Expanding Agnew's General Strain Theory: Understanding Deviance in Asian American Culture

• In Event: New frontiers in Strain Theory

Abstract

The present study is dedicated to addressing the imperative need for the adaptation and expansion of Agnew’s (1992) General Strain Theory (GST) within the context of Asian American culture. GST has made noteworthy contributions to the comprehension of deviant behavior and crime generally, as well as between white, Black, and Latine Americans. However, its applicability within Asian American communities characterized by their distinct values and unique societal stressors has hitherto remained unexplored. Although Asian Americans reside in the US, they are still typically exposed to the Confucian values from their cultural heritage. In turn, they experience distinct strains and other GST factors. For example, strains resulted from cultural assimilation, the model minority myth, generational differences, and racial discrimination. Prior empirical research has generally examined GST in Asian contexts both in the U.S. and abroad, however, there is still a lack of studies that include factors distinctly associated with Asian culture and society, particularly how such impact Asian Americans. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to examine the distinct experiences and responses to strain for Asian Americans.

Author

• Hyeseon Noh, University of South Carolina