Strain Theory and Crime in London

This solved assignment examines the application of strain theory to understand crime rates in London. It analyzes how societal factors contribute to criminal behavior and explores the impact of multiculturalism on crime. The report concludes that strain theory is effective in identifying crime-inducing factors and emphasizes the need for government intervention to improve the environment and reduce crime.

CRIMINOLOGY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Strain theory...........................................................................................................................1
Application of Strain theory in recent era..............................................................................3
FINDINGS.......................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Crime is considered as illegal act or an omission in which person behave offensive. It is
unacceptable in law and criminal is being punished by law. It is committed by the person to
satisfy their greed or to take revenge from others. Criminology is the study of crime and
criminals (Morris and Huck, 2014). It tries to find out reason of crime and psychology of
criminals. Many theories have been developed over the period of time which has explored
individual and their thinking while committing crime. Present study is based on Strain theory of
criminology. Furthermore, reason of committing crime by individual will be discussed in this
assignment. In addition, implication of this theory in Britain's multi cultural society and justice
system will be explained in this report.
MAIN BODY
Strain theory
Robert Merton was the person who have developed the strain theory of criminology in
the year 1940. At that time USA was suffering from increasing crime rates due to which
common people were unable to live a health life. This theory states that societal structure
increase pressure on citizens and they drive towards committing crime. Strains or stressors are
main element which enhance change of occurring crime in the society. Anger, frustration create
pressure on individual and they get forced to take some action, crime is considered as one of the
possible response (Madfis and Levin, 2013). Criminal commits crime to reduce strain or to take
revenge so that individual can reach to their particular target. For example if there is high
unemployment rate and individual has no source of income then in such condition people will
get engage in theft that would be first step towards crime. Person may get engaged into drug
selling etc. Strain theory of criminology pay attention on various element; strain that drive the
person towards crime, reason of increasing strains and crime and various factors that lead the
person to reach to their goal with crime (Brown and Jennings, 2014).
Strain theory explains that most of the people cope with strain in legal manner. Some
people are very passionate for particular thing and if they get fail to achieve it then these people
get frustrated. This negative emotion drive them towards crime and they try to meet with their
objective from illegal manner. It is fact that over the period of time UK has become the country
where crime rate is continuously increasing. It has created tension and anxiety in the nation and
population is afraid with it. From last decades robberies and murders have been increased in the
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nation to great extent. Criminals try to fulfil their desires through robberies or burglaries which
they are not getting from government (Maahs, Weidner and Smith, 2016).
Sociology, criminology and psychology explains various reason that drive human being
towards crime line. Merton has she hight on concept 'anomie' which explain the imbalance
between institutionalised means and cultural goals. Due to this imbalance unsatisfied aspirations
get produced which increase negativity and tension in the society (Alvarez-Rivera, Nobles and
Lersch, 2014). Strain theory of criminology explains that if there is gap between desire and
current status of an individual then strain occur. In such condition different people adapt
different ways: Conformity: It is the way in which individual pursue their cultural goal in such
manner which is socially approved. It is considered as accurate way to minimize the crime rate
from the country. Innovation; It is another way which is adopted by some criminals. They use
socially unapproved means in order to meet with culturally approve goals. For example; get
engaged with drugs or steal money etc (McCoy and Pugh, 2014). Ritualism: In the strain
condition, some persons use socially approve means for meeting with their less elusive
objectives (Strain Theories, 2017). Retreatism: Most of the people reject means and cultural
goals and try to escape from the situation.
Rebellion: Some people reject their cultural goals and try to replace their situation by
using wrong path (Strain Theories, 2017). UK is the country where maximum crime is
committed by local robbers. Strain theory pays attention of various factors that drive the person
towards crime and make them criminal. People get easily influenced by their atmosphere, if their
environment is negative then they it increases frustration in their mind and they lead crime in
order to fulfil their basic desires. Madfis and Levin, (2013) argued that if there is high negative
environment then more crime will take place in the society. That means surrounding impacts on
the mind of individual and they get influenced by it easily. There are many other theories which
also describe about crime and factors that lead crime such as rational choice theory, social
learning theory, biology theory etc.
Strain theory stress on relationship between personal behaviour and criminal activities. It
is fact that negative environment is the major element due to which crime rate is increasing in
United Kingdom. Society is another major component which influence the person towards
committing crime. Brown and Jennings, (2014) study shows that there are many school student
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those who are using drugs from early age, it is because they learn from the society. Strain theory
states that social influence is the main root cause of increasing criminal activities.
Application of Strain theory in recent era
UK crime statistics show that crime rate of England and Wales has been decreased to
great extent in the year 2017 as compare to previous year. But due to increasing migrations,
many other culture people are coming to UK which is increasing crime level in the nation.
Government is require concentrating on the actors which increase crime in the society. Higher
authorities need to take immediate action over it so that it can be controlled. Recent case occur
in London where six robbers has committed robbery in Jewellery Shop. The main motive of
these persons were to get money and fulfil their monetary requirements. Government need to
increase employment rate so that people can get income sources and they can be prevented from
criminal activities (Strain Theories, 201). By applying this psychology, sociology and
criminology theories government may take strong action against crime and can make effective
control over it. Maahs, Weidner and Smith, (2016) has argued strain theory just focus on society
behaviour it is unable to find ways to reduce crime rate.
FINDINGS
From the discussion it is found that number of crimes are increasing in London which
impact on the British Judicial system to great extent. If government takes action to improve
family background and culture then it will help in minimizing negative environment. This can
support in reducing crime from the country.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that strain theory of criminology is quit
effective in order to identify factors that lead to crime. By this way behaviour of criminal can be
understand easily. It can be summarized that behaviour of human is influenced by their
environment and society. Multi cultural society is another reason which increases crime in the
country. If government can take strong action to improve environment then it can positively
impact on British criminal justice system.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alvarez-Rivera, L. L., Nobles, M. R. and Lersch, K. M., 2014. Latino immigrant acculturation
and crime. American Journal of Criminal Justice. 39(2). pp.315-330.
Brown, W. and Jennings, W. G., 2014. A replication and an honor-based extension of Hirschi's
reconceptualization of self-control theory and crime and analogous behaviors. Deviant
behavior. 35(4). pp.297-310.
Maahs, J. R., Weidner, R. R. and Smith, R., 2016. Prescribing some criminological theory: An
examination of the illicit use of prescription stimulants among college
students. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology. 60(2).
pp.146-164.
Madfis, E. and Levin, J., 2013. School rampage in international perspective: The salience of
cumulative strain theory. In School Shootings (pp. 79-104). Springer New York.
McCoy, T. and Pugh, M., 2014. Strain Theory. The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal
Justice.
Morris, C. and Huck, J. L., 2014. General Strain Theory. The Encyclopedia of Criminology and
Criminal Justice.
Online
Strain Theories, 2017. [Online]. Available through
<http://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/criminology/theories/strain-theories/>
Strain Theories, 2017. [Online]. Available through
<http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396607/obo-
9780195396607-0005.xml>
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