Specifying the Strain-Violence Link: The Role of Emotions in Women's Descriptions of Violent Incidents

Research on General Strain Theory has not considered fully the range of emotions that might be linked to violent behavior. Moreover, quantitative analyses of strain and emotions have assessed emotional traits rather than emotional states that directly precede violence. We use narrative data from incarcerated women to examine how they describe the strains and resulting emotions that emerged during incidents in which they used violence. Our findings confirm the importance of anger, but also suggest the presence of other related emotions during violent interactions. We argue that the study of General Strain Theory can be advanced by considering situational factors.