Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Factors that influence criminal behavior
Factors that influence criminal behavior
The role of parents in the discipline of their children
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Factors that influence criminal behavior
Studies show that many think that criminal behavior is determined by genes; however, it is not. “Two thirds of all crimes are committed by offenders acting alone but two thirds of all criminals commit crimes jointly” (Glasser). Criminal behavior can be determined by many things. For example, it could be linked to a mental illness. Although some think it is linked by genetics, criminal behavior is determined by environment, social interaction, and social influences. Criminal behavior is determined by environment. “If a child is not taught how to properly act or inconsistently reinforced, clear cut moral obligations may not be instilled leading to affected social judgement and a disposition for criminal behavior” (Jones). If a child is not taught …show more content…
¨The environment is critical to the upbringing of a child and if problems exist then the child is most likely to suffer the consequences¨ (Jones). If there are problems in the home or environment of a child, then the child is going to know of them and it is going to affect them. The Social Learning Theory has explained how the social environment can influence a child's behavior (Jones). This is saying that it depends on where a child has grew up, how the child grew up, or what kind of social groups were they exposed to can determine the behavior or influences on their life. The social influences can be a good thing or a bad thing. If the individual is in a bad neighborhood and they see people doing drugs, asking if they want to do them etc. that is a bad social influence that can cause criminal behavior based on social …show more content…
Social interaction is everyday life, the people one may talk to, and the everyday interactions one makes. Social influence is based off of the environment one is in. If one is in a good environment then one will hopefully make good decisions that better themselves. If one is in a bad environment then one is more likely to make the wrong decision and have disadvantages because of it. Although some think it is linked by genetics, criminal behavior is determined by environment, social interaction, and social influences. Criminal behavior still has a huge impact on society that can damage social interactions in regular everyday life. This is a key problem because of the importance of
Social learning theory was first developed by Robert L. Burgess and Ronald L Akers in 1966 (Social Learning theory, 2016). In 1973, Akers wrote a book entitled Deviant Behaviour: A Social Learning Approach, which discussed Aker’s conception of the social learning theory. He developed social learning theory by extending Sutherland’s theory of differential association (Cochran & Sellers, 2017). Social learning theory is based on the principles of Pavlov’s operant and classical conditioning. Akers believes that crime is like any other social behavior because it is learned through social interaction (Social Learning theory, 2016). Social learning theory states that the probability of an individual committing a crime or engaging in criminal behaviour is increased when they differentially associate with others who commit criminal behavior (Cochran & Sellers, 2017). Social learning theory is classified as a general theory of crime, and has been used to explain many types of criminal behaviour (Social Learning theory, 2016). Furthermore, social learning theory is one of the most tested contemporary theories of crime. There are four fundamental components of social learning theory; differential association, definitions, differential reinforcement and imitation (Social Learning theory,
Through Social Learning Theory, an individual can be studied based on the behavior acquired by a role model. Verbal conditioning procedures and observation influences the response to an individual’s personality. Environment factors contribute to the Social Learning Theory. Antisocial model is a major contribute to crime, which influences negative characteristics. The Social Leaning Theory has three core social concepts the must be followed: observational learning, intrinsic reinforcement and modeling process.
Nature vs. nurture has been one of the oldest and most debated topics among psychologists over the years. This concept discusses whether a child is born into this world with their developmental work cut out for them or if a child is a “blank slate” and their experiences are what shape them into who they are. Over the years and plenty of research, psychologists have all mostly come to agree that it’s a little bit of both. Children are both born with some genetic predispositions while other aspects of the child’s development are strongly influenced by their surrounding environment. This plays into the criminal justice system when discussing where criminal behavior stems from. Is a criminal’s anti-social behavior just part of their DNA or is it a result of their upbringing? The answer to this question is not definite. Looking at research a strong argument can be made that criminals developed their anti-social patterns through the atmosphere in which they were raise, not their DNA.
Criminal behavior can mostly be explained by the Biosocial Branch of Trait Theory. Individual traits by themselves cannot determine criminality. Outside factors such as the environment along with certain personality traits is what causes criminal behavior.
The major premise of this is that the development of the unconscious personality early in childhood influences behavior for the rest of a person’s life. Criminals have weak egos and damaged personalities. The main focus of this is mental illness. In regards to social learning theory, one’s criminal behavior is learned through human interactions. Learning theories help explain the role that peers, family, and education play in shaping criminal and conventional behaviors. If crime were a matter of personal traits alone, these elements of socialization would not play such an important a part in determining human behaviors. Mental illness is part of the major crime causation for trait theory. According to some estimates, as much as 50% of the U.S. prison population suffers from some form of mental
Looking back closely at my life I can say that these social theories of learned behavior from peers, education, and communities are true. As it states in (Lecture 5, 2017), “Social learning theories such as Sutherland's Differential Association and David Matza's Techniques of Neutralization Theory argue that children learn to become criminal the same way as people learn everything else”. I do truly believe those theorists to, and I say that because I learned about robbery just like everyone else, also received a 3 month in Juvenile Hall. This pulled me more towards getting my life together and refuse to be another statistic of society. My socialization that I was raised with taught me many things some good and some not so
Within the past decade there has been a wide range of research and evidence available based on both sides of the nature or nurture debate. Along with further research that identifies a number of determinants that have some form of influence towards criminal behavior and activity. This researc...
