Answer to Question #267891 in Sociology for Miller

Question

Analyse ways in which crime has affected your own life through sociological theories of crime.

Answer 1

I'm not in a good mood because of stressful events and circumstances. As a result of these negative feelings, there is increased pressure to take corrective action. Anger and frustration, in particular, invigorate me for action, inspire a drive for vengeance, and lower inhibitions. There are a variety of strategies to deal with stress and bad emotions, but only a few of them entail delinquency. Theorists of strain theory try to identify the conditions that raise the likelihood of a criminal response.

Individuals with low coping skills and resources are more likely to commit crimes, among other things. Legally, I am more capable of dealing with stress. For example, I have the ability to deal with others verbally and the financial means to hire a lawyer. Individuals with little traditional social supports are more likely to become delinquent as a result of stress. Family, friends, and others frequently assist people in dealing with their challenges by offering advice, direct assistance, and emotional support. They reduce the likelihood of a criminal response in this way.

When the costs of delinquency are low and the benefits are great, or when the chances of being detected and punished are low and the incentives of misbehavior are large, strain is more likely to lead to delinquency. Finally, persons who are predisposed to delinquency are more likely to experience stress, which can contribute to delinquency. A variety of elements influence an individual's willingness to engage in delinquency. Irritability and impulsivity are two personality qualities that enhance the risk of delinquency. Another important influence is whether people attribute their stress to someone else's planned behavior. Finally, persons who possess views that justify delinquency, have been exposed to delinquent models, and have been rewarded for misbehavior in the past are more prone to delinquency. As a result, a number of factors determine whether people respond to stress by becoming delinquent. Unfortunately, little study has been done on the amount to which these characteristics influence the impact of strain, and what has been done has yielded mixed results.