![References
Lilly, Robert J., Francis T. Cullen, Richard A. Ball,
(2011). Criminological Theory: Context and
Consequences. (5th Ed.). Thousand Oaks,
California. Sage Publications.
Meincke, P. (Performer) (2013). Prince watson pleads
guilty in 2011 cta murder of sally katona-king, iphone
robbery [Television series episode]. Chicago: ABC 7.
Retrieved from
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news
local&id=9062998
Messner, S., & Rosenfeld, R. (2007). Crime and the
american dream . (4th ed.). Belmont: Thomson](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/presentationstraintheory-130504174002-phpapp01/85/Presentation-strain-theory-9-320.jpg)
Presentation strain theory
- 1. Strain Theories of Crime David Cellarius “When people get mad, they act bad.” -Robert Agnew
- 2. What is strain theory?A theory which states that strain creates pressure and reasons to engage in criminal act as a type of response to the strain being experienced at that time. There are many theories that differ in explaining what establishes the sources of strain involved. 4 common theories associated with strain: • Anomie theory (Merton, 1938) • Institutional anomie theory (Messner and Rosenfeld, 1994) • General strain theory (Agnew, 1985 & 992) • Relative Deprivation theory (Crosby, 1976) I will be focusing on Messner’s and Rosenfeld’s Strain Theory: There is a strain, or a force tending to pull or stretch something to an extreme, in the American culture to fulfill the American Dream. This type of pressure to fulfill causes strain, where individuals cope by
- 4. Examples of the American Dream = + + A career Money A Home A Family happine ss
- 5. The American Culture is driven by success. We consider ourselves to be successful if we have a job which earns us money. We use that money to support our families and live a happy life because we have the freedom to do so. However, if one piece of the American Dream is missing, individuals tend to have a constant desire to fulfill it. We can define desire for fulfillment as a type of strain. Messner and Rosenfeld believe that a common way to either fulfill the strain or otherwise simply deal with the strain, is by committing crimes. Two central ideas associated with this theory: Culture Social Structure These two ideas are linked through social institutions (hence the institutional anomie theory name): “Social institutions link culture and social structure together in the context of the basic social functions any society must carry out in order to survive, including adaptation to the environment (economy), collective goal attainment (polity), social integration (legal system), and the maintenance of the
- 6. How do we achieve the American Dream? There is not one specific instruction manual to fulfill this achievement. However, it can be done with hard work and dedication. Messner and Rosenfeld declare an entirely different way: “The most efficient means to monetary gain often is to break the law, to rob with a gun, or to defraud the stock market through insider trading. Thus, anomie is criminogenic, and widespread anomie, as exists in American society, creates widespread lawlessness. (Lilly,2011) Therefore, the American Dream causes anomie: social instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values
- 7. Example of Strain Theory today I found a recent example of an individual name Prince Watson, who two years ago pushed an elderly woman down a flight of stairs in order to steal her iPhone. Watson committed this type of crime so frequently, the media referenced it as his career. He informed the jury in court that he never intentionally went out to kill the victim, but only to steal from her. He would trade in the iPhones for money, which was his ultimate motive. Here is the link: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=9062998
- 8. Future of Strain Theory The strain theory does an excellent job explaining the why‟s behind multiple crimes. It studies the specific types of strains we see placed on individuals, mostly common would the strain of pressure. There will always be the American Dream as well as the desire to fulfill it, simply because it is our countries‟ culture. Messner and Rosenfeld therefore suggest to pursue “cultural regeneration.” Cultural regeneration is the “essential to discredit money as the chief currency of a person‟s success and instead to propose that „parenting, spousing, teaching, learning, and serving the community‟ become valued ends in themselves.” (Lilly, 2011) The sooner the United States adapt‟s this way of thinking, the sooner the reductions in crime will occur
- 9. References Lilly, Robert J., Francis T. Cullen, Richard A. Ball, (2011). Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences. (5th Ed.). Thousand Oaks, California. Sage Publications. Meincke, P. (Performer) (2013). Prince watson pleads guilty in 2011 cta murder of sally katona-king, iphone robbery [Television series episode]. Chicago: ABC 7. Retrieved from http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news local&id=9062998 Messner, S., & Rosenfeld, R. (2007). Crime and the american dream . (4th ed.). Belmont: Thomson