Brym and Lie apply the elements of breakdown theory (deprivation,contagion,and strain) to the tragic story of the lynching of Claude Neal.They conclude that:

A) with some minor qualifications,breakdown theory is an adequate explanation
B) breakdown theory has several serious flaws
C) most sociologists today accept the validity of breakdown theory
D) breakdown theory is as relevant today as it was in the 1930s
E) all of these choices

Brym and Lie argue that breakdown theory has several serious flaws when applied to the lynching of Claude Neal. They argue that the theory fails to account for the role of power and ideology in the perpetuation of violence against marginalized groups, and that it neglects the agency and resistance of these groups in responding to their subjugation. Additionally, they argue that breakdown theory overlooks the ways in which the state and other institutions may actively contribute to the deprivation, contagion, and strain experienced by marginalized groups. Overall, their analysis suggests that breakdown theory is an incomplete and limited framework for understanding the complexities of violence and social conflict.