In sociology and criminology, strain theory states that social structures in society can suppress citizens to commit crimes. Following the work of Durkheim, the theory of tension has been put forward by Robert King Merton (1938), Albert K. Cohen (1955), Richard Cloward, Lloyd Ohlin (1960), Neil Smelser (1963), Robert Agnew (1992). ), Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld (1994).
Video Strain theory (sociology)
Stress Theory
Strain theory is a theory of sociology and criminology developed in 1938 by Robert K. Merton. The theory suggests that societies put pressure on individuals to achieve socially acceptable goals (such as the American dream) even though they have no means, this leads to the tension that can cause individuals to commit crimes. For example selling drugs or engaging in prostitution for financial security.
Strain can be: Structural: This refers to a process at the community level that filters and influences how individuals perceive their needs, that is, if certain social structures are inherently inadequate or there is inadequate regulation, this can change the individual's perception of the means and opportunities; or
Robert King Merton is an American sociologist who argues that society can drive deviations to a great extent. Merton believes that socially acceptable goals put pressure on people to adjust. His theory was largely developed due to the social and economic conditions occurring in US society in the early 1900s. The Robert Merton Strain Theory stems from the fundamental question that he proposes why the extent of deviation is so different between societies. He thinks that there may be irregularities where there is a difference between what defines success and what is the right means to achieve this goal. He found the United States as a prime example of high levels of deviation because there is a high value in achieving success, especially monetary success, but there is a contradiction to the means of achieving success. College-educated workers are respected, but the robber barons who steal their money are also admired, showing success is seen as more important than the means to achieve success. In addition, he also saw how minority groups can not get a good education, and if they can then they can not get a job with a good salary, but the same high standards for success are set for everyone even though not everyone can reach them standard through conventional means. These contradictions make him develop the theory of tension because of how high the US succeeds. People are forced to work in the system or become members of a deviant subculture to achieve the desired goals. Merton's conviction became a theory known as the Tension Theory. Merton goes on to say when individuals are faced with a gap between their goals (usually financial/money-related) and their current status, tension occurs. When faced with tension, people have five ways to adapt:
- Suitability: pursue cultural objectives through socially agreed means. ("Expect poor")
- Innovation: using socially or unconfirmed means to gain culturally approved goals. Example: handling drugs or stealing to achieve financial security. ("surviving poor"))
- Ritualism: using the same socially agreed means to accomplish less elusive goals (simpler and more humble). ("passive poor")
- Retreatism: rejects the cultural objectives and how to acquire them, then finds ways to avoid them. ("poor retreat")
- Rebellion: to deny cultural purpose and means, then work to replace it. ("reject the poor") does not accept any purpose and means
Maps Strain theory (sociology)
Derived Theories
General Strain Theory
General strain theory (GST) is a sociology and criminology theory developed in 1992 by Robert Agnew. Agnew believes that Merton's theory is too vague in nature and does not take into account criminal activity that does not involve financial gain. The core idea of ​​the general strain theory is that people who experience tension or stress become depressed or upset that can cause them to commit crimes to overcome them. One of the key principles of this theory is emotion as a motivator for evil. This theory was developed to conceptualize various sources in societies where strains may originate, to which the theory of Merton strains is not. This theory also focuses on the goal perspective for status, expectations and class rather than focusing on money (such as Merton's theory). Common Tension Theory Theories are people who use drugs to make themselves feel better, or a student attacks his friends to end the abuse he causes.
GST introduced 3 main sources of tension such as:
- Loss of positive stimuli (death of family or friends)
- Presentation of negative stimuli (physical and verbal attacks)
- Inability to achieve desired goals.
Institutional Anomie Theory
Institutional anomie theory (IAT) is a criminology theory developed in 1994 by Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld. This theory suggests that institutional arrangements with markets, where markets/economies are allowed to operate/dominate without restriction from other social intuitions such as families are likely to lead to criminal behavior. Derived from the Merton Tension Theory, the IAT extends the macro-theory level. The focus of the IAT centers on the criminal influence of various social institutions, not just economic structures.
Invalid Opportunity Theory
An unlawful opportunity is a sociological theory developed in 1960 by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin. His theory states that evil is generated from a number of high illegitimate opportunities and not from a lack of legitimate opportunities. This theory is made from Merton's tension theory to help overcome juvenile delinquency.
Stole Role Theory
The "strain role" theory, developed by sociologist William J. Goode in 1960, states that social institutions are supported and operated by role relationships. Because of this role relationship that individuals may feel "role tension", or difficulty fulfilling their sociological tasks in relationships. Through this "role strain" social action and social structure are maintained. With this connection, there comes a social obligation to be followed by members of that society, who are usually not forced to comply. In order for society to continue to exist, these obligations must be met by the willingness of the individuals within them, expressed by theories are what most people tend to do. Due to the fact that there is no power involved in maintaining this role relationship, there will be individuals who can not, or will not, adapt to the expectations of this society.
In addition, individuals in society are not bound to a role relationship. In fact, all individuals will be part of a dual role relationship. Ownership of dual relationships can explain the often common conflicts of interest encountered in social settings. However, according to Goode, because of this dual relationship, one will almost always have a total number of role obligations that demand more than what an individual can provide, whether in terms of time, emotional support, or material resources. This can lead to "role tension", which may lead individuals to try to meet socially acceptable goals in ways that may not be socially acceptable (as described in General String theory).
