Disadvantages. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Numerous additional tests of GST have produced similar results, indicating a relationship between various strains and offending behavior (for an overview, see Agnew 2006). The second phase of the social structure defines how society is to go about achieving these goals, by placing regulations and creating laws (Merton 1938: 673). We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. And initial research suggests that the application of GST to other areas of scholarly inquiry is likely to be fruitful, including, for example, research on racial/ethnic differences in crime (Brezina & Agnew, 2013; Kaufman, Rebellon, Thaxton, & Agnew, 2008) and terrorism (Agnew, 2010). It includes, for example, stressors that could be experienced by both lower-class and middle-class individuals. This can lead to strain due to inequity, where an individual will feel that they are unequal to those of their peers and will subsequently increase the chances they engage in delinquency. Using longitudinal data on South Korean youth, the authors addressed limitations of previous tests of general strain theory (GST), focusing on the relationships among key strains, situational- and trait-based negative emotions, conditioning factors, and delinquency. They try to increase the likelihood that youth . General strain theory is an individualistic approach (Froggio 2007): it explains why individuals demonstrate deviant behavior. Whether or not a given event or circumstance is subjectively defined as adverse is dependent on the meaning the individual attaches to it (Polizzi, 2011). According to Agnew (2001) studies show that delinquency peaks when desires, goals, and the expectation of achieving the desires or goals are low, and delinquency is lowest when desires, goals and the expectation of accomplishing the goals are high(Agnew 2001:). Lin and Mieczkowski (2011) constructed a composite measure to index the overall standing of young people on various conditioning factors, including moral beliefs, delinquent peer associations, self-control, and self-esteem. In short, using the above sources of strain, it is clear that negative relationships with other have potential to cause strain in an individual and in turn result in negative emotions. Since its inception, strain theory has attempted to explore the dynamic evoked between the process of goal identification and the process of goal acquisition as this relates to subsequent criminal behavior. Earlier versions of strain theory have been criticized for focusing on a narrow range of possible strains, for their inability to explain why only some strained individuals resort to crime or delinquency, and for limited empirical support. Likewise, the gender gap in offending may reflect gender differences in the experience of, and reaction to, strain, but unanticipated findings in this area of research suggest that the gendered pathways may be more complex than originally specified (De Coster & Zito, 2010). General strain theory (GST) is an established criminological theory. In other neighborhoods, strained youth specialize in violent behavior or in money-oriented crimes. Too much emphasis is placed on stats- overrepresentation of the lower classes. Some criminologists argue that, relative to males, females have less freedom or opportunity to offend. Emile Durkheim first popularized the term anomie, which essentially is defined normlessness, or the instability that occurs when norms and cultural values breakdown. Further, the experience of anger tends to reduce ones tolerance for injury or insult, lowers inhibitions, energizes the individual to action, and creates desires for retaliation and revenge (Agnew, 1992). Messer and Rosenfeld (1994) state that the heavy emphasis on American Dream encourages criminal impulses while creating a weak normative environment. Strain theory is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1938 by Robert K. Merton. GST, then, greatly expands the notion of goal-blockage and recognizes that individuals pursue a variety of goals beyond economic success or middle-class status. As a result, compared to non-aggressive individuals, aggressive individuals are more likely to respond to various situations with anger and delinquent coping. GST was developed with this criticism in mind (Agnew, 1992). *You can also browse our support articles here >. It has been suggested that, in response to strain, females are more likely to blame themselves or worry about possible harm to interpersonal relationships. In longitudinal analyses that controlled for levels of social control, delinquent peers, and prior behavior, they find that delinquency is predicted by negative life events, negative relations with adults, school/peer hassles, and neighborhood problems. What are weaknesses of the strain theory? Instead, an attempt is made to highlight areas of research that speak to the overall validity of GST, that point to important problems or issues in the specification of the theory, or that suggest new directions for the future development of the theory. As Merton recognized, pervasive inequalities in the United States create serious barriers to success for many lower-class individuals. One weakness of Mertons theory of anomie/strain is that it does not provide a good explanation for economic crimes. Agnews strain theory is focused on the individual level and their immediate social environment (Agnew 1992:48). Measures of strain typically predict crime and delinquency, even after factoring in variables from rival crime theories. It is important to recognize that GST is an evolving theoretical framework. Strain predicted anger in both males and females, but it predicted depression in males only. This paper defines