Merton's Strain Theory Essay
These adaptation modes, except ‘conformity’, are the manifestation of deviant behaviors, in which ‘Innovation’ is more commonly related to crime. However, during the late 1960s, Merton’s strain theory lose its appeal to discuss the cause of juvenile delinquency, until the 1990s, Agnew reformulated and regenerated in his theory. He has formulated a distinct theoretical perspectives based on Merton’s theory of anomie and strain, which termed as General Strain Theory. Apart from Merton’s strain of goals and means, his theory argued that strains might increase the possibility of individual’s negative emotions, such as anger and frustration, and which further lead to the deviant behaviors (Agnew, 1992). Crime might be seen as a method for alleviating negative emotions and reducing strain. Agnew (1992) stated that it is
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‘Goal blockage’ is defined as the failure of achieving justice goals; the ‘loss of positively valued stimuli’ often occurs when parents divorce, or friends or romantic partner died; and the ‘presentation of negative stimuli’ often occurs when people experienced physical assaults (Agnew, 1992). From these types of stains, goal blockage is similar to Merton’s theory of stain, which emphasis on the stress between cultural goals and means. The general strain theory pays more attention on the socio-psychological factors and the social environment. Furthermore, according to Agnew (1992), further studies found that not any of the strain experienced by youth led to deviance. Thus, he expanded his theory and argued that when people ‘are seen as high in magnitude’, ‘are seen as unjust’, ‘are connected with low social control’, and ‘create some pressure or incentive to engage in criminal coping’, their strains are most likely transform to crime (Agnew, 2011, cited in Skinner,
‘Goal blockage’ is defined as the failure of achieving justice goals; the ‘loss of positively valued stimuli’ often occurs when parents divorce, or friends or romantic partner died; and the ‘presentation of negative stimuli’ often occurs when people experienced physical assaults (Agnew, 1992). From these types of stains, goal blockage is similar to Merton’s theory of stain, which emphasis on the stress between cultural goals and means. The general strain theory pays more attention on the socio-psychological factors and the social environment. Furthermore, according to Agnew (1992), further studies found that not any of the strain experienced by youth led to deviance. Thus, he expanded his theory and argued that when people ‘are seen as high in magnitude’, ‘are seen as unjust’, ‘are connected with low social control’, and ‘create some pressure or incentive to engage in criminal coping’, their strains are most likely transform to crime (Agnew, 2011, cited in Skinner,