explain crime (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 50, & Merton, 1938, Pg.672). Agnew argues that Merton definition of strain theory is not able to explain why only some individuals do to their strain turn to crime/delinquency, and also that Merton definition neglects every other aspect of strains other than monetary (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 50). Agnew ideal of strain theory is that immediate goals such as educational goals should also be taken into consideration when looking at strains that cause individuals to commit crimes (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 72). Also that bad influence/stimuli, removal of positive values, and failure to achieve positive goals all create a strain on the individuals that can lead him or her into delinquency (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 72). 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, &
Merton that strain theory, and crime is not created by society alone. Agnew, and Merton differ in their definition of strain theory in two ways; one being that Agnew takes a more individualist approach to strain theory, and Merton takes a more society based approach to explain crime (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 50, & Merton, 1938, Pg.672). Agnew argues that Merton definition of strain theory is not able to explain why only some individuals do to their strain turn to crime/delinquency, and also that Merton definition neglects every other aspect of strains other than monetary (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 50). Agnew ideal of strain theory is that immediate goals such as educational goals should also be taken into consideration when looking at strains that cause individuals to commit crimes (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 72). Also that bad influence/stimuli, removal of positive values, and failure to achieve positive goals all create a strain on the individuals that can lead him or her into delinquency (AGNEW, 1997, Pg. 72). 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, &