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A Revised Strain Theory Of Delinquency

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Social Structure theory is defined as a theory that explains crime by reference to the economic and social arrangements in society. This theory emphasizes relationships among social institutions and describes the types of behavior that tends to characterize groups of people rather than individuals (pg 151). Society structure and its relative degree of organization disorganization are important factors contributing to the prevalence of criminal behavior. Specific behaviors of single individual can be predicted but statistical group characteristics give probability that the same individuals will engage in those same specific crimes.

Authors explain that crime is the result of an individual's location within the structure of society (pg 151). …show more content…

159). In other words the middle-class would be likely to commit crimes unless they were faced with drastic change that may cause them to act with rebellion. In Agnew’s (2012) Reflection on “A Revised Strain Theory of Delinquency” Most strain theories state that delinquency results when individuals are unable to achieve their goals through legitimate channels. These theories focus on the goal of monetary success or the somewhat broader goal of middle-class status (pg. 34). For Agnew, he believed that their was a negative affective state that was an adverse emotion such as anger, fear, depression, or disappointment derived from strain (pg. 161). Agnew believed that strained individuals were more likely to have criminal outcomes under certain circumstances (pg. 161).

References:

Agnew, Robert. (2012). Reflection on: a revised Strain Theory of Delinquency. Retrieved from: https://web-a-ebscohost-com.bethelu.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=5999762f-af5f-42cd-8193-2cf0144357a0%40sessionmgr4006

Emanuelson, P. (2013). An Elementary Theory of Social Structure. Retrieved from: https://web-a-ebscohost-com.bethelu.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=13 &sid=5999762f-af5f-42cd-8193-2cf0144357a0%40sessionmgr4006

Schmalleger, F. J. (2012). Criminology today: An interactive introduction (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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