Ariel Corporan’s Story: An Analysis Through Theories of Crime Penelope Chol Introduction To Criminology October 4th 2024 Dr. Elizabeth C. Buchholz Ariel's story centers on a 23-year-old man who faced a deeply troubled childhood marked by hardship and emotional turmoil. As a child, he actively avoided going home, preferring to walk long distances rather than take a shorter bus ride, reflecting his desire to escape his difficult home environment. With an absent father and a strict mother, Ariel felt increasingly isolated, especially after she married an abusive stepfather. The lack of stability in his family life left him feeling vulnerable, leading to instances where he locked himself in the bathroom out of fear of his stepfather’s …show more content…
He even employed Kareem to handle drug deals, further entrenching himself in this dangerous lifestyle. One fateful day, when a customer demanded a crack, the man brandished a gun. In a desperate struggle to prevent violence, Ariel accidentally caused the gun to fire, resulting in his arrest. He ultimately pleaded guilty to armed robbery and assault, losing everything he had worked for. Now, Ariel is committed to rebuilding his life alongside his fiancée and their 7-month-old baby, striving to create a better future despite his tumultuous past. Ariel’s story can be effectively analyzed through Strain Theory and Labeling Theory, both of which illuminate critical elements of his experiences and choices. Strain Theory, proposed by Robert Merton, suggests that individuals may resort to crime when they are unable to achieve socially accepted goals through legitimate means. According to Schram, Schwartz, and Tibbetts (2025), "when people experience strain, they may turn to crime as a means of coping with their inability to achieve success." Ariel's upbringing was marked …show more content…
This lack of familial support cultivated a sense of desperation for validation and success, ultimately pushing him toward the drug trade. After being incarcerated for assaulting a classmate, Ariel's introduction to drugs in juvenile detention sparked a desire to "hustle" and pursue financial stability through illicit means. As noted by the authors, "individuals in strained situations often seek alternative routes to success when legitimate opportunities seem unattainable," propelling him deeper into a life of crime. This aligns with Agnew's (1992) expansion on Strain Theory, which emphasizes that various types of strain can lead individuals to delinquency when they feel overwhelmed by their circumstances. Labeling Theory further elucidates Ariel’s trajectory by positing that societal reactions to deviant behavior can lead individuals to internalize labels, significantly influencing their self-identity and future actions. Schram et al. (2025) explain that "once labeled as a criminal, individuals may internalize this identity, which can perpetuate their involvement in crime." After his arrest for armed robbery and assault,