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Strain Theory of Sociology and Criminology - Assignment

   

Added on  2020-06-05

11 Pages2841 Words114 Views
Criminology

Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1Strain Theory..........................................................................................................................1Application of Strain theory in current times ........................................................................3Findings............................................................................................................................................5Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6APPENDIX I...................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTIONCrime is an unlawful act or unethical act commenced by an individual or group in orderto satisfy their personal greed or in order to seek revenge. It is illegal and punishable by law andgovernment. In criminology, examining why people commit crime is very important in theongoing debate of how crime should be handled and prevented. Many theories have emergedover the years, and they continue to be explored, individually and in combination (Downes, Rockand McLaughlin, 2016). In accordance with this context, Strain Theory of sociology andcriminology will be discussed in this assignment. The relevancy of Strain theory will beevaluated in this report. Further, rationale will be provided for the particular occurrence of crime.Critical analysis of the implication of the theory in the current era to Britain's multi-culturalsociety and the British Criminal Justice system.Strain TheoryStrain theory was developed in 1938 by Robert K. Merton. The theory states that thesociety puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals, albeit they lack the meansand this leads to strain which may lead the individual to commit crime (McCoy and Pugh, 2014).In sociology and criminology, strain theory proposed that because of excessive social pressure,an individual commits crime. As society puts pressure on individuals to accomplish their goals .If individuals fails to accomplish the goals from ethical means, they aim to achieve it throughunethical means. For example, conducting criminal activities such as theft, robberies, burglaries,etc. From the last decade, crime level in United Kingdom constantly increasing which creates asituation of tension and anxiety in the country (Alexander, 2014). Robberies have beenincreased tremendously in United Kingdom. Thus, in this context, the Strain theory will focus onthe criminal behaviours and robberies taken place in the country. Criminals committing crimes inorder to fulfil their necessary needs and demands which government fails to fulfil. There are various theories of sociology, criminology and psychology that describes thereason because of which human being commit crimes (Chouhy, Cullen and Unnever, 2016). Inthis context, strain theory of sociology and criminology has been selected in this report, thatdescribes the relevancy of crime in the country. People living and residing in the dark areassurrounded with negative environment, that impacts on them negatively. It not only influencesthem to commit crime but also make them violent and insolent. They therefore became robbersand steal people precious and valuables things in vengeance (Cullen, Johnson and Parboteeah,1

2014). Individuals experiencing chronic rage against society made them criminals and they seekrevenge by stealing their money and other valuables. Early intervention and strategies such astransforming the societies, focus on child behaviour will aid in reducing the criminal behaviourin the country effectively and efficiently.According to the Merton strain theory, society can encourage deviance to a large degree.Alexander, (2014) said that people tend to commit crime because of social influence andnegative impact of surrounding environment. People faced with strain, left with five ways toadapt which are:Conformity: People accept the failure and consider their responsibility. Most of thepeople are conformist as they accept both the culturally defined goals and societallyrestricted means of achieving such goals.Innovation: Innovators are those, who innovates destructive ideas to achieve monetarysuccess. For examples, gangster, mob dealers, etc (Downes, Rock and McLaughlin,2016).Ritualism: Ritualists alleviate the strain of anomie by lessening their own aspirations ofsuccess to a point where goals are more practically attainable.Retreatism: People who fails to accomplish the cultural goals and social goals tends toretreat. Suicide is the best example of retreatism.Rebellion: To reject the cultural goals and means, then work to replace them.In UK, investigators found that the major crimes occurred in neighbourhood or streetlevels which were caused by local thieves or robbers (Johnson, Vaidyanathan and HowardEcklund, 2017). The theory aim to explain the nature of criminals and factors that make themcriminals in effective and efficient manners. Strain theory proposed that individual behaviourand psychology are easily influenced by the surrounding societies and communities. Cullen,Johnson, and Parboteeah, (2014) stated that the more violent and negative environment, the morecriminal behaviour in the person. From this it can be stated that environment affects thepsychology of human being effectively. Other criminology theories like rational choice theory,social disorganisation, social learning theory, social control theory and biology, genetics andevolution theory studies the psychology of human being and proposed various determinants onthe basis of which people commits crime.2

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