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Criticisms of Merton's Strain Theory (Individual Level)

Agnew's General Strain Theory overhauls Merton's Strain Theory by expanding the types and sources of strain and linking strain to a range of delinquent outcomes through negative emotional states like anger. It addresses criticisms of classic strain theory by arguing strain can impact all classes, reactions depend on coping ability, and empirical tests support the theory's ability to explain varied crimes. Coping strategies and factors like social bonds influence how people manage strain and emotions.

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Armin Valdez
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305 views8 pages

Criticisms of Merton's Strain Theory (Individual Level)

Agnew's General Strain Theory overhauls Merton's Strain Theory by expanding the types and sources of strain and linking strain to a range of delinquent outcomes through negative emotional states like anger. It addresses criticisms of classic strain theory by arguing strain can impact all classes, reactions depend on coping ability, and empirical tests support the theory's ability to explain varied crimes. Coping strategies and factors like social bonds influence how people manage strain and emotions.

Uploaded by

Armin Valdez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Criticisms of Merton’s Strain Theory

(Individual Level)
 Is crime a “lower class” phenomena?
 Cannot explain “expressive” crimes
 Weak empirical support
 Why do people “adapt” to strain in different
ways?
Agnew (1992): General Strain Theory

 Overhaul of Merton’s Strain Theory


 Three types of strain
1. Failure to achieve valued goals
2. Removal of valued stimuli
3. Can’t escape noxious stimuli

 Commonality? All produce negative emotional


states/feelings
– Put a “charge” into people, motivate reactions
Agnew (GST)
 StrainNegative Affective States
– Anger, fear, frustration, depression
– Can lead to all sorts of delinqeuncy (not just
economic crimes)
• Illegitamate channels for success (burglary, robbery)
• Attack or escape adversity (assault, truancy)
• Manage through drugs/alcohol
 BUT, how do people react to these states?
– Merton: modes of adaptation, but why rebel vs.
innovate vs. ritualism?
– Agnew: it depends on “coping ability”
Coping Strategies
 Cognitive options
– “it’s not important,” “it’s not that bad,” “I deserve it”
 Behavioral options
– constructively reduce strain, seek positive solution
 Factors that facilitate coping
– intelligence, problem-solving skills, creativity…
 Factors that inhibit coping
– delinquent peers, criminal disposition, weak social
bonds, weak moral beliefs...
Agnew (GST)

 Tests of GST are favorable


 But, is it “STRAIN” or something else?
– Very different from Merton
– Is this theory a theory of “Strain” or a
theory of “STRESS?”
 Pirating other theories?
– Use of control, SLT variables to explain
coping
Strain vs. Control or Learning
 Control theory
– Focus on positive relationships that reduce
delinquency
 SLT
– Focus on positive relationships that can either
reduce or increase delinquency
 Strain
– Focus on negative relationships that increase
delinquency
Review of GST

 3 sources of strain
 Strain produces negative affective states
– Anger most important
– Charges individuals for action
– “External motivation”
 In absence of coping, delinquency is likely
– Uses learning and control variables to indicate
whether “coping” is likely
Addressing criticisms of “Classic strain
theory”
1. Strain theory only applies to lower class
GST: applies to all classes (all feel strain)
2. Why different reactions to strain (modes of
adaptation)?
GST: depends on coping ability, constraints on
coping
3. Weak empirical support
GST: moderate to strong empirical support
4. Strain theory only explains economic crimes
GST: explains all types of delinquency/crime

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