ipl-logo

Velma Barfield's Strain Theory Essay

741 Words3 Pages

From Life to ‘Death Row Granny’ What comes to mind when thinking of grandmothers? Cookies, acts of spoiling, and love are just a few, but what does not come to mind may be something like arsenic killings. Yet, in Velma Barfield’s case, one might want to ponder this carefully. Obviously, arsenic poisoning is not something a normal grandmother would be known for, so it is not striking to assume some sort of strain took place in Barfield’s life. Indeed, the Strain Theory could possibly be one way to explain such erroneous behavior. Strain Theory is Robert Merton’s take on Emile Durkheim’s concept of anomie which essentially says deviance is most likely to occur when there is a gap between goals and ways of obtaining them that are legal and safe. Velma Barfield’s heinous crimes can be dissected and examined using Strain Theory and three distinct happenings of her life which led to the murders of seven people. The first incident can be …show more content…

To cope with the stress at home, Velma was “hospitalized and treated with sedatives and vitamins. Once home, she gradually increased her prescription drug use and went to different doctors to get multiple prescriptions of Valium to feed her growing addiction” (Montaldo, 2017). Velma’s rejection of the goal (staying sober) but use of (kinda) legitimate means to obtain prescriptions can be classified as ritualistic, and it is to no surprise that this behavior eventually evolved into rebellion and stuck with Velma longer than her husbands did. Velma’s use of prescription pills, mainly painkillers, sent a tornado through her already ravaged life. This may have caused her to begin poisoning people as she clearly did not see her drug addiction as a problem, and therefore, her values can be only seen as incorrect. If taking drugs did not bother Velma enough to see the pain it caused her family, who is to say that murder would be no

Show More
Related

  • Murder Of Alicia Research Paper

    413 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is unknown if Savannah has access to the drugs. It is unknown if the drugs were manufactured in the home. It is unknown if drugs were sold in the home. Savannah stated that the Intake Worker that: "Her grandmother (parental) gave me candy and paint of the candy and killed herself."

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Usa In Fahrenheit 451

    778 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Fahrenheit 451, Mildred almost dies, having to get her stomach pumped because she took an entire bottle of pills. Bradbury says, “Her face was like a snow-covered island upon which rain might fall, but it felt no rain; over which clouds might pass their moving shadows, but she felt no shadow. There was only the singing of the thimble-wasp in her tamped-shut ears, and her eyes all glassy, and breath going in and out, softly, faintly, in and out her nostrils, and her not caring whether it came or went, came or went” (Bradbury 13). Montag freaks out because he sees his wife lying completely still and doesn’t hear her breathing. In the United States, “Americans continue to die at younger ages over the past three years due to despair (deaths relating to suicide and substance use)”

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

    538 Words  | 3 Pages

    Montag told MIldred after she denied overdosing. The fact that Mildred took so many sleeping pills without realizing she had overdosed and nearly passed away is a prime illustration of how carelessly medications may be used. Not only is Mildred a reckless drug user, but she also represents many people

    Read More

  • Example Of General Strain Theory

    929 Words  | 4 Pages

    Brezina, T. (2018).” General Strain Theory”. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Criminology Available at: http://criminology.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.001.0001/acrefore-9780190264079-e-249. Timothy Brezina is from Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. He gained his Ph.D from Emory university.

    Read More

  • James Bulger Theory

    1004 Words  | 5 Pages

    This theory clearly rules out the effect of inherited or innate factors, and the last is the cognitive theory, which is based on how the perception of an individual is manifested into affecting his or her potential and capability to commit a crime. (Psychological theories of crime) Relating these theories to the case under study, it’s clear that the behaviour can be traced most times to faulty relationships in the family during the first years of

    Read More

  • Charles Manson Theory

    991 Words  | 4 Pages

    Fifth, the specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable. Sixth, a person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of the law. Seventh, Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity. Eighth, the process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning. Lastly, while criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those needs and values, since non-criminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values.

