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Strain and Opportunity Structures

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Abstract

Traditional strain theory received substantial empirical attention for a prolonged period of time, but it currently occupies a marginal position in criminology. Efforts to revitalize and elaborate it have occurred under the rubric of Agnew's general strain theory. These theories share a focus on how contextual factors, in particular what are commonly referred to as opportunity structures, affect the relationship between stresses and strains and delinquency. Using national-level data, this study considers empirically the impact of several illegitimate opportunity structures conceptualized at the school-level on the association between strain, stressful life events, delinquency, and self-concept. The results indicate that both stress and strain affect changes in delinquency and self-concept over time. Yet there is little evidence that these relationships are conditioned by access to illegitimate opportunity. These results suggest that strain and stress affect delinquency uniformly across a variety of illegitimate opportunity structures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, 844 SWKT, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA

    John P. Hoffmann

  2. Department of Criminal Justice, Niagara University, NY, USA

    Timothy O. Ireland

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  1. John P. Hoffmann
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Correspondence to John P. Hoffmann.

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Hoffmann, J.P., Ireland, T.O. Strain and Opportunity Structures. Journal of Quantitative Criminology 20, 263–292 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOQC.0000037734.89980.57

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