Choose one of the traditional theories presented in Chapter 2. Compare and contrast how it would explain the offending behavior of males in comparison to females. Robert Merton’s Strain Theory

Strain Theory  was developed by Robert K. Merton and  suggests that crime occurs when there is a disconnect between societal goals such as wealth and success and the means available to achieve them. When individuals are blocked from achieving culturally accepted goals through legitimate means, they may resort to deviance or crime to attain those goals. Males in many Western societies are often socialized to value material success, dominance, and independence. When they experience barriers to achieving these goals—like unemployment, poverty, or systemic inequalit—they may experience high levels of strain.

Robert Merton’s Strain Theory

Based on the strain theory, males in such societies may respond to strain with externalized behaviors, such as aggression, property crime, or violent offenses. Also, the theory arhues that society tends to normalize risk-taking and assertiveness in males, which may further increase the likelihood of responding to strain through criminal activity. Males are statistically more likely to engage in instrumental crimes such as robbery and drug dealing as a means to achieve blocked goals.

Robert Merton’s Strain Theory; Females are traditionally socialized to value relationships, caregiving, and emotional well-being over material or individualistic success. As a result, females may experience strain more in relation to interpersonal issues, such as family conflict, abuse, or role strain. This is associated with difficuty balancing between motherhood and employment. Females are more likely to internalize strain, resulting in depression, anxiety, or self-harm, rather than externalizing through criminal acts. When women commit crimes, they are more likely to be situational and survival-based, such as theft for family needs or drug offenses linked to trauma and abuse.

Deliverables:

You should respond with one main post, and two responses to your peers.  Your main post should be no less than 300 words, detailed in response to the prompts, proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  Peer responses should be 100-words, demonstrating how you agree, disagree, or clarifying a question.  Additionally, remember cite any outside references in APA Format.