    Read More

  • Explain How Does Strain Theory Explain Deviance

    1048 Words  | 5 Pages

    1. How does Strain Theory define and explain deviance? Strain theory defines deviance as the situation whereby there exists a gap or difference between societal success goals and the determined means available to the society for achieving these goals. In a society, individuals share similar goals towards success and thus have agreeable means of achieving the same, however, when such an agreement is foregone such a society has a high rate of deviance.

    Read More

  • Aaron Hernandez: Documentary Analysis

    961 Words  | 4 Pages

    To wrap things up Psychological Theory says that criminal conduct is an aftereffect of individual contrasts in speculation forms. There are a wide range of mental speculations, however they all trust that it is the individual 's contemplations and sentiments that direct their activities. All things considered, issues in intuition can prompt to criminal conduct. On account of the first degree murder the wrongdoing was not one of energy, yet rather arranged. Hernandez rented a vehicles and had two friends help him do his grimy work.

    Read More

  • Mood Of Fahrenheit 451

    857 Words  | 4 Pages

    She is addicted to sleeping meds and is brainwashed by society. ‘“What? Did we have a wild party or something? Feel like I’ve a hangover. Who was here?”’

    Read More

  • Scarver's Criminal Behavior Theory

    1206 Words  | 5 Pages

    Within the past couple of decades, criminologists have developed different criminological theories that apply to the social behaviors and decisions of criminals. One of the earliest theories developed regarding criminality is the rational choice theory, in which describes the rationalization of determining if the rewards from committing the crime outweigh the consequences. In Scarver’s case, his decision to engage in criminal activities outweighed the potential consequences, or the other alternatives if he did not engage in such criminal activities. In addition to the rational choice theory, Scarver’s criminality can be related to the social disorganization theory, which describes the influence of one’s social and physical environment on one’s decision to commit a crime. Lastly, the strain theory can be related to Scarver’s criminality as well, as it is used to describe an individual who lacks the means to obtain such goals, and aspirations, so therefore, he or she engages in criminal activities to acquire the goals.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Control In Fahrenheit 451

    1316 Words  | 6 Pages

    Drugs, especially the overlooked ones such as sleeping pills, are commonly abused in Fahrenheit 451, and share similarities to cases in the world today. Mildred’s pill habits

    Read More

  • Agnew's Strain Theory In There Are No Children Here

    1440 Words  | 6 Pages

    Agnew’s General Strain Theory in There Are No Children Here Introduction Throughout this semester, we have covered various criminological theories along with their strengths and limitations. These theoretical perspectives provide possible explanations to why individuals commit crimes. In addition to, these theories are indirectly woven within cultural objects such as song lyrics, movies, books, and television.

    Read More

  • Born Evil In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

    1000 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many criminals, killers, and felons have a mental disorder that messes them up. Then they go out and create mass hysteria. There is also the fact that decisions made over time will affect the type of person you will become. Like The monster started as a naive being then got upset from the poor environment around him, and acted out in revenge: ruining his life and place in society even more than it already was. "I continued for the remainder of the day in my hovel in a state of utter and stupid despair.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Robert Merton's Strain Theory

    565 Words  | 3 Pages

    Strain theory is a crime theory that was developed by Robert Merton, an American sociologist. According to Robert, strain can be defined as the discrepancies that result from the goals that are culturally defined in reference to the means that are institutionalized and available to meet the set goals. As proposed by Merton, there exists a typological deviance that is based on two criteria; an individual’s belief in how the goals should be attained and an individual’s adherence or motivation to cultural goals. According to the theory, certain stressors or strains are responsible in increasing the likelihood of crime activities around the world.

    Read More

  • Robert Merton Strain Theory

    761 Words  | 4 Pages

    Introduction The two most important components of societies are the social structure and culture. Culture deeply influences an individual 's beliefs, values, goals as well as his identity. Cultural goals are developed in accordance with the existing social structure of the society. The social structure of a society must provide the 'means ' for an individual to achieve his cultural goals.

    Read More

More about Velma Barfield's Strain Theory Essay

Open Document