CRIM 4325 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Motor Vehicle Theft, General Strain Theory, Arson
Document Summary
Running head: the strain of violence: strain theory & assault. The strain of violence: strain theory & aggravated assault. Aggravated assault is one of the most notorious crimes that occur regularly in the united. It is a crime that affects everyone connected to it. It has an influence on family, friends, and even simple witnesses to the crime. The reason that it is important to discuss aggravated assault as it relates to crime in the united states is due to the way social structure drives individuals to strive for more power and wealth. It is in our culture to strive for a higher status in our society, either through legal or illegal means. United states is placed more on the ends rather than the means. Robert k. merton adapted emilie durkheim"s theory about rapid social change to include social structure to explain why stable conditions could also be associated with higher overall crime rates.