1 / 15

Strain Theory

Strain Theory. What do you do when bad things happen?. Peer insults you for wearing cheap clothes A parent abuses you physically You fail a test you studied for Your partner dumps you Your dad dies suddenly Your parents get a divorce. Agnew’s Strain Theory. Blocked goals motivate crime

saman
Download Presentation

Strain Theory

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Strain Theory

  2. What do you do when bad things happen? • Peer insults you for wearing cheap clothes • A parent abuses you physically • You fail a test you studied for • Your partner dumps you • Your dad dies suddenly • Your parents get a divorce

  3. Agnew’s Strain Theory • Blocked goals motivate crime • Goals that may be blocked include • Money • Good grades • Masculine status & respect • Corrective action that may be taken • Theft, drug dealing, prostitution • Cheating on exams • Violence to demonstrate toughness, power, control

  4. Social Pressure To Deviate • Our society makes it easier for some people to achieve success by following rules, but looks down on those who give up

  5. The American Dream • Goals • Means

  6. Merton’s (1938) Strain Theory:A Critique of U.S. Society • Tension between success goals and available means • We all want wealth, but our ability to achieve it varies by social class • The goal of success reins supreme • Relatively few moral costs for rule breaking

  7. A Theory ofDeviant Motivation • We are all naturally law-abiding, if given the chance • We break rules when we experience strain • Strain originates in our social experience

  8. Merton’s Adaptations to Strain

  9. Cloward and Ohlin (1960):Illegitimate Opportunities Retreatists are “double losers” or “double failures”

  10. Albert K. Cohen (1955)Oppositional Subculture • Explain non-utilitarian delinquency • Lower class youth fail to achieve middle class standards (the “middle class measuring rod”) • Status problem solved within the gang • Status redefined in opposition to middle class standards (not completely separate) • Reaction formation – reject what you want but can’t have – middle class values upside down

  11. Why does strain cause crime? • Strain causes negative emotions • Anger, frustration, depression, anxiety • Negative emotions create a pressure for corrective action that motivates crime • Immediate situation • Long-term cumulative effects

  12. Messner and Rosenfeld (1994)Institutional Anomie Theory • The American Dream causes crime • Overemphasizes competition and success • Underemphasizes responsibility to others • Institutional balance of power • Relations of mutual dependence between economy, family, education, religion • Institutional anomie • The economy has supplanted the family, education, and religion as the dominant institution (and source of values)

  13. Implications ofInstitutional Anomie • Economic efficiency norms dominate • Means-ends thinking applied in all areas of life • Non-economic institutions are penetrated • Families adopt an exchange mentality • Dual income families • Economic social roles bring most status • Other social roles de-valued (stay-at-home-moms)

  14. ExplainingCrime and Deviance • Robbery • Cheating on exams • Date rape • Spouse or child abuse • Vandalism by youth • Alcohol or drug abuse • Drug dealing

  15. Policy Implicationsof Strain Theory • Equalize opportunities for success • Provide job and education programs • Affirmative action • De-emphasize material success goals • Change the institutional balance between family, religion, and economy • Emphasize playing by the rules • Reward sportsmanship over winning • Help people treat each other better • Reduce grievances & disputes

More Related