Emile Durkheim
When was the general strain theory developed?
General strain theory was first proposed in
1992
and has since inspired hundreds of research reports (see Agnew 1992, 2006; Agnew and Scheuerman 2011; Hoffmann 2010). This research has tested the theory, proposed revisions in it, and applied it to new areas.
What are the origins of strain theory?
Strain theory is a
sociology and criminology theory developed in 1938 by Robert K. Merton
. The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (such as the American dream), though they lack the means.
Who is responsible for strain theory?
The ideas underlying strain theory were first advanced in the 1930s by
American sociologist Robert K. Merton
, whose work on the subject became especially influential in the 1950s.
What is Robert Merton’s theory?
Social strain theory
was developed by famed American sociologist Robert K. Merton. The theory states that social structures may pressure citizens to commit crimes. … These types of strain can insinuate social structures within society that then pressure citizens to become criminals.
What crimes does general strain theory explain?
domestic abuse, sexual assault, and drug use
as those crimes are not means to achieve an economic goal. Agnew’s revision of strain theory offers an explanation of the previously listed crimes as means of coping, albeit illegitimately, for the failure to achieve one’s goal.
What is the difference between anomie and strain theory?
44) conceives of anomie as a social condition that promotes “the withdrawal of allegiance from social norms and high
rates of deviance
.” Thus, Messner reformulates anomie theory to argue that the pressure exerted by the condition of anomie explains the distribution of deviance across society, while the strain theory of …
How does labeling theory explain crime?
According to labeling theory,
official efforts to control crime often have the effect of increasing crime
. Individuals who are arrested, prosecuted, and punished are labeled as criminals. Others then view and treat these people as criminals, and this increases the likelihood of subsequent crime for several reasons.
How many strain theories are there?
This section considers
four theories
that are commonly classified as “strain theories.” These theories include anomie theory (Merton, 1938), institutional anomie theory (Messner and Rosenfeld, 1994), general strain theory (Agnew, 1985 and 1992), and relative deprivation theory (Crosby, 1976; Davis, 1959; Gurr, 1970; …
What are the 5 reactions to strain?
Merton noted that the deviant response to strain was one of five responses he observed in society. He referred to such deviance as “innovation” while identifying the other responses to strain as
conformity, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion
.
What are the 3 main sources of strain?
- failure to achieve a goal,
- the existence of harmful impulses,
- and the removal of positive impulses.
What are the five components of Robert Merton’s strain theory?
Merton developed five modes of adaptation to cultural strain:
Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, and Rebellion
.
What is Durkheim’s theory?
Durkheim believed that
society exerted a powerful force on individuals
. People’s norms, beliefs, and values make up a collective consciousness, or a shared way of understanding and behaving in the world. The collective consciousness binds individuals together and creates social integration.
What are the 4 types of deviance?
According to Merton, there are five types of deviance based upon these criteria:
conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion
. Structural functionalism argues that deviant behavior plays an active, constructive role in society by ultimately helping cohere different populations within a society.
What are the weaknesses of general strain theory?
One of the major weaknesses of early versions of strain theory was that, following Merton’s general lead,
“success” was conceived and measured in largely economic terms
; that is, the “success goal” was considered to be overwhelmingly related to the accumulation of money / wealth.
Is general strain theory a strong theory?
Robert Agnew’s general strain theory is
considered to be a solid theory
, has accumulated a significant amount of empirical evidence, and has also expanded its primary scope by offering explanations of phenomena outside of criminal behavior.
