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FOUNDATION FOR A GENERAL STRAIN THEORY OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY *
Author(s) -
AGNEW ROBERT
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
criminology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.467
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1745-9125
pISSN - 0011-1384
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1992.tb01093.x
Subject(s) - general strain theory , juvenile delinquency , strain (injury) , section (typography) , differential association , psychology , presentation (obstetrics) , foundation (evidence) , general theory , social psychology , criminology , structural engineering , engineering , computer science , mathematics , political science , mathematical economics , law , medicine , radiology , operating system
This paper presents a general strain theory of crime and delinquency that is capable of overcoming the criticisms of previous strain theories. In the first section, strain theory is distinguished from social control and differential association/social learning theory. In the second section, the three major types of strain are described: (1) strain as the actual or anticipated failure to achieve positively valued goals, (2) strain as the actual or anticipated removal of positively valued stimuli, and (3) strain as the actual or anticipated presentation of negatively valued stimuli. In the third section, guidelines for the measurement of strain are presented. And in the fourth section, the major adaptations to strain are described, and those factors influencing the choice of delinquent versus nondelinquent adaptations are discussed.