CRIM 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: General Strain Theory, Anomie, Social Control Theory
12 Sep 2016
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Criticisms were leveled against robert merton"s anomie strain theory and cohen"s status deprivation and. Issue was that the emphasis placed on the type of anomie strain that lwoer class peopel suffered: this did not offer adequate explanation for crimes committed by middle and upper classess. Also crticized for assuming that everybody wanted the american dream. Robert agnew attempted to address these issues by developing general strain theory. Agnew states that youth are more concerned about immediate goals than about longer term goals like wealth and social advancement: same throughout middle and lower classyouth. Agnew added new sources of strain like aversive stimuli like conflict with parents, school, or unpopularity. Most youth, lower, middle, and upper, lack means to excape from aversive situations: this leads to frustration and aggression. Anomie strain theory sees individuals running toward symbols like money, cars, jobs. General strain theory sees individuals running away from undesirable conditions like family conflict, lack of popularity.
