How do sociologists explain crime? Crimes are violations of norms that have been codified in law. Strain theory explains crime as a result of a tension between the accepted goals of society and the...

How do sociologists explain crime? Crimes are violations of norms that have been codified in law. Strain theory explains crime as a result of a tension between the accepted goals of society and the accepted means of obtaining those goals, means to which everyone does not have equal access. Possible reactions to the strain include conformity, innovation, ritualism, rebellion, and retreat. The broken windows theory of crime holds that minor acts of deviance spiral into more serious ones. Opportunity theory shows how crime is related to specific opportunities and availability. Conflict theory says that crime is a result of inequality.