Criminology Essay: Strain Theory and Violent Crime Evaluation

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the strain theory within the field of criminology, focusing on its influence on criminal behavior and societal structures. The essay begins by introducing the strain theory, developed by Robert K. Merton, which posits that societal pressures to achieve goals, such as the 'American dream,' can lead individuals to commit crimes when they lack the necessary resources. The discussion examines how this strain can manifest in various forms, including violent crimes, and how societal values and structures contribute to the occurrence of such crimes. The essay further explores the concept of strain, differentiating between structural and individual strains, and how individuals may cope with strain through criminal activities. It also highlights the application of the strain theory to violent crimes, the role of low social control, and the impact of financial strain, especially in lower socioeconomic classes. The essay also discusses the limitations of the strain theory, such as its failure to fully explain white-collar crimes and gender inequality in crime, and it concludes by emphasizing the importance of criminology theories in understanding and controlling crime, along with the need for societal structures that provide access to resources and reduce criminal behavior. The essay references several studies to support its arguments.

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Criminology
6/9/2019

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The essay brings about the discussion on the analysis and review of the criminology theories
and criminology, stating the impact on the behaviour by structures or social institutions.
The major objective behind implementation of criminology theories is to provide an
understanding of the crime, and criminal justice. The discussion here will be based on the
‘strain theory’ in context to the violent crime, in the society. Crime is a part of human nature,
and based on the biological, sociological, and other aspects of life (Thaxton and Agnew,
2018). Therefore, the essay will conduct an analysis of the strain theory, and influence on the
criminal behaviour of the individual in respect to the crime. This will develop an
understanding in the minds of readers, why these crimes are committed, and their leading
outcomes.
Strain theory is a theory developed by Robert K. Merton, in the year 1938, stating about the
pressure on the people living in the society. According to this theory, individuals in context
to any society are pressurized to attain specific goals, like American dream, in spite of the
lack of essential resources. This major factor creates strain on the mind of the individuals,
and forcing them to commit crimes. For an example, this leads to a greater involvement of
these individuals in illegal activities, such as drug selling, prostitution out of financial
insecurity (Broidy and Santoro, 2018).
Thus, crimes are an attempt to put an end to the strain like violence is used by the people to
put an end to the strain of harassment. As mentioned in the above discussion, drugs are used
to escape the impact of poor lifestyle. The occurrence of strain and the leading violent crimes
is dependent on the structuring of society, and the values. As the society that value
attainment of ‘success’ as a major phenomenon, but prevents some people attaining success,
such as poor or uneducated. This leads to the strain or pressure encouraging them to commit
crime, or engage in illegitimate activity (Short Jr, 2018).
Eriksson and Broidy (2017), stated that in this theory, it has been demonstrated that the strain
can be structural or individual. In other words, the criminology theory ‘strain theory’ often
state that there are some strain or stressors, leading to negative reactions, requiring a
corrective action to be taken. It has been found that people in United States are majorly
forced or encouraged to strive for attaining the cultural goals for the monetary success. In
the community, the lower-section people are encouraged or pressurized to achieve their

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cultural goals. This is due to the aspect that they do not get access to different resources or
education facilities, or skills to attain success. As a result, the people from the lower class
section feel disadvantaged or strained being a major part of the dysfunctioning. This
represents lack of effective functioning due to a wider gap or difference between their goals
and legitimate means to achieve them (Baek et al., 2019).
The authors Eriksson and Broidy (2017) through their study have understood that, certain
different ways to cope with strain, ‘crime’ to be one likely factor. Individuals, specifically in
their adulthood involve in many violent crimes such as selling drugs, and other illegitimate
means to accomplish their goals. This one way describes the link or association of the strain
theory with the violent crimes. Violent crime, can be defined as the crime wherein the
offender or perpetrator uses the means of force to threaten the victim. The crimes or
activities which are considered violent, often include crimes of harm against other person,
such as rape, sexual assault, or rape, and critical cases of property crimes , such as arson
(Schnell, Braga and Piza, 2017). Furthermore, the study has revealed that the strain theory
stresses that crime is found to be in the lower classes, rather than other sections. Low social
control has been considered another vital element of the strain theory, under which a person
has less control over lack of opportunities, and housing. A major strain is the pressure or
incentive to involve in the criminal activity, to cope with the stress of attaining cultural goals
(Peck et al., 2018).
The authors or researchers has also mentioned that several potential strains which are
complex, and there are no simple solutions. For an instance, the issues such as poverty, low
job, and housing unavailability are some of the vital issues leading to crimes. Another
example of these violent crimes can be stated for, Chicago as violent crimes are mainly
found at a higher rate in the region, leading to greater loss (Tatum, 2017).
Now, the concept of criminology has also stated the meaning of strain, which is sometimes
a real or perceived injustice. one major factor, is magnitude of the strain is defined by
analysing the impact of the criminal activity, in comparison to the fact of not committing the
crime. For an instance, a person involved in robbing is considered to be a low level crime,
which will not create a major impact on the person (Schnell, Braga and Piza, 2017).
Nevertheless, it has been known that lack of money earned through robbery act as major
threat to their homes, as they may lose their shelter, or vehicles, which ultimately affects their

