Anomie and Strain Theories - Essay Example

Anomie and Strain Theories Introduction This paper highlights pertinent issues on Anomie and Strain Theories. Anomie and Strain Theories have been used widely to explain people’s behaviors. Anomie theory has exploded deferent criminal behaviors witnessed in most people in the US. Summary of literature Operational institutional anomie theory is a research strategy that explains a lot concerning criminal behaviors. In this case, it is believe that anomie theory has numerous impacts in ensuring that variations that are witnessed in rates of crime are understood.

It must be noted that if the economic opportunities are expanded, cultural induced pressures may be intensified. This always happens when the level of anomie is not reduced in the society. These two factors must be increased in the same measure to ensure better results. The level of anomie can also be increased when there is reinforcement of economic vitality (Chamlin 1995). It us also important to highlight that crime rate can be reduced better by elimination of particular impediments in the society.

It has also been highlighted that crime has a lot of influence on many instructions in US. In this case, it is advisable to protect social institutions from such impacts. It has been noted that increased crime rate in America is as result of failure by social institutions to regulate crime rate. For instance, education is highly regarded as a way of attaining occupation. In this case, education has lost its role of affecting ethical values and promoting good habits in the learners. Education sector has been seen to fail to give vibrant definition an individual’s self-worth (Chamlin 1995).

Culturally motivated pressures that are aimed at increasing economic viability of individuals have been seen to promote crime in US. This has also been promoted by failure to regulate the non-economic institutions that are responsible for this phenomenon. It is therefore important to highlight that anomie theory is vibrant in explaining criminology and reasons for crimes in US (Chamlin 1995). Strain theory has also been advanced by many scholars to explain reasons for crime. Victimization has been seen to be on the rise in US.

The most affected group is the adolescents. A survey by the national crime victimization has noted that about 1.7 million adolescents are prone to victimization that is deemed violent. This is believed to happen every year. Victimization has been linked closely by crime. According to strain theory, it is believed that people who normally experience strain will also experience higher levels of negative emotional reactions. It is also important to highlight that strains can highly result in to depressions and stress.

Strain has also been found to result in to anger, and anxiety (Lin 2002). It is believed that anger is the most noted result of strain. In this case, anger has been seen as part of an individual’s emotion that results in to criminal act. On the other hand, depressions have been noted as the most serious impact of health because of strain. It is also vivid to highlight that depression has been seen to be common among the youth. Strain is responsible for generation of unpleasant feelings. Individuals who experience such feelings always want to respond in a manner to correct these feelings.

In this course of action, they always end up committing criminal acts (Lin 2002). Conclusion This paper has highlight pertinent issues on Anomie and Strain Theories. It has been noted that these two theories are vibrant in explaining criminal acts. Institutional anomie has explained that a fail in social institutions has resulted in to more crime. Strain has also been noted to result in to depression and anger. It is therefore advisable that psychologists and sociologists should employ the use of the two theories to find solutions for crime.

ReferencesChamlin, B (1995) Assessing Messner and Rosenfeld's Institutional Anomie Theory: A Partial TestLin, W (2002) Direct and Vicarious Violent Victimization and Juvenile Delinquency: An Application of General Strain Theory