Critique of a Criminology Theory Characterized by Akers and Sellers

Strain surmise was positive by Robert K. Merton in 1938. It proposes five modes of line upation to society, including conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion. The degree to which one-on-ones adapt was seen by Merton as depending upon the access of institutionalized means of head trip and the degree to which there is aviation between one's aspirations and electromotive forces. Those persons who experience anomie were seen by Merton as more likely to engage in deviant acts beca enjoyment they are alienated from society and unable to use institutionalized means of achieving goals that are socially acceptable. Thus, strain induces the potential for criminal behavior (Akers & Sellers, 2004).

Anomie or strain theory is not unmindful of the role played by case-by-case factors in shaping criminal and/or deviant behavior. single theories tend to revitalize early theories of crime and to emphasize individual actors exercising rational choice or the positivistic word picture of crime as the result of organic anomalies or psychological defects). In essence, individualistic theory focuses on individual actors further makes some reference to groups which share certain attributes. This particular commence to identifying the causes of crime tends to downplay social influences or

Crime rates in the United States since the 1960s sop up been characterized by Alfred Blumstein (Disaggregating the violence trends) as having seen some fairly precipitous swings. The homicide rate in 1980 peaked at 10.2 per 100,000 and except for a single increase in 1991, has declined markedly ever since to a level of 6.3 percent in 1998. The rate of robbery has followed a similar pattern, oscillating since 1972 between rates of 200 and 250 per 100,000 commonwealth and falling in 1998 to 165.2 per 100,000 macrocosm. As of Blumstein's (Disaggregating the violence trends) discussion, both strike and robbery were declining to slightly above 150 episodes each per 100,000 population as of the late 1990s.

Akers, R.L. & Sellers, C.S. (2004). Criminological Theories.

Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin drew upon the early produce of Merton and Cohen and on work by Shaw and McKay to identify the effects of derived function opportunities created by social structure upon the formation of delinquent subcultures. These theorists, match to Akers and Sellers (2004), contended that individuals in the lower socioeconomic classes whitethorn be more likely than individuals from other economic groups to be attracted to deviant or criminal behavior because they automatically encounter barriers to legitimate opportunities for success or status. Essentially, therefore, anomie and strain theory represent a structuralist foundation in which it is argued that modern industrial societies do not provide equality of access to important opportunities in a universal manner. The end result is that certain individuals experience anomie or alienation as a consequence of strain related to their position (or lack thereof) in society.

The Positivist theory of crime postulates that crime is not a rationally cerebrate behavior which will occur unless prevented by the proper threat of punishment. It is rather conceived of as a result of inborn abnormalities which may be physiological or psychological in
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