Boutwell found through “Analysis of the Add Health data revealed that exposure to drug-using peers and levels of self-control were associated with abstention from” criminal behavior (Boutwell). As well as “multifactorial arrangement of environmental and genetic factors contributes to delinquency abstention.” (Boutwell). Boutwell’s study supports what Watts and McNulty found in their analysis of the biological and social effects on adolescents and criminal behavior. Watts and McNulty’s study shows the effect of biology and our genetic make up compared to our socialization and likelihood to associate with different peer groups. The findings tell us that both biology and socialization have an effect on the criminality of an individual. The biological implications argue …show more content…
Self-Control Theory takes a look at people’s failure to control their own actions. I will be taking an in-depth look at research that is related to self-control, similar to the last study by Armstrong and Boutwell that was examined for biological and socialization theory, but with a focus placed specifically on self-control. As previously seen learned in lecture 15, “self control theory assumes all individuals are born selfish and predisposed toward criminality if not controlled their theory breaks from social control theory by arguing that it’s the level of internal “self control” within an individual that determines whether or not the commit crime” the bases of these studies will revolve around this general definition, with some variance depending on the specified study’s interest. The two studies that focus on the theory of self-control are “Maternal versus adolescent reports of self-control: Implications for testing the general theory of crime.” and “Parenting, Self-Control, and Delinquency: Examining the Applicability of Gottfredson and Hirschi 's General Theory of Crime to South Korean Youth” by Youngoh Jo and Yan
The self-control theory suggested that people engaged in criminal behaviors as they believed that crime was an advisable way of fulfilling their self-interest, which provided them a sense of pleasure immediately. Everyone has different ability to control their impulses for instant satisfaction, the ability mainly developed before puberty and relatively stable over the life span. The probability for engaging in criminal behaviors was greater in people with low self-control than those with high self-control. Moreover, the self-control theory suggested that the relationship between self-control and the involvement in criminal behaviors was less affected by factors like peer influences or cultural influences (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). Therefore, self-control theory is totally different from differential association theory. According to Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990), the major cause of children with low self-control may be inefficient parenting. Parents should monitor their children, keep the children under surveillance, and actively react to improper behaviors. They should be able to recognize when deviance occurs, then punished and disapproved that misbehaviors. If the parents failed to do so, children with low self-control may be produced and thus the children may have a greater likelihood to commit in
Regarding the self-control theory, it can be defined as someone who has the ability to commit or not to commit crimes. Aileen Wournos had control, but didn’t care to control her behaviors, or she controlled herself into not committing more. Aileen Wournos’s genes could also play a part in her behaviors, (“Serial Killer Aileen Wournos: Applying Sociology Theories to Crime Behavior,” 2015), and it is further stated that children who have violent parents are more likely than not to become violent themselves. With her father behind bars, and never knowing him, his genes were passed down to his children. He was not only an alcoholic, but also had a horrible temper. Her mother, Diane Wournos wanted to escape her father’s incestuous behaviors, which is why she married Leo Dale
Many theories, at both the macro and micro level, have been proposed to explain juvenile crime. Some prominent theories include Social Disorganization theory, Differential Social Organization theory, Social Control theory, and Differential Association theory. When determining which theories are more valid, the question must be explored whether people deviate because of what they learn or from how they are controlled? Mercer L. Sullivan’s book, “Getting Paid” Youth Crime and Work in the Inner City clearly suggests that the learning theories both at the macro level, Differential social organization, and micro level, Differential association theory, are the more accurate of the two types of theory.
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.
1. Cesare Lombroso applied the methods of natural science (observation, measurement, experimentation, statistical analysis) to the study of criminal behavior. Lombroso rejected the classical theory of crime, associated with Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, which explained criminal activity as freely chosen behavior based on the rational calculation of benefit and loss, pleasure and pain. Critically analyze both schools of thought and provide an opinion as to what theory you believe is more relevant.
For instance, Donner & Jennings (2014) contributes to literature built on previous research in low self-control theory. Low self-control theory (as cited by Donner & Jennings, 2014) contends that individuals who lack self control are generally impulsive risk takers with non-verbal skills who have short sighted goals. (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990) Therefore, many studies in self-control design their measures around impulsive behaviors which are generally manifested in low level crime. (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990)
High crime rates are an ongoing issue through the United States, however the motivation and the cause of crime has yet to be entirely identified. Ronald Akers would say that criminality is a behavior that is learned based on what an individual sees and observes others doing. When an individual commits a crime, he or she is acting on impulse based on actions that they have seen others engage in. Initially during childhood, individuals learn actions and behavior by watching and listening to others, and out of impulse they mimic the behavior that is observed. Theorist Ronald Akers extended Sutherland’s differential association theory with a modern viewpoint known as the social learning theory. The social learning theory states that individuals commit crime through their association with or exposure to others. According to Akers, people learn how to be offenders based on their observations around them and their association with peers. Theorist Akers states that for one, “people can become involved in crime through imitation—that is by modeling criminal conduct. Second, and most significant, Akers contended that definition and imitation are most instrumental in determining initial forays into crime” (Lilly, Cullen, and Ball 2011:57). Although Akers’ theory has been linked to juvenile delinquency in the past, it has also been tested as a possible cause of crime overall. Individuals learn from observation that criminal behavior is justifiable in certain circumstances. In connection with juvenile delinquency and crime, peers and intimate groups have the most effect on individuals when associated with criminal behavior. One is more likely to mimic the behavior of someone who they have close ties with, whether the behavior is justifiable or...
