Recommended policies to address crime under a strain perspective would include building strategies for handling stress.TrueFalse
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is True.
Under the strain perspective of criminology, crime is often seen as a response to the pressures or “strain” that individuals face in society. The theory suggests that when people are unable to achieve socially approved goals through legitimate means, they may resort to crime to cope with the stress or strain they experience. These strains could arise from various factors, such as poverty, lack of education, social inequality, or family dysfunction.
To address crime under the strain perspective, policies should focus on reducing these sources of strain and stress. This could involve improving access to education and job opportunities, providing social services to support families, and addressing income inequality. Additionally, strategies for handling stress could include mental health programs, counseling services, and community support systems.
The key idea is to prevent individuals from feeling that they have no legitimate means to achieve their goals. By providing alternative, non-criminal avenues for success, the strain theory suggests that crime rates could be reduced. Building coping strategies for stress, such as mental health resources and community-based interventions, would help people deal with the pressures they face in a constructive way, rather than resorting to criminal behavior.
Thus, strategies focused on stress management and reducing social strain are essential components of a criminological policy based on the strain perspective.