Strain theory is useful for explaining particular types of crime, especially the ability to make money through illicit means. It is less useful, however, for explaining crime that is non-utilitarian, such as breaking windows, spray painting walls with graffiti, and shoplifting small items that are readily discarded after the act (Cohen, 1955).
What type of crime does strain theory apply to?
Merton’s model is specific to North America, but as capitalism has spread around the globe, the goal of acquiring wealth has also spread, leading to a globalisation of anomie and, correspondingly, certain forms of criminal behaviour.
What about South America?
etreatism involves rejecting both the means and the goals, a condition that characterises serious drug addiction and living on the streets (Merton, 1938), while rebellion overturns the goals and means society has to offer, creating new goals and institutional regulations.
Is retreatism still seen in today's time?
For Merton, this explains the “higher association between poverty and crime” (Merton, 1938, p. 681).
Did the idea of poverty effect strain theory?
Lance Armstrong was found to have been taking performance-enhancing drugs. Not only did he admit to taking these drugs, but he also said that this was simply part of how things were done in the cycling world and that they were as common as water bottles and tire pumps. The scandal illustrates how cultural goals (winning) exist in tension with institutional rules
What came of this news?
For Merton, anomie is a condition whereby society exerts pressure on the individual to achieve culturally defined goals but does not provide the institutional means to achieve them or devalues the institutional rules in favour of achieving the goals (Merton, 1938).
How did Merton's view effect this theory?
The main question that preoccupied early criminology in North America was, “Why do young, working class men engage in crime?”
Is it only young men who are working class that engage in crime?
Individuals that internalise and accept definitions more favourable to crime will be more likely to actively participate in criminal behaviour.
So favorable crime is believing that you're not truly committing a crime, While non-favourable is questioning whether or not you are committing a crime and preventing yourself from committing a crime.
The effect of affiliation with deviant peers on criminal outcomes is attributable in part to how these sources of social influence inform the degree of definitions favourable/unfavourable towards the law.
What do they mean by deviant?
The primary component of the theory is the role of differential association(s). Individuals have a vast array of social contacts and “intimate personal groups” with whom they interact.
With this being said what if these social interactions start to become negatively effected?
Importantly, Sutherland (1947) sought to articulate a formal theory by presenting propositions that could be used to explain how individuals come to engage in crime. In his Principles of Criminology textbook, Sutherland articulated the following nine propositions:
How did these nine propositions affect his findings?