Running head: WRITING ASSIGNMENT 3 1
Writing Assignment 3
Name
Institution
, WRITING ASSIGNMENT 3 2
Writing Assignment 3
Strain theories
Strain theories holds that individuals engage in crime in response to certain stressors or
strains. The stressors produce negative emotions such as frustration and anger that influences
humans to commit crime. Strain theories can be used to explain Patrick Latko’s murder spree.
Patrick Latko,a 34 years old man killed Ryan Patterson,29 and his mother Dianna
Patterson,64.He killed them by stabbing them by stabbing each multiple times.
Anomie theory
This theory holds that individuals commit crime because of social culture and social
structure. The theory treats crime as a deviant cultural value that is transmitted from one group to
another (Mitchell et al., 2015). In this regard, individuals commit crime in adherence to the
values of the societies that they come from. Patrick Latko came from a society where murder
was prevalent. Though it was his first time to kill a person, his friends had murdered people.
Thus, killing was a value in the society or group he came from. He inherited this value from his
close friends. So, he did not see killing being too weary.
Institutional Anomie Theory
This theory holds that stratification that exists in the society restricts individuals from
having access to some opportunities. As a result, individuals strive to achieve the opportunities
that they are denied (Mitchell et al., 2015). This process gives excess pressure or stress. When
the pressure becomes excess, they react by doing something weary. Patrick Latko might have
killed Ryan and his mother because his stress had become too much. He did not find anyone to
share his predicaments with. So, at the slightest provocation, he was frustrated and thus
committed something deadly.
Writing Assignment 3
Name
Institution
, WRITING ASSIGNMENT 3 2
Writing Assignment 3
Strain theories
Strain theories holds that individuals engage in crime in response to certain stressors or
strains. The stressors produce negative emotions such as frustration and anger that influences
humans to commit crime. Strain theories can be used to explain Patrick Latko’s murder spree.
Patrick Latko,a 34 years old man killed Ryan Patterson,29 and his mother Dianna
Patterson,64.He killed them by stabbing them by stabbing each multiple times.
Anomie theory
This theory holds that individuals commit crime because of social culture and social
structure. The theory treats crime as a deviant cultural value that is transmitted from one group to
another (Mitchell et al., 2015). In this regard, individuals commit crime in adherence to the
values of the societies that they come from. Patrick Latko came from a society where murder
was prevalent. Though it was his first time to kill a person, his friends had murdered people.
Thus, killing was a value in the society or group he came from. He inherited this value from his
close friends. So, he did not see killing being too weary.
Institutional Anomie Theory
This theory holds that stratification that exists in the society restricts individuals from
having access to some opportunities. As a result, individuals strive to achieve the opportunities
that they are denied (Mitchell et al., 2015). This process gives excess pressure or stress. When
the pressure becomes excess, they react by doing something weary. Patrick Latko might have
killed Ryan and his mother because his stress had become too much. He did not find anyone to
share his predicaments with. So, at the slightest provocation, he was frustrated and thus
committed something deadly.
