Best theories explain crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Best theories explain crime - Essay Example there argon numerous theories such as rational choice theory, strain theory, affectionate disorganization theory, social learning theory, and social control theory, labeling theory as well as biology, genetics and evolution. Although there are many theories that have been put forward to explain why some people have high-pitched propensity to commit crime, I find strain theory to be the most suitable for explaining crime.Robert Merton, a sociologist from the United States, was the first to assess criminal behavior using Strain Theory in 1938. gibe to Mertons Strain theory, all members of the society have the same aspirations, but have varying opportunities or abilities to achieve their aspirations (Agnew & Brezina, 2010). Consequently some people will fail to achieve what the society expects of them through authorized ways like embracing hard work first then enjoying the fruits of labor later in life. Merton identified and explored five basic adaptations of people who cannot legitimately achieve the societal aspirations. These include innovation, rebellion, conformity, retreatism and ritualism (Rios, 2007). Conformity is where a person acknowledges that he or she cannot attain goals expected by the society and embrace the limited opportunities indoors their reach. Innovation is where an individual resort to illegal means to attain societal goals. Rebellion is where an individual disowns twain societal goals as well as the means of achieving them and decides to give life a different approach. Retreatism as well rejects societal goals and means of attaining them while ritualism is where an individual gives up hope on societal goals, but appease embraces the means of achieving them (Rios, 2007).The choice of Mertons Strain theory as the most appropriate for explaining crime is intercommunicate by its pragmatic approach and coverage. Strain theory further takes into consideration cognitive dissonance for every(pr enominal) societal member in examining the tendency of