Strain and Labelling Theories: Crime Event Analysis and Comparison

This essay delves into two significant criminological perspectives: Strain Theory and Labelling Theory. It provides an in-depth exploration of the core principles of each theory, examining how they explain the causes of crime and influence criminal justice practices. The essay critically compares and contrasts these theories, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, the assignment requires the application of these theories to a specific, recent crime event, providing a real-world context for the theoretical concepts. The analysis includes consideration of empirical studies related to the theories and the chosen crime, as well as a discussion of the limitations of each perspective. The essay adheres to APA 6th referencing style and is based on a range of academic sources, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

STRAIN AND LABELLING
THEORY

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Basic of theories Strain and labelling theory...............................................................................3
Crime and its relationship with the theories................................................................................4
Limitation of strain and labelling theory.....................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The theories that has been covered under this is Strain and labelling theory that is being
explained which deals with aspects related to crime that has been happening within the society.
Also makes analysis of behavior over individual which makes them get influenced for
committing of crime. Both theories are important from view point of crime and society as it
makes analysis of influence regarding various elements possible in detail. Scope of these theories
cover wider aspect of society as it helps in analyzing of crime and labelling criminals. Nature is
dynamic that has been helping in making various elements to be studies under these theories that
causes crime and its rise within it. The following essay is based on Strain and labeling theory.
Things related to the theories has to be covered. Its relevancy has to be shown with a topic of law
emerging in society. In the end limitations of cat has to be explained.
MAIN BODY
Basic of theories Strain and labelling theory
Strain theory is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1938 by Robert K.
Merton. In this theory it can be stated that society puts pressure over an individual for achieving
social goals event if they lacks means. It is going to lead to strain within the mind of individual
which leads towards making him commit crime, like selling drugs or involved in human
trafficking for gaining of financial income. Strain can be in the follow forms and they are being
explained below
Structural: This is referred to as that kind of process in which society and various level
has been observing needs of individual. Such needs becomes reason for various kinds of
situation occurring in society. Structural strain theory explains about forming various aspects that
is been covered all the things present within society. Structural strain is been dealing with both
inherently and inadequate regulation that is going to impact formation of law in society. Such
elements and factors is required to make structure over controlling the laws through means and
opportunities. Strain that is needed and wants of individual is to be focused through achieving
goals and objectives set by the government of a country. Else this is going to lead over
performing crime through heinous nature involved in it (Jalilian and Safari, 2016).
Individual: This refers to the frictions and pains experienced by an individual as he or
she looks for ways to satisfy his or her needs, i.e. if the goals of a society become significant to
an individual, actually achieving them may become more important than the means adopted.
Such strain can be related to all those kind of adverse situation that is being happening in society
and is directly impacting an individual’s understanding.

Strain theories state that certain strains or stressors increase the likelihood of crime.
These strains lead to negative emotions, such as frustration and anger. These emotions create
pressure for corrective action, and crime is one possible response. Crime may be used to reduce
or escape from strain, seek revenge against the source of strain or related targets, or alleviate
negative emotions.
`Labeling theory posits that self-identity and the behavior of individuals may be
determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them. It is associated with the
concepts of self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping. Labeling theory holds that deviance is not
inherent in an act, but instead focuses on the tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities
or those seen as deviant from standard cultural norms. The theory was prominent during the
1960s and 1970s, and some modified versions of the theory have developed and are still
currently popular. Stigma is defined as a powerfully negative label that changes a person's self-
concept and social identity. Also this theory is being related through social-construction and
symbolic over interaction through analysis. It has been developed by sociologist within the year
1960.Under this theory it has to be connected with other kinds of things which is beside crime.
This can be understood through example that labeling theory in relations to homosexuality.
Alfred Kinsey and his colleagues were the main advocates in separating the difference between
the role of a "homosexual" and the acts one does.
Crime and its relationship with the theories
In sociology a normative definition under which the crime is being viewed as that kind
of behaviour that is being accruing within a society through norms, culture and behaviour of
human with each other(Gheshlaghi, Faraji and Pisheh, 2020). Criminology is the study of these
kind of crimes there nature, factors and ways to control them is being discussed within the
society. So, the problem that has been emerging form the decade is crime which is the result of
negative impact of society over an individual’s life. There are certain factors like poverty, less
resources and unemployment lead towards making a person criminal in nature. The theory of
labelling has faced lot of criticism by expanding of original framework of this theory and there
are five stages that is being used under the theory that is been given as follows:
The extent to which people is being believing that mental patients is required to be discriminated
in the society and members of various communities. Time period which is being required by
agency to make people treated well. Even when there is response of labelling which has made
secrecy, withdrawal or educations. Negative consequences of an individual’s life that has
resulted into labelling. At the final stage of vulnerability future deviance has resulted in to effect
of the labelling that has been done. All these points that has been mentioning those
circumstances that has been not been dealt with in proper manner.
In strain theory any change within the volume. As per this four general types of stress is
there. One type of stress is uniform, which means the force applies equally on all sides of a body
of rock. The other three types of stress, tension, compression and shear, are non-uniform, or
directed, stresses. The uniform stress that takes place in individual’s life is also known as

ditheistic pressure. This theory has been explaining those pains and condition which has to be
faced by an individual throughout its life and that makes him criminal or attract criminal
activities towards him. The criticism that has been faced by this theory is that it was not able to
give an appropriate way to deal with problems that has been accruing in individual’s life.
Crime has been increasing on day to day bases which has been resulting into making
balance of society disturbed. Though these theories has been dealing with various aspects of
crime that has resulted in to making crime reduction possible.
Limitation of strain and labelling theory
These theories has faced lot of criticism and has also been dealing to over these (Farrell, 2017).
Certain important criticism that has been faced by an organization is being explained as follows:
1. Strain theory best applies only to the lower class as they struggle with limited resources
to obtain their goals.
2. Strain theory fails to explain white collar crime, the perpetrator of whom have many
opportunities to achieve through legal and legitimate means.
3. Strain theory fails to explain crimes based in gender inequality.
4. Merton deals with individual’s forms of responses instead of group activity which crime
involves.
5. Merton's theory is not very critical of the social structure that he says generate the strains.
6. Strain theory neglects the inter- and intra-personal aspect of crime.
7. Strain theory has weak empirical evidence supporting it
Labeling theory has different audiences which gives different reaction over the crime and
thus punishment is also there for it. Also labeling vary form event if the crime is same. Major
drawbacks of this theory is that personality of individual matters and it can result into problem.
Also in this theory level of stigmatization of an individual. Also various studies has been
conducted that an individual can have traits that can helping him or her in gaining of resistance
against the label that has been conferred in society. One of the major drawback of this theory is
that one may say that affects labelling theory is that it has not yet been ‘empirically validated’.
Some studies it has marked out that this theory officially labels a crime examples of this are
arrested or convicted.
Both the theories are having criticism and has been facing problems to deal with them
that is why they are not applicable to modern crime policies.
CONCLUSION
The above file it can be concluded that concept of both theories deal with crime and why
a person selects such a path. Also various norms that has been set by society which has been
impacting individual’s thinking. Further in this file basics of theory has been explained and then
crime has been taken as a topic that has been impacting the basic structure of society. Crime and
relationship of these theory is been explained. In the end limitation has been explained regarding
both the theories.

REFRENCES
Books and journals
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