the term "white-collar crime" and gives an overview of strain theory. First, they argue that the gender gap in crime is related, in part, to the different types of strain that are experienced by males and females. These traits are linked to failure in school, unstable work histories, association with criminal and delinquent peers, and ultimately a pattern of persistent offending. Since General Strain Theory builds off the idea that blocked goals cause negative emotions such as anger, it should be emphasized that going to anger management is appropriate route to coping with stress rather than using alternative means such as beating someone up. Criminology, 30, 47-88. Goal blockage may include the inability to achieve other valued goals, such as respect and masculine status (e.g., the expectation that one be treated like a man), autonomy (e.g., the desire to achieve a certain amount of personal independence), and the desire for excitement. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UKEssays.com. Other school-context variables (such as mean level of negative affect) exhibit little or no relationship to problem behavior. General strain theory can be easy to subscribe to due in part to its broad scope, and General Strain Theory unlike previous strain theories is able to focus on middle and lower class delinquency, rather than exclusively lower class like Merton. The trait of aggressiveness may result, in part, from chronic strains experienced in childhood, such as harsh or erratic parental discipline. General strain theory (GST) (Agnew, 1992, 2001, 2006a) is an established criminological theory. This is only one example of how Agnew began his revision. In particular, they often lack coping resources that are available to those in wealthier communities, such as money, power, and conventional social support. (Note: empirical tests of GST often measure strain in terms of stressful life events, even though many such events would not be expected to have a strong relationship to offending.). According to GST, negative emotionality/low constraint is partly of function of harsh or erratic parenting. In another early test of GST, Paternoster and Mazerolle (1994) used data from the National Youth Survey to examine the effect of strain on a measure of general delinquency. What are the limitations of Mertons strain theory? The link was not copied. One such theory, Agnew's General Strain Theory (GST), was derived from classic strain theory ideas developed from such criminologists as Merton . Consequently, tests of GST that fail to distinguish between situation- and trait-based emotions could be problematic. Chronic anger tends to foster attitudes that favor aggression, which in turn increase the likelihood of violent offending. Following the initial statement of GST (Agnew, 1992), Agnew and White (1992) examined the effects of various strains on delinquency, based on a large sample of adolescents. GST was designed, in part, to address criticisms leveled against previous versions of strain theory. Stress can be influenced by a variety of factors however, whether it is accumulation of wealth, death of a friend, or perhaps loss of job. The article had some success, laying the groundwork for my "general strain theory," now one of the leading explanations of crime and delinquency ( Agnew 1992 . They are (1) strain as the disjunction between expectations and actual achievements; not achieving these goals is likely to cause anger, dissatisfaction, and disappointment, this cause of strain connects back to previous strain theories, such as Mertons (Agnew 1992:51). Agnews Theory state that strains are shaped by various factors, including the nature, intensity, and duration of the strain, the emotions that the strain produces in the individual, the collection of coping mechanisms at an individuals disposal (Broidy 2001:10). By measuring these factors, primarily intensity and duration of strain, General Strain Theory can be empirically tested by criminologists. Slocum (2010) examines longitudinal data on substance use and finds partial support for the GST explanation of continuity and change. For example, in empirical tests, the experience of strain or goal-blockage did not prove to be a strong predictor of delinquency. The first major type of strain involves the inability of individuals to achieve their goals, or goal blockage. Although classic strain theories also focused on goal blockage, they tended to focus on a single type of goal blockage; namely, a disjunction between aspirations and expectations. (2) Strain as the disjunction between just or fair outcomes and actual outcome. Assumptions of strain theory This theory is founded on the following assumptions: Planar Rings are utilized in all of the ring structures. The Strain Theory basically states that its the entire lower classes fault for crime in the cities and the upper classes have nothing to do with it. The first, conformity, Merton suggests that people who take this path subscribe to cultural goals and go about achieving these goals by using societys institutionalized means. The second path, innovation, suggests that when a person finds that an obstacle inhibits the ability to achieve the cultural goals, the person will not use institutionalized means; rather, they will employ other means. The strain theories of Merton, Cohen, and Cloward and Ohlin were influential throughout much of the 20th century and helped to inspire antipoverty efforts. General strain theory (GST) has gained a significant level of academic attention, since its development in 1992. . It should be noted that, in GST, the goals and outcomes that are important to individuals are no longer limited to income or middle-class status. 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