General Strain Theory and Social Learning Theory in Criminology

This study material discusses the General Strain Theory and Social Learning Theory in Criminology. It includes weekly reviews of readings on Sociology of Crime, Griffith University. The content covers the participation of male and female in prostitution, characteristics of marijuana users, labelling theory, and conflicts of property.

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2007CCJ: Sociology of Crime
Griffith University
Assessment 1, Part 2 Template
Due Date: June 6th, 11:55pm
Name: Tutor:
Student #:
Weekly Review of Readings #1
Answer to question 1
In the general strain theory, Agnew has made certain conceptual framework regarding
the gendered theory on prostitution and he has made a clear view over the matter and research
on their behaviour. He has applied the general strain theory on them to identify the
participation of both men and women in this flesh trade and tried to understand which types
of criminal interaction can be achieved from here. However, a thorough reading of this theory
has pointed out certain gender-biased situation where theoretical arguments on feminist
accounts have been made. The wide approach of the theory has made certain gender gap in
the criminological theory. Certain strains like suicidal attempts, victimizations and running
away from home are quite common in women and in this case, this theory is quite gendered
in nature.
Answer to question 2
Various discussions and researches have been made on the General Strain Theory of
Agnew. However, the general strain theory propounded by Agnew but forwarded by Robert
King Merton that has certain limitations. The identified strains are types of emotional
experience, extensive variety of deviant outcomes and strains relevant for male and female.
According to this theory, both men and women are involved in the crime but the female are
more victimised compare to the men and the negative impressions are creating serious

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impacts on the youths. Agnew and Broidy have made a gender difference where they have
pointed out certain experiences. According to them, females are much concentrating on the
close bond relationship and therefore, they are not involved in the property crime and as they
have to fact certain discrimination in the society, restrictive behaviour can be seen in them.
They are facing the depression and angriness. In this research, females are more aggressive
compared to male regarding criminal behaviour.
Answer to question 3
General strain theory is very much helpful for identification of participation of male
and female in prostitution. According to this theory, both the men and women are engaging in
the criminal behavioural offences and they are facing depression in their life. According to
the study, females are facing discrimination and depression in their societal approach and
these provoke them to engage in this offence. On the other hand, a dominating approach has
been grown up in the male that help them to soliciting crimes. A serious concentration has
been made by Agnew’s strain theory and strains as rejection, discipline, abuse and
victimizations are compelled both the men and women to choose prostitution as their
prospects to achieve certain social demands.
Weekly Review of Readings #2

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Answer to question 1
Social learning theory helps the people to learn certain new behaviours from others.
Albert Bandura had propounded this theory and this theory has pointed out certain processes
by which the individuals are gaining certain behaviour and attitudes from others. According
to Howard Becker, the addiction of drug is different to the alcohol addiction and the non-user
can gain certain behavioural attitudes from the drug addicts. One can perceive the sensational
feelings and develops a motivational approach towards the usage of marijuana. According to
the author, the use of drugs depends on the behavioural approach of the individual. The
individual is taking the drugs not to get in the addiction but to enjoy the pleasure.
Answer to question 2
There are certain theories that tried to define the characteristics of the marijuana users.
However, Howard Becker has applied the social learning theory and concentrated on the
behavioural approach of the drugs users. According to him, the non-users are gaining certain
experiences from the users and they are getting addicted to drugs. Further, according to them,
drugs are a medium to get pleasure. A new transformation has been cropped up in this
perspective. The term pleasure means a casual approach regarding the behaviour. Further, the
users know about the proper technique of smoking.
Weekly Review of Readings #3

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Answer to question 1
Both the authors have tried to revitalize the labelling theory and their applications in
the society. According to them, a developmental theory regarding the structural
disadvantages can be identified by this approach. The author has made research on the
involvement of youths in the criminal offences and the author has made negative impact of
the educational attainment and employment over the youths.
The authors have tried to make certain official interventions regarding the youths and
certain steps have been taken to draw certain positive effect of crime on the child and the
youths. According to the authors, many children commit crime for certain hostile situation. It
has been reported that certain negative impressions have compelled the adolescent to commit
crime or involvement of criminal offences. However, after the commencement of crime,
certain changes can be made in their life so that they can again feel them as a part of the
society and their possibility of educational achievement can be made.
Labelling theories are interrelated to social construction and symbolic interaction
analysis. In their book, the authors have concentrated on the deviant behaviours that the
youths are experienced from the society and how these experiences forced them to commit
illegal things. Society plays an important role regarding the behaviour of the youths. They
reflect that they are experiencing and society limits the deviant behaviours.
Answer to question 2
The authors have focussed on the official labelling theory and predicted the citations
that help the adolescents to maintain certain positive outcasts for their future life. According
to the authors, the children are following the behavioural approaches that they are perceives
from the society and this help them to engage in negative works. The authors in revised
labelling approach have discovered a considerable supporting system. In the words of the
writers, the youth can create positive mentality after the commencement of crime if certain

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motivational perspectives taken for them. According to them, deviance behaviour triggers
exclusionary processes in a child that will create negative impacts on their life and they could
get good result if they can be handled properly.

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Weekly Review of Readings #4
Answer to question 1
The “conflicts of property” denotes foundational documents for restorative justice and
community empowerment movements. The author regarding the traditional criminal justice
practices has drawn a sketch. The author regarding the philosophical preconditions of
criminology has made an ideological implication. The author in the shadow of conflicts of
property has made a radical anti-essentialism.
Answer to question 2
The internal conflicts of the society has been criticised by the author. According to the
author, the victims could not get involved due to internal conflicts of the society and he has
taken certain social consequences regarding criminology. According to him, conflicts are
playing important role to hurt the social system and there are certain professional thieves who
are working to weaken the societal bond.
Answer to question 3
According to the author, the individuals can own their conflicts through
professionalism. He has imposed his believes on the legal practitioners as they are trained to
solve conflicts. According to him, conflicts become the property of the advocates and they
are good at it. Further, certain structural segmentation can resolve the conflicts in a greater
way.

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References (list here for all weeks)
Reference:
Halvorsen, V. (2018). Nils Christie: “Conflicts as Property”. Retrieved from
http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199673612.001.000
1/acprof-9780199673612-chapter-18
Nils Christie, Conflict as Property - a Brief Examination Through the Example of Domestic
Violence Laws Essay - 2481 Words. (2018).
Shibboleth Authentication Request. (2018). Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary-wiley-
com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-9125.2003.tb01020.x