General strain theory (GST) (Agnew, 1992, 2001, 2006a) is an established criminological theory. Although the theory has been examined by many and enjoys empirical support, some limitations of previous studies need to be addressed. First, previous studies have not incorporated all major types of strain in their models; hence, the effects of these strains on delinquency are unclear. Second, many previous studies did not include negative emotions and even negative emotions other than anger. Finally, and the most serious limitation, many previous studies rely heavily on samples from Western countries, mostly the U.S.; thus, possible cultural influences are ignored. Although a few studies have moved forward by using subjects from Asia (e.g., China, Korea), these studies only provide empirical results regarding whether GST is applicable in other cultures. The lack of comparable samples from both Western and Eastern cultures hinders direct comparison. The present research contributes to the theoretical body of literature through addressing the aforementioned three limitations. First, the study measures the major types of strain that are mentioned by Agnew. Second, anger and depression are included in the analysis, which addresses not only the limitations of previous studies but also the suggestions of Agnew (2006a). In addition, the measure of anger is situational and consistent with GST. Thirdly, the present study uses the same research instrument to collect comparable samples from both the U.S. (Western country) and Taiwan (Eastern country). This enables a direct comparison across cultural boundaries, and the similarities and differences can be empirically established. Whereas the core propositions of GST are supported, the study finds some negative results. In addition, most of the GST processes are found to be similar between the U.S. and Taiwanese juveniles. However, some differences were also discovered. Explanation of these similarities and differences from their cultural perspectives are offered. Furthermore, the results from this study also raise some challenges to GST and point out that revisions of GST may be required.

The present study expands the range of theoretical perspectives and empirical questions that have occupied the recent literature on homicide and suicide. The study examines county-level predictors for homicide and suicide in all sixty-seven counties in Florida. The current examination identifies which county-level variables are most closely related to each other, which variables explain the greatest amount of differences within the Florida counties, as well as which variables are most significantly correlated with the homicide and sucide rate by county. Additionally, the variables included in the present research are driven by the theorectical perspectives of social disorganization and anomie/strain theory. Using principal components regression the present study found that Income, Education, and Poverty, Infant Mortality, and Domestic Violence were predictors of homicide. Using the same components to explore the suicide rate, the research found that Age and Divorce were positively associated with suicide. In contrast to homicide, infant mortality rates were negatively associated with suicide rate in Florida counties.

To this point, research on corporate crime has been, for the most part, overlooked by mainstream criminology. In particular, corporate violations of safety regulations in the coal mining industry have yet to be studied within the field of criminology. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the crimes of a coal mining corporation, a corporation whose business decisions led to the worst coal mining disaster in forty years, along with the deaths of twenty-nine men. This thesis will utilize a case study format in order to illustrate the crimes committed by this corporation. Previous literature covering the history of coal mining safety in the United States, the political economy of coal, and theoretical explanations of corporate crime will be reviewed. The crimes detailed in this case study will then be explained using Contextual Anomie/Strain Theory. The criminal liability of corporations, potential ways to reduce corporate crime in the coal mining industry, as well as limitations of this study and directions for future research in this area will also be discussed.

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Many mass-shooters commit suicide. Both mass shooting and suicide has been linked to Strain Theory. Studies have shown that workplace shootings often occur after the shooter has been fired. Studies have found that school shooters often have been exposed to bullying and social exclusion. Research on mass shooters who are terrorists has yielded conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to examine which types of mass shootings that end with the perpetrator committing suicide. The sample consisted of 345 cases from the United States, as well as some high profile cases from other countries. The results showed that there is an association between the perpetrator's relationship to both the victim and the type of target, and that the perpetrator committing suicide. This has potential implications for the link between the mass shootings and Strain theory. Increased knowledge about this may contribute to more effective crime prevention strategies.

This thesis primary aim is to examine specific deterrence; the fear of punishment experienced by individuals who have committed crimes and subsequently received a punishment. Specific deterrence is assumed to deter criminals from reoffending. The secondary aim of this thesis is to examine the perceptions of increased punishments as a measure to prevent crime, as deterrence theory predicts that increased punishment correlates to decreased criminality. The Swedish government has continually proposed and implemented increased punishments. As such, the validity of specific deterrence and the effectiveness of increased punishments requires examination in a Swedish context. Perceptions and experiences of specific deterrence, and perceptions of the deterring effect of increased punishments, was examined in 12 semi-structured interviews with people who have committed a crime and received subsequent punishment. The material was analysed using thematic analysis, and the results found that the participants did not experience deterrence, as drug addiction, fear of consequences from other criminals, and perceptions of apprehension and severity of punishment inhibited, or eliminated, specific deterrence. Increased punishments were not thought to have affected past criminal actions, but opinions on increased punishments to combat current criminality were both positive and negative. By applying General Strain theory, the study found that the presence of a stronger experience of strain eliminated or diminished specific deterrence.

