Critical Comparison of Strain and Labelling Theories in Crime

This essay critically examines two key criminological perspectives: Strain Theory and Labelling Theory. It begins by introducing the core concepts of each theory, exploring how they attempt to explain criminal behavior and its relationship to societal structures and individual experiences. The essay...Read More

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................................................................................................................................5
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. 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 stress 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.
This theory has been able to deal with those aspects that influences behavior of individual
and classify their influence over an individual or his lifestyle. This theory majorly covers concept
of self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotype. Labeling theory is that kind of theory that has been
monitoring of those kinds of standards which are related to cultural norms. Also the theory has
been prominent over changes that has been taking place from time to time which resulted into
providing of modified versions of theory which made it popular. In the labeling theory stigma
has an very important role to play which works over the concept of social identity.
Critical evaluation of key elements of strain and labelling theory
Strain theory explains about various kinds of elements that increases crime. These
elements if not being taken care can lead to emotions like frustration and anger. Such emotions
create pressure for making corrective actions or can lead to a crime by an individual. These
elements are poverty, revenge, jealousy and physiological issue(Domingo and Acharjee, 2020).
Major things that has been involved within strain is that leading over increase in crime and high
lighting factors to lead an person to become a criminal. Labeling theory under these theory is
majorly focused upon aspects that is likely to be dealing with lifestyle of individual. This is
regarding his day to day activities. Element involved in labeling theory is based over behavior of
a person upon which other persons label them and treats them. So this theory is based on cultural
norms. 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 labeling 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 theory is based on various kinds of elements which exists within the society that
makes crime to be increased within society. Also these theories helps in marking out reasons
responsible for making an individual criminal. They have helped in forming laws which are
based on these elements. Concrete laws are being formed of criminal and civil nature to maintain
order with discipline in society. These theories are also helpful in identifying the mental
condition of individual that leads to make him commit crime. For example a group of young
persons steal a car and does joy riding over it which eventually leads to killing of people sleeping
over footpath in night. This is considered as an criminal activity.

How does strain and labelling theory explain this behaviour by young people
Strain theory has been impacting with the behavior of individual in a manner that it deals
with various aspects of individuals life. If an individual is not able to achieve goals that has been
set by him or faces any kind of failure regarding it. Then such kind of things leads over towards
frustration, anger and jealousy which eventually brings him in the world of crime and makes him
criminal. Such kinds of things are mostly observed within the individual and leads over having
negative impact on the life of an individual. This theory is being tested by using of data from
national sample of adolescent boys (Farrell, 2017). Data indicate that location in aversion school
and family environments has a direct effect on delinquency and an indirect effect through anger.
These effects hold even after social control and sub-cultural deviance variables are controlled.
Given the weak support for traditional strain theories based on the blockage of goal-seeking
behavior, these data suggest a new direction for the development of strain theory. This theory has
failed to explain about various kinds of things which as become its limitations and has been
explained as follows:
1. This theory is tested using data from a national sample of adolescent boys. Data
indicate that location in aversion school and family environments has a direct effect on
delinquency and an indirect effect through anger. These effects hold even after social
control and sub cultural deviance variables are controlled. Given the weak support for
traditional strain theories based on the blockage of goal-seeking behavior, these data
suggest a new direction for the development of strain theory 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 interpersonal aspect of crime.
7. Strain theory has weak empirical evidence supporting it
Labeling theory is based over various kinds of individual that talks to a person and label him.
Such kind of theory has drastic impact over individuals life and leads over making him criminal
in a way that if an youngster is not being treated in proper manner and has been labeled as a
psycho by his friends. It can have negative impact over an individual which is going to lead over
making an individual commit crime. All such elements that has been mentioned under the theory
is based over behavior of individual and there are certain elements over it. The labeling theory is
important in juvenile justice because we must establish a comprehensive understanding as to
why juveniles are carrying a negative label in society. In order to do so, identifying the
infractions committed by juveniles, it will assist in classifying their deviant behavior.

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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Domingo, L.R. and Acharjee, N., 2020. Unravelling the Strain-Promoted [3+ 2] Cycloaddition
Reactions of Phenyl Azide with Cycloalkynes from the Molecular Electron Density
Theory Perspective. New Journal of Chemistry.
Farrell, M., 2017. Criminal Poisoning in Theory. In Criminology of Homicidal Poisoning (pp.
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Bourdieu’s field theory and cultural criminology. European Journal of
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