Control Criticisms of Strain Theories: An Assessment of Theoretical and Empirical Adequacy

Abstract

Strain theories have been subjected to a number of theoretical and empirical criticisms, resulting in a decline in strain-oriented research. A review of those criticisms finds that theoretical objections are largely self-contradictory, and empirical studies that focus on seriously delinquent populations provide considerable support. Separate causal processes may be at work in basically nondelinquent but somewhat “wild” youths.