This research comprised a secondary study using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health restricted data set to examine the buffering effects of religiosity on adolescent alcohol coping following victimization within the context of Agnew's general stain theory. Its purpose was to determine if religiosity buffered the effects of alcohol abuse coping following victimization for native-born and foreign-born non-Hispanic adolescents, and was designed as a follow-up research study to similarly replicate a prior study limited to native-born and foreign-born Hispanic adolescents. This study's findings were consistent with prior research that higher religiosity was generally predictive of lower levels of alcohol abuse. However, in the presence of violent victimization, religiosity did not buffer later increased alcohol abuse coping for non-Hispanic adolescents. Native-born religiously oriented adolescents were as likely to abuse alcohol following violent victimization as their native-born non-religious peers. Foreign-born religiously oriented versus non-religiously-oriented adolescents did not have statistically significant different outcomes on later alcohol abuse following victimization. Foreign-born non-Hispanic adolescents as a group appeared generally insensitive to victimization strain as measured by alcohol abuse coping. An important outcome of this study was the collateral finding that being Catholic substantially increased the likelihood of later alcohol abuse for both native-born and foreign-born non-Hispanic adolescents; the increase in alcohol abuse for foreign-born adolescents was especially pronounced. The study's findings have particular relevance for adolescent counseling and others working with adolescents, and especially for those working within a religious context. Numerous areas for additional research are identified and discussed.

This study aims to investigate the individual's experience of conscious consumption reduction in relation to society's consumption norms. By not focusing on motives or causes behind the change, but instead illustrating the subjective and social consequences, the study provides a deeper understanding of how the individual's self-perception and social relationships are affected. This will be studied based on the following questions “How does a conscious reduction in consumption affect the individual's self-perception and identity in relation to society's consumption norms?” and “What social and cultural effects do individuals experience when they reduce their consumption on purpose, and how does this affect relationships within the individual's immediate circle?” Previous research has been interested in understanding why individuals change their consumption behaviour. Social resistance from society and the surrounding community has also been a broad area of research. A significant focus has also been to study consumption patterns from a sustainability perspective, where research identifies challenges and how today's society can be treated. This study aims to contribute with an in-depth understanding of how conscious consumption reduction affects the individual's life aspects and relationships, which may have far-reaching implications for our understanding of society's changing consumption patterns. The theoretical framework of the study consists of Emilé Durkheim's social coercion consisting of the normative coercion, the cultural coercion, the material coercion and the structural coercion. In combination with this, Robert K. Merton's social tensions, taken from his strain theory, are also applied. The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews, where we study 8 individuals' perceived effects of consumption reductions. The results suggest that a reduction in consumption strengthens the individual's empowerment and promotes self-reflection. Through reduced emphasis on external factors, individuals shape their self-perception beyond materialism. Even though their consumption reduction violates norms, they are met with curiosity. These individuals appear to act as agents of normative change by raising awareness of the impact of consumption and promoting a transformation towards a more sustainable way of living. / Denna studie ämnar undersöka individens upplevelse av medveten konsumtionsminskning i förhållande till samhällets konsumtionsnormer. Genom att inte rikta in sig på motiv eller orsaker bakom förändringen, utan i stället åskådliggöra de subjektiva och sociala konsekvenserna, ger studien en djupare förståelse för hur individens självuppfattning och sociala relationer påverkas. Detta kommer studeras utifrån frågeställningarna ”Hur påverkar en medveten minskning av konsumtion individens självuppfattning och identitet i förhållande till samhällets konsumtionsnormer?” och “Vilka sociala och kulturella effekter upplever individer som minskar sin konsumtion med avsikt, och hur påverkar detta relationer inom individens närmaste krets?” Tidigare forskning har intresserat sig för att förstå varför individer ändrar sitt konsumtionsbeteende. Även det sociala motståndet från samhälle och omgivning har varit ett vida forskningsområde. Ett betydande fokus har även varit att studera konsumtionsmönster ur ett hållbarhetsperspektiv, där forskningen identifierar utmaningar och hur dagens samhälle. Denna studie avser bidra med en ingående förståelse för hur medveten konsumtionsminskning påverkar individens livsaspekter och relationer, vilket kan ha långtgående implikationer för vår förståelse av samhällets föränderliga konsumtionsmönster. Studiens teoretiska ramverk består av Emilé Durkheims sociala tvång bestående av det normativa tvånget, det kulturella tvånget, det materiella tvånget och det strukturella tvånget. I kombination med detta tillämpas även Robert K Mertons samhälleliga spänningar, taget från hans strainteori. Studien baseras på kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer, där vi studerar 8 individers upplevda effekter av konsumtionsminskningar. Resultatet tyder på att en minskning av konsumtion stärker individens egenmakt och främjar självreflektion. Genom minskad betoning på yttre faktorer, formar individer sin självuppfattning bortom materialism. Trots att deras konsumtionsminskning bryter mot normer, möts de av nyfikenhet. Dessa individer tycks agera som agenter för normativ förändring genom att öka medvetenheten om konsumtionens påverkan och främjar en omvandling mot ett mer hållbart levnadssätt.

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Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work / W. Richard Goe / This study examined three of the prominent theories of juvenile delinquency to determine principle juvenile firearm carrying behaviors. The theories investigated were Differential Association/Social Learning, Social Control, and Anomie/Strain. The data set used for this research was the “National Survey of Weapons-Related Experiences, Behaviors, and Concerns of High School Youth in the United States, 1996” from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan. This national-level survey of youth was conducted by Joseph F. Sheley and James D. Wright to assemble detailed behavioral and attitudinal data concerning weapons and violence, and was completed by 733 10th and 11th grade male high school students. Comparison logistic regression model analyses were utilized to examine the study’s hypotheses. Findings indicated that juvenile firearms carrying is most influenced by delinquent peers, delinquent friends, and gang membership within the theoretical framework of Differential Association/Social Learning. Social Control Theory has the least explanatory power, while the analysis of Anomie/Strain suggests that vicarious strains (those strains experienced by people close to the juvenile) have even more influence on juvenile firearms carrying than experienced strain. Theoretical integration is recommended for future research attempting to provide greater explanatory and predictive power for serious forms of delinquency like juvenile firearms carrying.