Description
Many theories have been developed with the aim of explaining the causes of crime by, and against juveniles. Similarly, numerous researches over the last 50 years have shown links between child neglect and criminal behavior (Ford, Chapman, Mack, & Pearson, 2006). For instance, one research conducted in 1993 by Scudder, Blount, Heide and Silverman showed that children who transgress the law, particularly through violence, mostly have a history of mistreatment in their childhood. Among the many theories, there are three main sociological theories of crime and delinquency. They include the control theories, social learning, and the strain theory. These theories describe the crime about the social surroundings including the society, learning institutions, family, and business as well as peer groups and workplace organizations. However, according to Ford, Chapman, Mack, & Pearson (2006), the different theories vary in opinion with each other in many ways. Some dwell in describing personal differences in criminal activities while others try to elaborate collective differences in criminal group indulgences. This research paper intends to review the Strain theory of crime causation while describing its historical and intellectual background. It further explains the theory’s arguments and the research that has tested these arguments as well as matters that should be addressed in future studies.