Przestępczość agresywna młodzieży. Doniesienie z badań

Abstract

This paper tests R. Agnew’s (1992) general strain theory of crime and delinquency taking into consideration the results of social structure transformation in Poland. According to Agnew, strain theory focuses on negative relationships with others: that is, relationships in which others do not treat the individual as he or she would like to be treated. Agnew proposes a series of factors that determine whether a person will cope with strain in a criminal or conforming manner including level of social control, association with criminal peers, self-esteem, attributions regarding the cause of strain. I suggeste social and situational factors, too. The main hypothesis predicts that the strain variables, low level of social control, association with delinquent peers, low self- esteem, external attributions that cause strain, negative socio-situ- ational factors will have a positive effect on aggressive juvenile delinquency. This hypothesis was tested on the 2001 survey of 179 male juvenile prisoners. The data collected then suggest that general strain theory hasn’t the potential to serve as a major explanation of aggressive juvenile delinquency.