Tibbets, Stephen & Hemmens Craig (2010). Criminological Theory: A Text/Reader. Thousand Oaks, CA:
SAGE Publications.

Butterfield, Fox. All God’s Children: The Bosket Family and the American Tradition of Violence
By Tues 10/9, you would have completed reading Section V Early Social Structure and Strain Theories of Crime, Readings 15 & 17 from the text book, and the D2L reading Agnew Ch 16. You should also have read through Ch 13 of All God’s Children.

For your assignment (2-3 pages)

1. Reading 16 in the text book uses the lyrics of Bruce Springsteen as an analogy for Merton’s cause and adaptions to strain and frustration (you do not have to do this reading, you can just skim it). Find lyrics from other musicians that are an example of Merton’s concept of strain or adaptations to strain. Write down the lyrics and explain which adaptation to strain the lyrics are describing. See below for an example.
2. Apply both Merton’s and Agnew’s versions of Strain Theory to All God’s Children. Describe how each theorist would explain how strain contributed to Butch or Willie’s criminal behavior. Be sure to refer back to the readings in your answer.
Example for Part 1:
Panther Power by Tupac (Album:Resurrection)
As real as it seems the American Dream
Ain’t nothing but another calculated schemes
To get us locked up shot up back in chains
To deny us of the future rob our names
Kept my history of mystery but now I see
The American Dream wasn’t meant for me
Cause lady liberty is a hypocrite she lied to me
Promised me freedom, education, equality
Never gave me nothing but slavery
And now look at how dangerous you made me
Calling me a mad man cause I’m strong and bold
With this dump full of knowledge of the lies you told
Promise me emancipation indispute nation
All you gave my people was our patience
Fathers of our country never cared for me
They kept my answer shackled up in slavery
And Uncle Sam never did a dam thing for me
Except lie about the facts in my history
So now I’m sitting here mad cause I’m unemployed
But the government’s glad cause they enjoyed
When my people are down so they can screw us around
Time to change the government now panther power
Lyrics from this song is an example of Merton’s fifth adaptation, rebellion. Rebels buy into the idea of societal goals and means but they do not buy into those currently in place. Rebels are trying to overthrow the current society structure. In Panther Power, Tupac very clearly states that the American Dream is not for him because it’s all lies. He has been promised many things but all he’s seen is oppression. He’s demanding a change to the power structure.
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