1 / 8

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

kris
Download Presentation

Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory (Individual Level)

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. 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

More Related