Chapter 10: Strain Theories

Question 1

What was Durkheim’s contribution to Strain Theory?

Answer 1

Durkheim focused on suicide, crime, and anomie.
Social solidarity: Groups working together for the same goals, which causes a sense of share norms. Society breaks down and crime increases if these norms are not mutually pursued
Anomie: When norms break down due to excessive self-interest

Question 2

Who was Merton, and what was his contribution to strain theory?

Answer 2

Merton looked at the gap between aspirations towards social goals, and the means to achieve those goals
Social Structure: The arrangement of different roles and statuses
Micro-anomie: Occurs when one person pursues self-interest rather than the common good. They seek self-enhancing values rather than self-transcending values

Question 3

What did Thomas Bernard contribute to Strain Theory?

Answer 3

Thomas Bernard viewed strain as a structural part of society. the uneven distribution of opportunities in a culture that ruthlessly pursues wealth creates pockets of instrumental crime.
Institutional anomie: When the institution that encourage the reckless pursuit of wealth places a huge emphasis on self-interest, and a low emphasis on legitimate means for receiving wealth. It does this:
1. Directly through encouragement of illegal means
2. Indirectly through a link between institutional power and the economy

Question 4

What are some responses to the opportunistic crimes of the powerful?

Answer 4

1. We need to PROSECUTE more! If they know that it’s not that easy to get away with this kind of stuff, white collar crime will go down! John Haga even claims that the government policy ENCOURAGES corporate crime!
2. Ways to reduce crime through elitist behaviour
   a) Reduction in unethical behaviour (duh)
   b) Crime in large corporations is inevitable. Make smaller corporations?
   c) We can’t just tackle criminal behaviour, we also need to look at antisocial behaviour

Question 5

What does Strain Theory look like in other cultures? What conclusion can we draw from these trends?

Answer 5

The Chinese Dream: Similar to the American dream, but it has an extra emphasis on RESPECT. Professors will often commit fraudulent academia to gain more respect
Germany and the Berlin Wall: White collar crime totally happens here. When the wall came down, government was hoping that capitalist west could help out communists east, by selling them factories for a dollar, so long as they fixed them up. Instead, they closed them down in order to eliminate competition. Economy still sucks there, unemployment and crime still high

Conclusion: The creation of just laws, respect for those laws, and ethical behaviour from leaders affects criminal potential worldwide!

Question 6

We know that strain does not necessarily lead to crime. What other factors have to be present for a strained individual to become criminal?

Answer 6

1. High magnitude strains, e.g. Threat to one’s core identity
2. Unjust strains, such as disrespect or racism
3. If the strain is linked to low social control, e.g. where you go to school, what family you’re born into
4. If there is a high likelihood that your crime will pay off
5. If crime is done with other people, the resolution to strain may be a “group activity”, or you may just now be prone to peer pressure

Question 7

Describe the concept of Opportunity structures

Answer 7

When the opportunities available to people based on the way society is organized, that it is called an opportunity structure. This was created in response to Merton’s concept of anomie, which, while possible, did not account for the differing levels of crime in different segments.
It was settled that anomie is the overall disjunctive between a person’s goals and the opportunity structures set in place.
“normlessness” becomes “relative deprivation”, which is the degree to which you can support yourself in comparison to the rest of society.
It is therefore not the ENTIRE community that is anomic but only those who are barred from the means of achieving their societal goals

Question 8

What has Richard Cloward done for the world of opportunity structures?

Answer 8

Cloward created the concept of “illegitimate opportunity structures”, meaning that not every person can commit any kind of crime. You need the means to commit that crime. e.g. a homeless person cannot commit corporate fraud…
Opportunity theory: Cloward specifically studied juvenile delinquents, and stated that juvies typically formed gangs when faced with strain, which he called “subcultures”. Cloward claimed that kids all have those classic middle class values such as earning respect, and/or having nice things, and can claim to have it by having money or nice cars. Three different “subcultures” come from this
1. Criminal: They need the money or car to earn respect, so they take it though illegitimate opportunity
2. Conflict: They get respect by having a reputation of violence, so that no one “messes with them”
3. Retreatist: If they can’t fight, and they’re bad thieves, they may just retreat into the land of drugs as an escape. Like zero barriers here

Question 9

What do Francis Cullen and Elijah Anderson have to do with each other?

Answer 9

Both have to do with opportunity structures.
Francis Cullen looks at alternative deviant adaptations, such as homosexual behaviours and youth in negative family situations who take to the streets looking for food
Elijah Anderson analyzes the "code of the street". Says that in order for adolescents to let people know how tough they are, they will push boundaries as much as possible. There is also a mentality among lower-class black men, where they choose crime over legitimate work to show an intentional rebellion against organizations they believe are discriminating against them.

Question 10

Provide an assessment of strain theory’s main people, and explain how it is complementary to other theory

Answer 10

1. Durkheim: Incorrectly assumed that the past was “more stable”, and focused solely on social forces to explain crime
2. Merton: He helped to provide insight into gangs and corporations, but he only looked at social class. He can’t explain how even though women undergo more strain, they don’t commit more crime.

Complementariness: Strain theory works with

1. Learning theories: “Differential association”, where if you have positive relationships with criminals, you are likely to commit crime with them
2. Control theories: Refers to social control. If society’s values are not enough to keep someone in line, crime will occur
3. Agnew and strain theory: If a kid has a lot of negative experiences and relationships, in circumstances beyond their control, crime is likely to ensue. Most accurate theory

Question 11

What is John Braithwaite’s perspective on classes? What policy implications does strain theory pose?

Answer 11

John Braithwaite claims that the more economically and racially mixed an area is, the less crime will occur. He had two propositions:

1. When someone has high exposure to illegitimate opportunities and low exposure to legitimate experiences, they are more likely to commit crime
2. The inverse

Policy implications:

1. Motivated to supply work opportunities to areas of high delinquency: Improved the attitude of the parents a lot!
2. Created programs to take the strain off of mothers, such as daycare and health care
3. Created programs for furthering education
4. Created programs to teach good parenting!!!