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Robert Agnew

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description Robert Agnew Overview

Robert Agnew is an American criminologist known for developing general strain theory, an expansion of earlier sociological accounts linking strain to crime. In a 1992 formulation, he argued that strain can arise not only from failure to achieve valued goals, but also from the loss of positive stimuli and exposure to negative treatment. The theory explains how strains may produce emotions such as anger and how personal and social conditions affect whether someone responds through crime. His work is widely studied in criminology and juvenile delinquency research.

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What is Robert Agnew's general strain theory?

General strain theory, developed by Robert Agnew in a foundational 1992 publication, expands earlier strain theories by arguing that strain arises from three sources: failure to achieve valued goals, loss of positive stimuli, and presentation of negative stimuli. These strains generate negative emotions such as anger and frustration that can lead to criminal behavior.

How does Agnew's general strain theory differ from Merton's strain theory?

Robert K. Merton's classic strain theory focused narrowly on the disjunction between cultural goals (especially financial success) and structural access to legitimate means. Agnew broadened the concept to include interpersonal sources of strain—such as abuse, neglect, victimization, and the loss of valued relationships—and emphasized the mediating role of negative emotions like anger.

What are the three types of strain in Agnew's theory?

Agnew identified three principal sources of strain: failure to achieve positively valued goals, loss of positive stimuli (such as death of a loved one or breakup of a relationship), and presentation of negative stimuli (such as physical abuse, bullying, or criminal victimization). Each type can produce negative affective states that increase the likelihood of delinquency.

Where does Robert Agnew work?

Robert Agnew is a professor of sociology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. His work on general strain theory has made him one of the most widely cited criminologists in the fields of juvenile delinquency and crime causation.

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