Agnew, R. (2002). Strain, personality traits, and delinquency: Extending general strain theory. Criminology, 40 (1), 43-70.

Agnew, R. (2002). Strain, personality traits, and delinquency: Extending general strain theory. Criminology, 40 (1), 43-70.

Addressing the major criticisms of Robert K. Merton’s strain theory, Agnew’s general strain theory (GTS) analyzes an individuals’ perceptions of strain rather than just the blockage of goals by a rigid social structure. For a brief overview of Merton’s strain theory see the annotation for Merton’s “Social Structure and Anomie.” Agnew’s GTS shifted stain theory’s focus from long-term goals to the more immediate desires of social beings. Agnew thus suggests that strain not only derives from the blockage of goals but rather three distinct forces generate social strain in an individual’s life:

others may (1) prevent individuals from achieving their positively valued goals, including monetary, status, and autonomy goals; (2) remove or threaten to remove positively valued stimuli . . .(3) present or threaten to present individuals with noxious or negatively valued stimuli. (p. 44).

Agnew’s GTS remains the most authoritative reiteration of Merton’s original framework and has been tested many time throughout the last decade. However, since it is a relatively new theory there is little empirical evidence of its validity. Agnew’s work has successfully stimulated new scholarly interest into social strain’s effect on criminal activity and should be on any bibliography discussing crime and social strain. Agnew’s GTS will provide the foundation for my own argument concerning Grand Theft Auto and will work perfectly alongside Merton’s work by adding to his original argument.