General Strain Theory

world-wide blood line TheoryAgnew (2001) produced three different categories of breeze that capture the potential to induce a negatively charged reaction. These categories include being in the presence of negative stimuli, non being able to get past goal blockages, and the loss of positivistic stimuli. In context of the category of strain link up to being in the presence of a negative stimulus, a negative stimulus can be described as any stimulus that has unenviable consequences. Some examples of negative stimuli include but argon not limited to sexual abuse, physical abuse, harassment, teasing, bullying, or any form of violence. With regard to strain as it relates to goal blockages, this form of strain involves an individual failing to meet their desired goals for one or more various reasons. An example of goal blockage would be when someone is unable to attend a prestigious private college because they cannot afford to pay tuition. Fin anyy, in regard to the last category of strain, the loss of irresponsible stimuli, positive stimuli can be operationally defined as a loss of a stimulus that has a desirable consequence. An example of one such positive stimulus would be an end to a desired relationship, or loss of a loved one. In addition to these three categorical theories of strain, Agnew (2001) came up with the topic that there are two different ways by which to measure strain subjectively and objectively.Agnew (2001) enunciates that subjective strains refer to conditions and events that are not liked by the people who are actually experiencing the m. In other words, subjective strains are personal conditions that someone has an aversion towards based on their experiences. Conversely, objective strains refer to negative conditions/ events that are not liked by most of the members of a specific group (Frggio Agnew, 2007). A powerful and common example of objective strain would be when people are or feel they are being deprived of basic human neces sities. Agnew (2001) stated that almost all of his interrogation on General Strain Theory involved using dealings of objective strain, with barely any measures of subjective strain. After Agnew came out with the aforementioned statement some not using as such(prenominal) subjective strain research as objective strain research, he became worried that other researches would undermine the integrity of Strain Theory on the basis that objective strains occasionally form minor subjective strains (Agnew, 2001). What Agnew was suggesting in supporting objective strain over subjective strain was that emphasis needs to be placed on objective strain research he never discredited the role of subjective strain research at any point..As stated in the introduction, not everyone who experiences strains goes on to commit crimes. Instead, the vast majority of individuals have lintel mechanisms that aid in the difference from taking part in felon behaviors. Agnew (2001) stated that it is only wh en these coping mechanisms fail that criminal activity may ensue. Agnew (2001) discusses four different types of characteristics that can potentially lead to coping by style of criminal behavior. The four different characteristics that will most believably lead to crime in the instance that coping mechanisms fail to provide sufficient relief from the experience of strain include unjust, noble in magnitude, associated with little to no social control, and strains that create stress or incentive to engage in criminal activities (Agnew, 2001).First, strain is more prone to lead to criminal behavior when it is seen as unjust or unfair, as this cognition has the potential to trigger negative emotions, such as anger. When anger comes in to the picture, the individual will potentially think irrationally, devising it easier for them to engage in criminal actions (Agnew, 2001). These crimes are often called crimes of passion. An example of a crime of passion can be seen in a husband ass aulting a man he discovers his married woman cheating on him with. Second, individuals turn to crime if the strain is perceived to be high in magnitude. More specifically, if an individual perceives strain as being significant, they are more likely to commit criminal activity than they would be if the strain was not as significant. For example, someone with a small amount of debt is less likely to engage in delinquent behavior than someone who has a large amount of debt.Another characteristic of strain is observed when a strain is pair with little to no social control, which increases the likelihood of an individual committing a crime. Agnew (2001) says that this category of low social control can be broken down in three smaller subcategories commitment, attachment, and absence of direct control. The fourth and final characteristic of strain that can lead to criminal behavior occurs as a closure of strains that create stress or incentive to engage in criminal activity. One way str ess can cause an individual to engage in criminal behavior can be seen occurring in response to financial hardships. For example, if a family is struggling financially, the son from this family may resort to physically assaulting other kids and take their money or possessions. Another example that would work for the fourth characteristic would be if the individual observes his/her model committing a crime.On Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 at about 1100 a.m., police responded to a report of a possible nipper abduction in Palmdale, California. The suspect was a seventeen year old father who had interpreted his five month old infant. The sheriffs department located Christopher Earl Glass and his son, Christopher Glass Jr., driving in Glass car, and began to pursue the vehicle. During the course of the pursuit, deputies noticed Glass making stabbing movements at heart the vehicle. As the sheriffs closed in, Glass crashed his white SUV, then took off on foot. A couple of deputies chased a fter the suspect, while others looked inside the SUV to check on the child. Christopher Glass Jr. had been stabbed multiple times. Police rushed the injured five month old baby to the hospital in a squad car. Regrettably, Christopher Earl Glass Jr. was pronounced dead at the hospital. While being pursued by authorities, Christopher Earl Glass broke in to a random house and, when cornered, charged at the police with a knife in hand, resulting in him being shot to death.By looking at all of the facts of the case, Agnew would say that this crime falls within the classification of General Strain Theory. First, Agnew would say that the strain experienced by Christopher Glass in this case could be heedful subjectively, due to the fact that Glass was under extreme emotional distress.. Christopher Earl Glass thought that having a child at age 17 was too much to handle, and cracked under the pressure of being a new father. Agnew would also say that Christopher Earl Glass was under a great d eal of strain because he was in the presence of a negative stimulus, goal blockages, and because he was experiencing a loss of positive stimuli. The new negative stimulus Glass experienced was his babys father constantly hounding him for support and payments. Christopher was a talented athlete who was looking for the chance to get a scholarship to play collegiate basketball, but since he had a child, all of his dreams of ever going professional came crashing down. He also had a loss of positive stimulus because he was a new father who had all of these new responsibilities that kept him from going out and having fun. These negative feelings, coupled with a loss of positive feelings, caused Christopher to think that getting rid of his son was the only means he had by which to restore balance to his life.Agnew would also say that Christopher shows all of the four characteristics that would make him want to resort to criminal behavior. In Christophers eyes, having a child at age 17 was an unjust situation. He was probably thinking to himself, Thousands of teens have unprotected sex every day why did I have to be the one to have a child? Also, his babys mother chose not to have an abortion, and this might also have been something Christopher perceived as unfair. Because Christopher was a adroit and talented athlete, having a child at such a young age must have been perceived as a problem high in magnitude, because the responsibilities of being a new father redefined his priorities. The next characteristic of low social control can be seen when the babysitter essentially gave the baby to her father without contacting the authorities right away. Finally the last characteristic of strains that create pressure or incentive to engage in criminal activities is present because, in the report, it was mentioned that Christophers coach was talking to him about getting a scholarship to go and play collegiate basketball. This last characteristic of criminal coping was the fi nal catalyst for Christophers need to relieve strain by means of criminal activity.. Agnew would argue that because Christopher did not have the coping skills to deal with his problem, he resorted to delinquent behaviors in lay to deal with his situation.