SOC 1500 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: General Strain Theory, Environmental Design, Crime Prevention

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1500
• Professor: Stephanie Howells

Document Summary

Agnew"s revision of general strain theory: several types of negative experiences (not just economic ones) can lead to stress that prevents individuals from attaining socially valued goals. Crime opportunity: grasmick (1993) found that crime opportunity was just as strong a predictor of fraud and aggression as was low self-control. A general theory of crime: this book is the theoretical perspective proposed by. Gottfredson and hirschi (1990) contending that crime and other analogous behaviours are the result of low self-control. Their theory is considered by some researchers to be founded on circular reasoning. Life course theory: some researchers indicate that problem behaviours, including criminality, are age related and may be impeded by certain events in the life cycle, including the birth of a child, marriage, divorce and retirement. Rational choice theory: early theories considered criminal behaviour to be the result of conscious decision making based on the expected utility" principle in economic theory.