SOC 1100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: General Strain Theory, Asteroid Family, Larceny

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1100
• Professor: Lisa Kowalchuk

Document Summary

Textbook: chapter 5 recent sociological approaches to crime page # A general theory of crime: the contention behind a general theory of crime is that crime and other analogous behaviours such as smoking. Drinking, gambling, irresponsible sex, and careless driving are all the result of low self-control: these sorts of behaviours provide short-term gratification and are caused by the inability of some people to exercise self-control. General strain theory: strain theory was originally limited in terms of fully conceptualizing the range of possible sources of strain in society, especially among youth. Rational choice theory: rational choice theory = early theorists considered criminal behaviour to be the result of conscious decision making based on the expected utility principle in economic theory. Criminals are assumed to make calculated choices so as to make the most of their profits or benefits and reduce their costs or losses influenced by variations in opportunity, the. October 7th 9th, 2014 environment, target, and risk of detection.