Criminology -Differential Association + Institutional Anomie Theories Essay

Criminology -Differential Association + Institutional Anomie Theories - Essay Example Agnew assumes that individuals from all social classes engage in crime, as all are geared towards success and economic fulfilment. In fact, the general strain theory should not be confined to economic fulfilment as whether from a low social class or higher, individuals would rebel if what they own is taken away from them and their success therefore hampered or in cases of negative emotions. In such a case therefore, the poor will have to steal or rob in order to recover the lost property or be at the same social level with the rest of the members of the community, while those in a higher social class would engage in fraud or embezzlement of funds, in most cases at the work place so that they can keep being rich; so as to be able to deal with the negative emotions that are as a result of the strain they experience. He further argues that an individual’s inability to achieve the success they aspire, in terms of money can lead to strain and therefore push someone into engaging in crime. He also says, â€Å"Many middle and upper class people in the United States want more money than they can have and obtain through legitimate channels†. Therefore, this strain on an individual to attain monetary success is what pushes them to engage in white-collar crime so that they can deal with the strain completely; mostly in cases where they are not offered solutions for the strain they are experiencing. An individual may for instance fake various documents in order to land a new lucrative job they have always wished to have. This is fraud, which is a white collar-crime. In relation to the general strain theory, white collar crime, just like any other criminal activity is as a result of the negative emotions one has when what they want or need is not being achieved. Fraud and embezzlement of funds for instance in most cases takes place in