Strain Theory

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Strain Theory
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What do you do when bad things happen?

• Peer insults you for wearing cheap clothes
• A parent abuses you physically
• You fail a test you studied for
• Your partner dumps you
• Your dad dies suddenly
• Your parents get a divorce

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Agnews Strain Theory

• Blocked goals motivate crime
• Goals that may be blocked include
• Money
• Good grades
• Masculine status respect
• Corrective action that may be taken
• Theft, drug dealing, prostitution
• Cheating on exams
• Violence to demonstrate toughness, power, control

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Social Pressure To Deviate

• Our society makes it easier for some people to
  achieve success by following rules, but looks
  down on those who give up

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The American Dream

• Goals
• Means

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Mertons (1938) Strain TheoryA Critique of U.S.
Society

• Tension between success goals and available means
• We all want wealth, but our ability to achieve it
  varies by social class
• The goal of success reins supreme
• Relatively few moral costs for rule breaking

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A Theory ofDeviant Motivation

• We are all naturally law-abiding, if given the
  chance
• We break rules when we experience strain
• Strain originates in our social experience

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Mertons Adaptations to Strain
Mode of Adaptation Adhere to Cultural Goals Adhere to Legitimate Means
Conformity Yes Yes
Ritualism No Yes
Innovation Yes No
Retreatism No No
Rebellion Change cultural goals using legitimate or illegitimate means Change cultural goals using legitimate or illegitimate means
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Cloward and Ohlin (1960)Illegitimate
Opportunities
Adaptation Mainstream Goals Legitimate Means Illegitimate Means
Innovation Yes No Yes
Retreatist No No No
Retreatists are double losers or double
failures
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Albert K. Cohen (1955)Oppositional Subculture

• Explain non-utilitarian delinquency
• Lower class youth fail to achieve middle class
  standards (the middle class measuring rod)
• Status problem solved within the gang
• Status redefined in opposition to middle class
  standards (not completely separate)
• Reaction formation reject what you want but
  cant have middle class values upside down

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Why does strain cause crime?

• Strain causes negative emotions
• Anger, frustration, depression, anxiety
• Negative emotions create a pressure for
  corrective action that motivates crime
• Immediate situation
• Long-term cumulative effects

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Messner and Rosenfeld (1994)Institutional Anomie
Theory

• The American Dream causes crime
• Overemphasizes competition and success
• Underemphasizes responsibility to others
• Institutional balance of power
• Relations of mutual dependence between economy,
  family, education, religion
• Institutional anomie
• The economy has supplanted the family, education,
  and religion as the dominant institution (and
  source of values)

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Implications ofInstitutional Anomie

• Economic efficiency norms dominate
• Means-ends thinking applied in all areas of life
• Non-economic institutions are penetrated
• Families adopt an exchange mentality
• Dual income families
• Economic social roles bring most status
• Other social roles de-valued (stay-at-home-moms)

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ExplainingCrime and Deviance

• Robbery
• Cheating on exams
• Date rape
• Spouse or child abuse
• Vandalism by youth
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Drug dealing

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Policy Implicationsof Strain Theory

• Equalize opportunities for success
• Provide job and education programs
• Affirmative action
• De-emphasize material success goals
• Change the institutional balance between family,
  religion, and economy
• Emphasize playing by the rules
• Reward sportsmanship over winning
• Help people treat each other better
• Reduce grievances disputes