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Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory (Individual Level)

Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory (Individual Level). Is crime a “lower class” phenomena? Cannot explain “expressive” crimes Weak empirical support Why do people “adapt” to strain in different ways?. Agnew (1992): General Strain Theory. Overhaul of Merton’s Strain Theory

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Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory (Individual Level)

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  1. Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory(Individual Level) • Is crime a “lower class” phenomena? • Cannot explain “expressive” crimes • Weak empirical support • Why do people “adapt” to strain in different ways?

  2. Agnew (1992): General Strain Theory • Overhaul of Merton’s Strain Theory • Three types of strain • Failure to achieve valued goals • Removal of valued stimuli • Can’t escape noxious stimuli • Commonality? All produce negative emotional states/feelings • Put a “charge” into people, motivate reactions

  3. Agnew (GST) • StrainNegative Affective States • Anger, fear, frustration, depression • Can lead to all sorts of delinqeuncy (not just economic crimes) • Illegitamate channels for success (burglary, robbery) • Attack or escape adversity (assault, truancy) • Manage through drugs/alcohol • BUT, how do people react to these states? • Merton: modes of adaptation, but why rebel vs. innovate vs. ritualism? • Agnew: it depends on “coping ability”

  4. Coping Strategies • Cognitive options • “it’s not important,” “it’s not that bad,” “I deserve it” • Behavioral options • constructively reduce strain, seek positive solution • Factors that facilitate coping • intelligence, problem-solving skills, creativity… • Factors that inhibit coping • delinquent peers, criminal disposition, weak social bonds, weak moral beliefs...

  5. Agnew (GST) • Tests of GST are favorable • But, is it “STRAIN” or something else? • Very different from Merton • Is this theory a theory of “Strain” or a theory of “STRESS?” • Pirating other theories? • Use of control, SLT variables to explain coping

  6. Strain vs. Control or Learning • Control theory • Focus on positive relationships that reduce delinquency • SLT • Focus on positive relationships that can either reduce or increase delinquency • Strain • Focus on negative relationships that increase delinquency

  7. Review of GST • 3 sources of strain • Strain produces negative affective states • Anger most important • Charges individuals for action • “External motivation” • In absence of coping, delinquency is likely • Uses learning and control variables to indicate whether “coping” is likely

  8. Addressing criticisms of “Classic strain theory” 1. Strain theory only applies to lower class GST: applies to all classes (all feel strain) 2. Why different reactions to strain (modes of adaptation)? GST: depends on coping ability, constraints on coping 3.Weak empirical support GST: moderate to strong empirical support 4. Strain theory only explains economic crimes GST: explains all types of delinquency/crime

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