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How do social-structural-strain theories explain theft for financial gain?

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collection of evidence at a crime scene — criminology FBI workers collecting evidence.

In the field of criminology, social-structural-strain theories explain theft for financial gain as a direct consequence of the class structure within society.1

These theories posit that there is significant societal pressure to achieve financial success, which acts as a primary driver for individuals to engage in criminal activity to secure money. According to this perspective, theft occurs because individuals face a disconnect between their aspirations for financial success and the legitimate means available to achieve them.12

Because members of lower economic classes often have fewer opportunities to acquire wealth through legal channels, they are more frequently compelled to pursue these financial goals through illegal means. In this context, criminal behavior is viewed not as an inherent trait, but as a response to the structural limitations and pressures imposed by the social and economic environment.21