Robert Agnew (criminologist)

Robert Agnew ( born December 1, 1953 in Atlantic City, New Jersey) is an American sociologist and criminologist. He developed with the General Strain Theory an internationally -received explanation for criminal behavior.

Career

Agnew studied from 1971 to 1975 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and earned a BA with the highest awards for achievements in sociology. He continued the study from 1976 to 1980 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received in 1978 the MA title. In his thesis he had already dealt with the Anomietheorie. With his dissertation, " A Revised Strain Theory of Delinquency ", he created the basis for updating this theory. Agnew was 1980 Ph.D. PhD and assistant professor in the same year and in 1982 Professor of Sociology at Emory University in Atlanta.

General Strain Theory

With its " General Strain Theory" Agnew further developed the Anomietheorie. In contrast to Robert K. Merton Agnew looks next to the societal goal-means discrepancy also three types of social stress (strain ) at the level of individual actors: The perceived inability to reach a favorable response objectives; the experience of deprivation positively evaluated stimuli; the confrontation with negative stimuli. The resulting anger and disappointment favoring the willingness to commit criminal acts.

Writings (selection )

• The Future of Anomie Theory, 1997 ( ed. with Nikos Passos )
• Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Control, 2001, 2005, 2009
• Why Do Criminals Offend? A General Theory of Crime and Delinquency, 2005
• Pressured Into Crime: An Overview of General Strain Theory, 2006.