After listening to the “Ear Hustle” podcast and analyzing and breaking down the story of Tommy Shakur Ross’s case, I believe Robert K. Merton’s Strain Theory is the best theory to explain Tommy Shakur involvement in gang’s and crime. Robert K. Merton’s strain theory is when there is a disconnect between socially approved goals and an Individuals means to accomplish this goal it can cause a person to become deviant and criminal. In Tommy Shakur Ross’s story he talks about how his father was a minister and how he started to resent going to church and there was things that he wanted to do that his parents did not agree with. I believe this point in Tommy’s life is what created this rebellion inside of him and later on made him join a gang. Also In the podcast Tommy tells a story about when he went to a taco stand going home from school and was approached by 3 gang members who proceeded to harass and attack him , Which caused Tommy to runaway in fear and join a gang. This goes along with the Strain Theory because through this we can see a way how Tommy may felt like he didn’t belong if it’s within his home or outside his home , so it cause him to go through the unconventional path of joining a gang through the response of environmental strains and stress and societal strain.
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