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wellbeing. Therefore, it may create a major impact on the life of people, as stated about the
place Chicago, living in poverty. Here, financial strain acts as major strain for the
individuals, throughout the phase of life. For coping with the issue, individuals may feel to
commit theft or robbery to come out of the financial strain and attain basic necessities of
life. Here, the criminal or person involved in crime considers these crimes to be remedy for
their financial strain specifically in the short term. These situations and the violent crimes of
robbery are mostly observed in the cases where occupation fails to provide them financial
stability (Robert, 2018).
A major aspect under the study of strain theory of criminology has been found that females
are less likely to turn to crime for adapting to the strain within society. This is because
females have cognitive and behavioural skills and conventional social support from the
members of their community or family. According to the research, in few parts such as
African-American women reported the cases of strain related to physical health, interpersonal
relations and gender based differences or biasness in the family. However, they mention
less about the strain faced due to job than their male counterparts (Moon and Morash, 2017).
One aspect or limitation has been found in context to the strain theory of criminology. It has
been found that strain theory fails to explain the white collar crimes, and the crimes based on
gender inequality. Therefore, strain theory must be accompanied to other sociology
criminology theories to gain an insight about the crime and justice (Cullen, 2017).
It can be stated from the above literature that the study of strain theory facilitates
understanding of other criminology theories. These include neo-classical theory, theory of
collective efficacy, sub-cultural theory and labelling theory. Thus, it develops an
understanding in the individuals and people about the concept of social crime control and
measures to control them (Ousey, Wilcox and Schreck, 2015).
To conclude the above discussion it has been found that the criminology or criminology
theories provides better understanding of the crime, and activities. Different types of crime
or criminal activities are found in the society due to any personal or social factor. These
aspects have been demonstrated well in the essay, in context to the concept of strain theory.
The use or prevalence of the strain or stressors are mainly found, which lead to occurrence of
crime. The essay has provided a detailed review of the strain theory of criminology, and the

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association with the violent crimes. Hence, the government or society must be structured in a
manner that provides people access to required resources, and reduce crime.

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References
Baek, H., Roberts, A.M., Seepersad, R. and Swartz, K. (2019) Examining negative emotions
as mediators between exposures to family violence and bullying: A gendered
perspective. Journal of School Violence, 18(3), pp. 440-454.
Broidy, L. and Santoro, W.A. (2018) General strain theory and racial insurgency: Assessing
the role of legitimate coping. Justice Quarterly, 35(1), pp. 162-189.
Cullen, F.T., 2017. General Strain Theory: Current Status and Directions for Further
Research. In Taking Stock (pp. 109-132). United Kingdom: Routledge.
Eriksson, L. and Broidy, L. (2017) Strain Theory and Crime. In The Palgrave Handbook of
Australian and New Zealand Criminology, Crime and Justice (pp. 543-556). Palgrave
Macmillan, Cham.
Moon, B. and Morash, M. (2017) Gender and general strain theory: A comparison of strains,
mediating, and moderating effects explaining three types of delinquency. Youth &
Society, 49(4), pp. 484-504.
Ousey, G.C., Wilcox, P. and Schreck, C.J. (2015) Violent victimization, confluence of risks
and the nature of criminal behaviour: Testing main and interactive effects from Agnew’s
extension of General Strain Theory. Journal of Criminal Justice, 43(2), pp.164-173.
Peck, J.H., Childs, K.K., Jennings, W.G. and Brady, C.M. (2018) General strain theory,
depression, and substance use: Results from a nationally representative, longitudinal sample
of White, African-American, and Hispanic adolescents and young adults. Journal of Child &
Adolescent Substance Abuse, 27(1), pp. 11-28.
Robert, A. (2018) Stability and change in crime over the life course: A strain theory
explanation. In Developmental theories of crime and delinquency (pp. 101-132). United
Kingdom: Routledge.
Schnell, C., Braga, A.A. and Piza, E.L. (2017) The influence of community areas,
neighbourhood clusters, and street segments on the spatial variability of violent crime in
Chicago. Journal of quantitative criminology, 33(3), pp. 469-496.
Short Jr, J.F. (2018) Poverty, ethnicity, and violent crime. United Kingdom: Routledge.

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Tatum, B.L. (2017) Crime, violence and minority youths. United Kingdom: Routledge.
Thaxton, S. and Agnew, R. (2018) When criminal coping is likely: An examination of
conditioning effects in general strain theory. Journal of quantitative criminology, 34(4), pp.
887-920.