What is the General Theory of Crime?
The general theory of crime, also known as the social disorganization theory, is a criminological theory that attempts to explain the causes of crime and delinquency. Developed by Robert Merton in the 1930s, this theory posits that crime is a result of the failure of society to provide individuals with legitimate means of achieving their goals.
Key Components of the General Theory of Crime
The general theory of crime consists of several key components:
- Cultural Goals: The theory assumes that society sets certain cultural goals, such as wealth, status, and power, that individuals strive to achieve.
- Institutionalized Means: The theory also assumes that society provides individuals with institutionalized means of achieving these goals, such as education, hard work, and entrepreneurship.
- Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: When individuals are unable to achieve their goals through legitimate means, they become frustrated and aggressive, leading to criminal behavior.
Types of Adaptation
According to Merton, individuals can adapt to the cultural goals and institutionalized means in one of five ways:
- Conformity: Individuals achieve their goals through legitimate means, such as education and hard work.
- Innovation: Individuals achieve their goals through illegitimate means, such as crime.
- Ritualism: Individuals abandon their goals and engage in routine, unfulfilling activities.
- Retreatism: Individuals withdraw from society and abandon their goals.
- Rebellion: Individuals reject the cultural goals and institutionalized means and create their own alternative goals and means.
Criticisms and Limitations
While the general theory of crime has been influential in criminological research, it has also been subject to several criticisms and limitations:
- Overemphasis on Individual Factors: The theory focuses too much on individual factors, such as frustration and aggression, and neglects the role of structural factors, such as poverty and inequality.
- Limited Scope: The theory is limited in its scope, as it only explains crime and delinquency, and does not account for other forms of deviance, such as mental illness and substance abuse.
- Lack of Empirical Support: Some studies have found that the theory does not have strong empirical support, and that other factors, such as social learning and biological factors, may be more important in explaining crime.
Comparison with Other Theories
The general theory of crime can be compared with other criminological theories, such as:
- Strain Theory: This theory, developed by Robert Agnew, posits that crime is caused by the strain or stress that individuals experience when they are unable to achieve their goals.
- Social Learning Theory: This theory, developed by Albert Bandura, posits that crime is learned through observation and imitation.
- Control Theory: This theory, developed by Travis Hirschi, posits that crime is caused by the lack of social control, such as parental supervision and social norms.
Conclusion
The general theory of crime is a significant contribution to criminological research, as it provides a framework for understanding the causes of crime and delinquency. While the theory has its limitations and criticisms, it remains an important theory in the field of criminology. By understanding the cultural goals and institutionalized means that society provides, we can better understand why individuals engage in criminal behavior and develop more effective strategies for preventing and reducing crime.
Table: Comparison of Criminological Theories
| Theory | Key Components | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Theory of Crime | Cultural goals, institutionalized means, frustration-aggression hypothesis | Provides a framework for understanding crime and delinquency | Overemphasizes individual factors, limited scope |
| Strain Theory | Strain or stress, goal frustration | Accounts for a range of criminal behaviors | Does not account for non-criminal forms of deviance |
| Social Learning Theory | Observation, imitation, reinforcement | Accounts for the role of social learning in crime | Does not account for biological factors |
| Control Theory | Social control, parental supervision, social norms | Accounts for the role of social control in crime | Does not account for individual differences |
References
- Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672-682.
- Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a general theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology, 30(1), 47-87.
- Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
- Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
