Strain Theory Basics
Durkheim’s term for normlessness or breakdown of social rules.
What is Anomie?
Accepts both goals and means.
What is conformity?
Developed strain theory focused on delinquent subcultures and status frustration.
Who is Albert Cohen?
Crime is not innate; it is this.
What is learned behavior?
Theory focusing on how society reacts to deviance.
What is labeling theory?
The socially approved goals people are expected to achieve.
What are cultural goals?
Rejects goals but accepts means (rule-following without ambition).
What is ritualism?
Theory explaining access to illegitimate opportunities.
What is differential opportunity theory by Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin?
Theory developed by Sutherland explaining crime through interaction.
What is differential association?
Minor rule-breaking that doesn’t affect identity.
What is primary deviance?
The acceptable ways of achieving success in society.
What are legitimate means?
Rejects both goals and means and withdraws from society.
What is retreatism?
Identified criminal, conflict, and retreatist subcultures.
Who are Cloward & Ohlin?
Learning criminal techniques and attitudes favorable to crime.
What are techniques and definitions?
Deviance that becomes part of identity after labeling.
What is secondary deviance?
Strain occurs when this gap exists.
What is the gap between cultural goals and legitimate means?
Rejects means but accepts goals (most associated with crime).
What is innovation?
Focused on emotions like anger as causes of crime.
Who is Robert Agnew?
Crime occurs when these outweigh law-abiding beliefs.
What are definitions favorable to crime?
Type of shaming that stigmatizes and pushes individuals toward crime.
What is disintegrative shaming?
Sociologist who argued strain leads to crime through blocked opportunities.
Who is Robert K. Merton?
Replaces both goals and means with new ones.
What is rebellion?
Argued crime results when institutions like economy dominate society.
Who are Steven Messner and Richard Rosenfeld?
Theory emphasizing reinforcement, punishment, and modeling.
What is social learning theory by Ronald Akers?
Type of shaming that condemns the act but not the person.
What is reintegrative shaming (by John Braithwaite)?