Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Merton’s Original Strain Theory: A Brief Overview
- The Development of General Strain Theory (GST)
- Non-Economic Strains and Their Impact on Criminal Behavior
- Why Emotional Strain Leads to Criminality Across Different Groups
- General Strain Theory’s Contributions to Policy and Prevention
- Conclusion
Introduction
In the field of criminology, understanding the origins and motivations behind deviant behavior has long been a central focus. Strain Theory, initially developed by Robert K. Merton, offered a compelling framework for analyzing how societal pressures influence individual actions, especially when traditional avenues for success are blocked. While Merton’s model provided essential insights, it primarily emphasized economic and structural stressors as the catalysts for deviant behavior. Robert Agnew, a renowned sociologist, expanded upon this foundation by developing General Strain Theory (GST), which broadened the scope of strain to include interpersonal and psychological stressors, thus addressing factors beyond purely economic concerns.
Agnew’s General Strain Theory revolutionized our understanding of deviance by emphasizing the role of emotional strain and its impact on criminality. By including a range of stressors that affect individuals differently, Agnew’s theory offers a nuanced perspective on the complex pathways leading to crime. This article explores Agnew’s expansion of Strain Theory, detailing his contributions and highlighting how non-economic strains, such as interpersonal relationships and psychological distress, create conditions under which individuals may resort to criminal behavior.
Merton’s Original Strain Theory: A Brief Overview
To fully appreciate Agnew’s contribution, it is essential to understand Merton’s original formulation of Strain Theory. Merton proposed that society promotes certain cultural goals—such as wealth, success, and status—but often fails to provide equal means for individuals to achieve these goals. This disjunction between societal expectations and available resources leads to strain, as individuals struggle to achieve success through socially accepted channels. Merton suggested that individuals respond to this strain in various ways, including conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
Merton’s Strain Theory primarily centered on economic inequalities, where lack of access to financial success could lead to deviant responses. While this framework explained many forms of deviance, it largely ignored the role of other types of strain, such as interpersonal and emotional stressors, in contributing to criminal behavior. It was this limitation that Robert Agnew sought to address with General Strain Theory.
The Development of General Strain Theory (GST)
Robert Agnew introduced General Strain Theory in the early 1990s to expand the scope of traditional Strain Theory. Unlike Merton, who emphasized structural limitations, Agnew argued that strain could arise from a broader set of stressors, including personal and emotional challenges. Agnew’s GST posits that strain can emerge from three main sources:
- Failure to achieve positively valued goals – This is similar to Merton’s concept, where individuals experience frustration due to an inability to attain socially approved goals.
- Removal of positively valued stimuli – When individuals lose something they value, such as a loved one, a job, or social status, they may experience significant strain, potentially leading to deviance.
- Confrontation with negative stimuli – Exposure to harmful or adverse situations, such as abusive relationships, bullying, or chronic stress, can create strain that may prompt individuals to engage in criminal behavior.
Agnew’s General Strain Theory thus incorporates a wider range of stressors that reflect everyday interpersonal and psychological challenges. This expanded view acknowledges that crime is not solely a response to blocked economic opportunities but can also arise from personal grievances and emotional distress.
Non-Economic Strains and Their Impact on Criminal Behavior
Interpersonal Stressors
One of Agnew’s significant contributions to criminology is his focus on interpersonal stressors as a source of strain. These stressors can include conflicts with family members, friends, or intimate partners, as well as experiences of bullying, rejection, or harassment. According to Agnew, interpersonal conflicts can generate intense feelings of frustration, anger, and resentment. When these emotions accumulate without a constructive outlet, individuals may turn to deviance or criminal behavior as a form of release or coping mechanism.
For example, a young person experiencing bullying at school may find themselves unable to escape or resolve the situation. The resulting frustration and anger can lead them to retaliate through deviant acts, such as vandalism or even physical aggression. Unlike Merton’s focus on economic achievement, Agnew’s General Strain Theory explains how personal relationships and daily interactions can create strain that drives deviant behavior.
Psychological and Emotional Strain
Agnew’s GST places considerable emphasis on psychological and emotional strains, which were largely absent from Merton’s framework. Psychological strain encompasses feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth, and anxiety, often arising from social comparison, personal insecurities, or traumatic experiences. When individuals face ongoing emotional stress, they may seek out behaviors that provide temporary relief or a sense of control, even if these behaviors are deviant.
Consider someone suffering from chronic stress due to a high-pressure job or family responsibilities. This individual might turn to substance abuse as a means of coping with their emotional strain. Agnew’s General Strain Theory argues that deviant behavior in these cases is not a deliberate rejection of societal norms but rather a response to unresolved emotional tension. GST helps explain why some individuals resort to criminal or self-destructive behaviors as a way to cope with psychological burdens that feel overwhelming.
The Role of Anger and Other Negative Emotions
A critical aspect of Agnew’s theory is his focus on emotions, particularly anger, as a mediating factor between strain and deviance. Agnew argues that anger is often a key emotional response to strain, especially when individuals perceive their situation as unjust or unfair. Anger can reduce an individual’s ability to make rational decisions and increase impulsivity, making them more likely to engage in aggressive or criminal acts.
Other negative emotions, such as sadness, frustration, and hopelessness, also play a role in shaping responses to strain. However, while sadness might lead to withdrawal or self-destructive behaviors, anger is more likely to produce outwardly directed deviance, such as violence or property crime. By highlighting the emotional processes that link strain to deviance, Agnew’s GST provides a more comprehensive understanding of why individuals respond to strain in various ways.