A major component in Gottfredson and Hirschi 's theory is the relationship between parenting and self-control (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 2001). As previously mentioned, Tim and Lionel receive very little parental oversight and guidance. According to low self-control theory, this absence in Tim and Lionel 's life can be seen as an essential factor in their participation in sexting. Due to the lack of parenting in childhood, the youth were unable to develop the necessary self-control to resist the easy temptations offered by crime. Accompanying the lack of parenting, Tim and Lionel 's association with equally perverse individuals at school only served to further exacerbate their impulses and guide them towards delinquency. As such, Tim and Lionel
Criminals are not born; they are created or molded into individuals who participate in criminal behaviors. There are several factors that influence deviance beginning with social structures, generational values and attitudes and social bonding. The concepts of all five theories briefly clarify why criminals partake in deviant activities; however, I believe three learning theories - Social Disorganization, Differential Association and Hirschi’s Social Bonding - best explain how social structures and interactions correlate with the cultivation of criminals.
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...
The purpose of this paper is to review the theory of self-regulation and how it can be applied to practice in health care settings to improve patient outcomes. According to Johnson (1997), more than 25 years of research has influenced the development of the self-regulation theory, which is about coping with healthcare experiences. Health problems have shifted from acute to chronic where it has been identified that personal behaviors are linked to over half of societies chronic health problems (Ryan & Sawin, 2009). As the modern nurse strives to provide specialized care and improve patient outcomes, the utilization of nursing theory continues to gain importance. This theory explains how patients use specific types of information to cope with health care events thus providing a rational for selecting information that can be expected to benefit patients. The concept of self-regulation has been a part of nursing practice in a circumlocutory fashion for years. It has been most commonly referred to as self-management creating considerable ambiguity and overlapping of definitions for that term and self-regulation (SR). For the purpose of this paper these terms will imply that people follow self-set goals introduced by their health care provider.
In this article the two authors research the connection between genetic factors and criminal behavior. They look at the causes that make someone act in a criminal way. There are several factors looked at in connection to the cause such as social factors and environmental variables. The social factors being the more examined of the two. They hypothesized that other factors in performance or alone with environmental variables would lead to better understanding of why some people become criminal. The genetic factor of influence due to mental disorders was posed to have a slight role in affecting people to show criminal behavior. Another cause looked at was the combination of genetic and environmental factors, with a possible result of having a higher risk for criminal behavior.
Theories that are based on biological Factors and criminal behavior have always been slightly ludicrous to me. Biological theories place an excessive emphasis on the idea that individuals are “born badly” with little regard to the many other factors that play a part in this behavior. Criminal behavior may be learned throughout one’s life, but there is not sufficient evidence that proves crime is an inherited trait. In the Born to Be Bad article, Lanier describes the early belief of biological theories as distinctive predispositions that under particular conditions will cause an individual to commit criminal acts. (Lanier, p. 92) Biological criminologists are expected to study the “criminal” rather than the act itself. This goes as far as studying physical features, such as body type, eyes, and the shape or size of one’s head. “Since criminals were less developed, Lombroso felt they could be identified by physical stigmata, or visible physical abnormalities…characteristics as asymmetry of the face; supernumerary nipples, toes, or fingers; enormous jaws; handle-shaped or sensible ears; insensibility to pain; acute sight; and so on.” (Lanier. P. 94). It baffles me that physical features were ever considered a reliable explanation to criminal behavior. To compare one’s features to criminal behavior is not only stereotypical, but also highly unreliable.
Before being capable of fighting the use of drugs and alchol, one must come to an understanding of why some people use drugs. The decision to ultimately use drugs is influenced mainly in childhood. Whether in a poor ?ghetto? neighborhood, or in a middle-class suburb, all children are vulnerable to the abuse of drugs. Most high-risk children are effected by personal and family circumstances (Falco 51). If a child?s parents are substance abusers, then it is a fairly safe prediction that the child will abuse drugs later in life. Also, early-life experiments with drugs greatly increases the chance of abuse later in life. Academic problems, and rebellious, anti-social behavior in elementary school are also linked to drug problems, in addition to truancy, delinquency, and ear...
“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).