Answer :
Final answer:
The classic strain theory that dominated criminology during the middle of the 20th century was Merton's strain theory. It suggests that societal pressures can cause individuals to commit crimes. This theory significantly contributed to 20th-century criminology.
Explanation:
The main answer to your question about who developed the classic strain theory that dominated criminology during the middle of the 20th century is a) Merton's strain theory. Robert Merton expanded on the work of Émile Durkheim by suggesting that societal pressures can cause people to commit crimes. Merton’s strain theory argues that society encourages certain goals (like economic success), but not everyone has equal means to achieve these. This discrepancy can lead individuals to engage in deviant behaviors (like embezzlement) to achieve these goals. Strain theory soon spread, contributing significantly to criminology throughout the 20th century. Other theorists like Hirschi and Sutherland also developed influential theories, but it was Merton's strain theory that came to dominate mid-20th-century criminology. In conclusion, strain theories provide a framework for understanding how societal structure and pressures can contribute to deviance and crime. They help us better understand and potentially mitigate the influences that lead people to engage in criminal behavior.
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