While the theory of role strains tries to link community maintenance to role relations, Goode also recognizes that the theory does not explain the existence of more complex social arrangements, such as urban communities. The role strain theory does not explain some aspects of urban life, such as the fact that some individuals accept absolutely no central values ​​of society, the fact that individuals vary in their emotional commitment to social values, how these role relationships change. when individuals experience changes in social positions, or how these relationships survive during times of crisis.
Strain Theorists more
Robert Agnew
In 1992, Robert Agnew asserted that strain theory could be central in explaining crime and irregularities, but it needs to be revised so as not to be tied to social class or cultural variables, but to re-focus on the norm. For this purpose, Agnew proposes a general strain theory or not interpersonal but more individual and emotional, paying particular attention to the individual's immediate social environment. He argues that an actual or anticipated failure to achieve a positive goal, the actual or anticipated removal of positive-value stimuli, and the actual or anticipated presentation of negative stimuli all produce tension.
Anger and frustration confirm a negative relationship. The resulting patterns of behavior will often be characterized by more than part of their unilateral action because an individual will have a natural desire to avoid unpleasant rejection, and this unilateral action (especially when antisocial) will further contribute to the individual's alienation from society. If certain rejection is generalized to the feeling that the environment is not supportive, stronger negative emotions can motivate individuals to engage in crime. This is most likely applicable to younger individuals, and Agnew suggests that the focus of research on the magnitude, duration, duration, and grouping of tension-related events to determine whether a person is coping with tension by criminal or adaptation. Temperament, intelligence, interpersonal skills, self-efficacy, the presence of conventional social support, and the lack of antisocial relationships (eg, , tend to be criminal) age and peer status are the chiefs among the factors known as Agnew helpful.
Jie Zhang
The theory of suicide tension suggests that suicide is usually preceded by psychological tension. Psychological strains are formed by at least two pressures or pressure, pushing the individual in different directions. Tension can be a consequence of one of four conflicts: the differential value, the difference between aspiration and reality, relative deprivation, and a lack of crisis coping skills. The psychological strain in the form of all four sources has been tested and supported by a sample of suicide notes in the United States and in rural China through psychological autopsy studies. The theory of suicide tension poses a challenge to the popular psychiatric model among suicidists in the world The theory of suicide tension is based on the theoretical framework set by earlier sociologists, such as Durkheim (1951), Merton (1957), and Agnew (2006), and preliminary tests have been completed with some American data (Zhang and Lester 2008) and China (Zhang 2010; Zhang, Dong, Delprino, and Zhou 2009; Zhang, Wieczorek, Conwell, and Tu 2011) There may be four types of strains that precede suicide, and each can come from a particular source. The source of tension must consist of two, and at least two, contradicting social facts. If these two social facts are not contradictory, there will be no tension.
- Filter Source 1: Differential Value
When two conflicting values ​​or social beliefs compete in one's daily life, the person experiences a strain of value. Two conflicting social facts are competing personal beliefs internalized within one's value system. A member of a sect may experience tension if mainstream culture and heretical religion are considered important in the daily life of members of the cult. Other examples include second-generation immigrants in the United States who must abide by the ethnic cultural rules applied in the family while adapt to American culture with peers and school. In China, rural young women appreciate the gender egalitarianism advocated by the communist government, but at the same time, they are trapped in cultural sexual discrimination traditionally cultivated by Confucianism. Another example that may be found in developing countries is the differential value of traditional collectivism and modern individualism. When two conflicting values ​​are taken as equally important in the daily life of a person, the person experiences great tension. When one value is more important than the other, there is little or no tension.
Criticism
The strain theory has received several criticisms, such as:
- The best strain theory applies only to the lower classes as they struggle with limited resources to get their goals.
- Strain theory fails to explain white-collar crime, the offender who has many opportunities to achieve through legal and legal means.
- Strain theory fails to explain crimes based on gender inequality.
- Merton deals with forms of individual responses, not group activities involving crime.
- The Merton theory is not very critical of the social structure that it claims to produce strains.
- The theory of tension ignores the inter-and intra-personal aspects of evil.
- Strain theory has weak empirical evidence supporting it.
Study
Strain theory was tested after its development. Most of these tests test ideal goals such as work goals and individual expectations, the most ideal will lead to crime if not achieved under pressure rule theory. However, most studies have found that this is not the case. An example of this research is a study conducted by Travis Hirschi in 1969. He analyzed large amounts of data about delinquency collected in Western Contra Costa County, California in contrast to strain theory. These and other criticisms led to the abandonment of the theory of tension from the 1970s to the 80s.
In addition to research conducted by Hirsch, strain theory was explored in a 2001 study conducted by Jason D. Boardman (and others). This study explores how community tension and stress can lead to drug use by individuals, in particular how one's environmental environment can affect their vulnerability to drug abuse. This study is specifically centered around the troubled environment in Detroit, and the results are based on census data drawn from this environment, especially since this data contains information about drug use by every resident. From this data, the study found that a more disadvantaged environment is, the more the population abuses drugs. This study credits this positive trend to higher stress levels and fewer available resources. According to the theory of tension, this lack of resources can force a person to abuse drugs to achieve a positive value of happiness by using the means currently available, which, in the case of harsh environments, are drugs.
See also
- Unauthorized Opportunity
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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