Sociological Theory and Criminal Behaviour: An Essay
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This essay explores the relationship between sociological theory and criminal behaviour, with a focus on the strain theory. It discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the theory and provides examples to illustrate its concepts.
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Sociological theories and criminal behaviour: Essay
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Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1 MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................2 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION The sociological theory is defined as the set of new ideas and innovation which is based on the explanation and elaboration for the human society. Moreover, these theories are selective in nature which is based on various terms of their priorities and basic perspective which is associated with the perception. As per this, the major outcome which help to provide a particular and partial view of the reality. In the context with the sociological theory and criminal behaviour, it is evaluated that the criminal behaviour is usually occur when the individual is not properly socialised and they can create hindrance in follow the rules, laws and more which has been established by the society in order to maintain the ethical social group and community. To understand the criminal behaviour, the strain theory is chosen in order to know the effect and concept of strain regards with crime and criminal behaviour, the major motive is to choose this theory because the strain theory is related with the social aspect that propose pressure derived from the social factor which majorly include lack of income or lack of quality education that drives individual in order to commit crime. This theory has predominant ideas which is helpful to play role in understanding the core concepts that social factor is also responsible for taking participation in crime. The evidence which show some strong evidence which is majorly located within such a way is provide a thoughtful view regards with strain theory. Moreover, the discussion is being taken while taking the contrast of crime and criminal behaviour and measured by using the approach of strain theory. This theory has proper strength and weakness that show evidence that strain theory defines the concept of crime and criminal behaviour in appropriate way and also lack of approach as evidence is also recognise with theory which act as weakness. However, the strain theory is completely based on the aspect of sociology which create pressure from the social factor which have lack of income or lack of quality, this act as a catalyst for the individual to commit crime to gain some social improvement. With the help of example, if any individual has facing the issue with low income and lack of education and they have their set of need and want then in order to fulfil such need individual commit minor crime and after that it turn with major crime. 1
MAIN BODY As per the beginning, it is defined that the strain theory is major concept related with the sociology which is propose in such a view aspect that based on the social factor which based on the lack of income or the lack quality education, in this, they drive and act as trigger unit to committhecrime.Moreover,therearevariousideaswhichisunderlyingandprovide information that it is introduced by American sociologist Robert K. Merton who work on the subject which is transform especially influential in the 1950. There is other researcher who have similarideas,includingAmericancriminologistwhichhaveAlbertCohenandanother sociologist Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin (Lynch, McGrane, Ogilvie 2017). Classic strain theories which is major focused on the disadvantage which is based on group with a common inspiration for example, it is based on realisation and the major inability which help to achieve the goals and objective which is considered with a help to driving factor which is associated with the committing of crime. Individual whose income place in such a way which help to develop poverty threshold. For the clear understanding, they gone through some realisation which is based on common factor which is socially ambition through the aspect of legal mean and they force to do unethical behaviour to achieve their goals (Jensen 2020). The major weakness which is analysed with the strain theory is that they include inadequate explanation for the middle class which is based on delinquency and inconsistencies between the aspiration which is based on life and expectation which is needed by person to achieve their aim and fulfil their dream as a want. However, there is various elements which help to show the general strain theory which include the consideration for the role of emotion in such a way which help to derived the crime and their consideration of the wide range source which create pressure on the societal level which may cause a catalyst for the individual to commit crime (Robert 2018). There is recent view or the version of strain theory which is proposed by Robert Agnew 1992, in which the general strain theory is taken. Moreover, the Agnew theory help to draw some of the aspect which is based on heavily on previous version that associated with version of strain theory. However, the Agnew that point to certain type of strain which is not considered in the previous version which help to provide a fuller discussion in such condition which create most probable situation of committing crime. In this, there are two type of strain which is categories in order to contribute to crime (Cullen 2017). They usually prevent from achieving the goals and 2
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other they take thing which is helpful for making the value or present with such negative stimuli or with noxious stimuli (Weber 2019). In context with crime and criminal behaviour, the strain may result in the failure to achieve a variety of goals and associated with objective. Agnew and other are focus on the failure which used to reach the three goals. This include money, status or respect which is required by adolescent and autonomy from the adults (Demanet & Van Houtte, 2019). Money is the primary goals of any individual. All people which may be poor as well as rich are usually encouraged in order to work hard so that they can make lot of money and fulfil their need and wants. In this, a number of people are usually prevented from the getting of money they need to go through the legal channel include work. This is especially true for the poor people, but the middle class people with have their lofty goals. Result, people experience and deal with strain and they try to get money from the illegal ways such as theft, selling drugs and prostitution and so on (Zhang et. al., 2020). CONCLUSION 3
REFERENCES Books and Journals Cullen,F.T.,Wright,J.P.,&Blevins,K.R.(2017).Introduction:Takingstockof criminological theory. InTaking Stock(pp. 1-34). Routledge. Demanet, J., & Van Houtte, M. (2019). Socioeconomic status, economic deprivation, and school misconduct:Aninquiryintotheroleofacademicself-efficacyinfourEuropean cities.Social Psychology of Education,22(1), 1-22. Jensen, G. F. (2020). Salvaging structure through strain: A theoretical and empirical critique. InThe legacy of anomie theory(pp. 139-158). Routledge. Lynch, M., McGrane, S., Ogilvie, E. and Western, J.S., (2017). The Sibling Study: theory, research and guiding principles. InUnderstanding Youth Crime(pp. 1-21). Routledge. Robert, A. (2018). Stability and change in crime over the life course: A strain theory explanation. InDevelopmental theories of crime and delinquency(pp. 101-132). Routledge. Weber, E. N. (2019).Clarifying the Role of Individual Differences in General Strain Theory Using a Community Sample(Doctoral dissertation, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science). Zhang, J., Lester, D., Haines, J., Williams, C. L., Zhou, R., Qi, Q., ... & Ma, W. (2020). Identifyingpsychologicalstrainsinsuicidenotes.OMEGA-Journalofdeathand dying,82(1), 120-127. 4