Criminal behaviours are best explained by sociological theories - Strain Theory

Sociological crime theories suggest that someone’s background or current status determines whether or not they are likely to commit crime, the most popular sociological crime theory is known as Strain Theory. Strain Theory developed by Robert K Merton suggests that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve ‘socially accepted’ goals, this could be having lots of money or having many materialistic items.

However Strain Theory suggests that people try to achieve these things by commit crimes as they want to fulfill these goals as quickly as possible and may not be able to do it legitimately, therefore they resort to crime.

Research throughout the United Kingdom revealed that there is a real link between poverty and crime in the UK, with many people believing that poverty in the UK is pushing particularly the youth towards crime. After several studies were conducted in the UK researchers determined that Manchester and London were the biggest hot spots for crime in terms of burglary, with Northern Ireland having the lowest burg .

London also took 16 out of the top 20 worst postcode districts for burglary. However further statistics show that domestic burglary fell by 8% in the year from October 2015 to September 2016 and total burglary is down 71% since 1995.

Strain Theory also exists worldwide. For Example, In 2012 France’s poverty rate was stood at 13.9% totalling around 8.5 million people. Also in 2012 France had a murder rate of 1 person per 100,000 and also 574 cases of crime were reported per 100,000 people. Reported Motor Theft in France was also very high between the years 2012 - 2014 ; 2012 - 178,333, 2013; 173,397, 2014; 108,552.

Further research in 2012 conduced France had a murder rate of 1 person per 100,000 and also 574 cases of crime were reported per 100,000 people. Reported Motor Theft in France was also very high between the years 2012 - 2014 ; 2012 - 178,333, 2013; 173,397, 2014; 108,552. These statistics show that although motor theft was high and remains to be high it has dropped slightly over the years with the biggest decrease being almost 70,000 from 2013 - 2014.

It is therefore argued that although Strain Theory is a reasonable explanation as to why people commit crime. However it may not be as relevant anymore as less people are commit petty crime such as theft to try and get money in places such as France and Canada.