Social Control Theory presumes that people will naturally commit crime if there were left to their own devices (i.e. no laws in society) and people do not commit crimes because of certain controlling forces, such as social bonds that hold individuals back partaking on their anti social behavior (Bell, 2011). Examples of controlling forces are family, school, peers, and the law. Young people who are t... ... middle of paper ... ... nd delinquent are more likely to partake in committing criminal behavior (Shaefer and Haaland, 2011, p.155-156).
It is a fact that criminals have a smaller brains than law abiding citizens. Often, offenders share particular physical traits such as, being young males, muscular, having lower than average IQ, and a impulsive personality. Serial offenders are usually hyperactive and difficult children If a person has a low IQ, it is proven to be directly related to their tendency to be commit impulse actions that provide an immediate payoff. For instance, a rape or a mugging would provide a criminal with an immediate payoff. It is proven that crime often runs in families. In fact, chronic criminals are proven to be three times more likely to have criminal children. However, despite this information, scientists have no basis to come to any conclusions with this data. Therefore, one must consider other possible factors that may create a criminal mind, to come to a reasonable decision as to how one is developed.
From the beginning of the course, I read each unit and prepared my posting for that week. I tried to post it before the weekend, so my peers have enough time to read and respond to it. I engaged in each week discussion by commenting on my group posting also responded to their feedback. Unit 01: I watched the video about Newt Gringrich said adolescence is a failed cultural model, and young people need to shift more quickly from childhood to adulthood. I wrote down about my reaction to the video and my disagreement. Unit 02 activity I used the library’s online search resources, and I found an article on a topic related to adolescence which I picked the study research about Does proper nutrition = good behavior? Does diet affect the young adult criminal behavior? I explained how the research conducted Who were the participants and how they have selected the study? I also Commented objectively on the case study. Unit 03: I watched Mr. Peter Benson's video about “Sparks” and answered the question about the distinction between the internal and external assets. I also commented on parent’s role in identifying and nourishing their teenager’s spark and helping them to find their way by doing what they love to do. Unit 04: systemic assessment for writing the fit circle for the first attempt I wrote about achieving High self-esteem and for the second attempt I wrote about Academic Success in Immigrant Students and the systemic factors.
They also explore the myths about the connection between genetic factors and criminal behavior. The first myth they looked at was “Identifying the Role of Genetics in Criminal Behavior Implies That There Is a “Crime Gene.”” This myth is dismissed because of the unlikelihood that that a single gene is responsible for criminal behavior. The second myth they look at is “Attributing Crime to Genetic Factors is Deterministic.” This myth is also easily dismissed because of the fact that just because someone has a predisposition to a certain behavior doesn’t mean that the person will take on that behavior.
It suggests that socialization builds self-control and alleviates the inclination to become involved in delinquent behavior. “In this way, families inspire children to coform to parental norms and expectations, and to the norms and expectations of the larger society” (Burfeind and Bartusch, 2011: 171). Hirchi does not believe that motivation is a factor in understanding why youths become involved in juvenile delinquency. Instead, it stipulates that juveniles who offend have a lack of self-control due to a lack of social bonds that would of make the juvenile feel opposed to committing crime. It concludes that people engage in delinquent behavior when their social bond with society is
TANNENBAUN, B, (2007),Profs link criminal behaviour to genetics [online] , Available at: http://thedp.com/index.php/article/2007/11/profs_link_criminal_behavior_to_genetics [accessed 16th October 2011].
“Failure to make friends at school or poor academic performance can often be the cause of juvenile delinquency. Poverty and living in a dangerous neighborhood will sometimes lead children to engage in criminal activities” (Fisher, 2015). Environmental factors take their place in many theories of criminality, including juvenile criminality. Sociological theories maintain that “lack of education, poverty-level income, poor housing, slum conditions and conflict within home and family increase crime commission” (Hess et.al, p.76). Fisher also manages to hit at the social ecology theory and anomie theory in his final sentence on the topic of environmental factors: “If your child has easy access to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or weapons, he may turn to risky behavior as a way to escape the pressure of what he feels is an unhappy life.” Delinquent behavior becomes both a normal reaction to the environment (social ecology) and a means to attain the American dream (anomie).
Though inconclusive, there are numerous other socio-biological factors that present individual risks to criminality. These include gang related peer influence, low IQ levels and hormones; especially cortisol and testosterone.