General strain theory

General Strain Theory

• The perception of an adverse (how you perceive the event) situation causes strain 

• This strain causes negative emotions 

• A negative affect can cause individuals to engage in crime 

• Strain -> Negative emotions -> Crime 

3 types of Strain

1. The failure to achieve positively valued goals 

Examples: Desired grade in a class, not getting a job you really wanted, people are doing better than you on social media 

2. The loss of positively valued stimuli 

Examples: breakup/ getting cheated on , losing your job, losing a loved one, moving, losing followers

3. The presentation of negative stimuli 

Examples: bullying, pressure from anyone, cyberbullying, 

Commonality

-all types of strain produce negative affective states that lower inhibitions and charges an individual into action 

When individuals experience strain, they may turn to crime or deviant acts to cope with negative emotions 

Retaliatory behaviours

crimes committed out of anger, striking back at the situation or person that caused you the stress

Examples: beating up someone that picked on a sibling, 

Instrumental behaviours

engage in crime to get something out of it 

Ex: getting life insurance: acquiring money

Escapist behaviour

 as a result of strain we engage in behaviour to escape or numb the strain we feel 

Ex: substance abuse, self-harm 

When is strain more likely to lead to crime?

-if the strain affects areas that you consider important (do you value grades, money)

-When individuals are subjected to repetitive strain 

-if the advantages of crime are high and the risks are low 

-if an individual is predisposed to delinquency (in an environment or situation that can push them into committing crime, low self control, close family members commit crime)

-the absence of conventional social supports

-lack of resources and poor coping skills

Coping strategies

-cognitive strategies: reinterpret the situation

How?

1. Minimize the importance of the strain by placing less importance on the situation 

Example: “its just one exam, not the end of the world.” 

2. Maximize the positive, while minimizing the negative outcomes of a situation Example: “least i didn’t fail, Professor Gordon gives bonus marks anyways I’ll jsut do that.”

3. Accept the negative outcomes of the situation as fair 

Example: “I could’ve studied more.” 

Behavioral strategies

• Taking action to deal with the source of strain 

1. Actively seeking out a solution 

Example: going to the prof after a bad grade from a TA, getting a tutor 

2. Actively trying to escape negative stimuli 

Example: leaving to your friends house after a fight with your parents 

Emotional strategies

• Not attempting to reinterpret the situation or deal with the strain 

• Trying to reduce or control the negative feelings caused by the strain 

• Examples: Crying, listening to music, talking to friends, sleeping, journaling 

Robert vs robert

-Strain theory: only applies to lower class

GST: applies to all classes (all feel strain)

Strain theory: does not explain why there are different reactions to strain (mode of adaptation)?

GST: depends on coping ability, constraints on coping

Strain Theory: mainly explains economic crimes 

GST: Explains all types of delinquency/crime