Who is associated with the strain theory

This avoidance strategy can essentially keep some individuals from committing crimes because they feel they have already gotten their revenge. The third and final strategy Agnew introduced was the emotional strategy. General Strain theory developed a method of explaining crime in relation to the strain people deal with in their daily lives. While Agnew is credited with GST, it is important to note the key people in history who have helped develop the broader strain perspective that it elaborates.

This paper reviewed the foundations provided by the earlier works of Durkheim, Merton and Cloward and Ohlin. Not only did his work accomplish this explanation, but it also developed potential coping strategies within the theory that could prevent people from committing crimes.

While no single theory is capable of explaining all crime, GST covers a broad range of behaviors, relationships, and outside influences. Agnew, R. Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30, 1 , Barn, R. Foster youth and crime: Employing general strain theory to promote understanding. Journal of Criminal Justice, 40 3 , Brown, S. Criminology: Explaining Crime and Its Context 8th ed.

Waltham, MA: Anderson. Cloward, R. Delisi, M. Journal of Criminal Justice, 40, According to Merton : The extreme emphasis upon the accumulation of wealth as a symbol of success in our own society militates against the completely effective control of institutionally regulated modes of acquiring a fortune. Opportunity theory, according to Cloward and Ohlin , suggested that: It is assumed in the theory of anomie that access to conventional means is differentially distributed, that some individuals, because of their social class, enjoy certain advantages that are denied to those elsewhere in the class structure.

The study got even more specific and according to Barn and Tan : Young people who experienced crime victimization, unemployment, more frequent school exclusion, longer periods of homelessness after leaving care and more placements were reported to be more likely to engage in criminal activity; while those who acquired higher level of life skills were less likely to be involved in criminal activity p. Davis, J.

Updates: Strain Theory Part 1. One chapter provides an overview of classic strain theory and general strain theory, with an extended discussion of how key concepts in these theories have been measured and how the theories have been tested.

Passas, Nikos, and Robert Agnew, eds. The future of anomie theory. Boston: Northeastern Univ. This edited volume features an introduction and eight chapters that test, apply, and extend strain and anomie theories—often by linking them to concepts in other areas, such as reference groups, identity, organizations, social capital, and social support. Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content on this page. Please subscribe or login. Oxford Bibliographies Online is available by subscription and perpetual access to institutions.

For more information or to contact an Oxford Sales Representative click here. Not a member? Sign up for My OBO. Already a member? Publications Pages Publications Pages.

Subscriber sign in You could not be signed in, please check and try again. Username Please enter your Username. Password Please enter your Password.

Forgot password? Don't have an account? Sign in via your Institution. You could not be signed in, please check and try again. Sign in with your library card Please enter your library card number. Related Articles Expand or collapse the "related articles" section about About Related Articles close popup. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website.

We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Necessary Necessary. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.

This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Non-necessary Non-necessary. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies.