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How theories inform criminological research
Developmental criminalogy
Essay on theories of criminology
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Developmental theories are the different views that are used to describe why criminal activity starts and why it continues or stops. Life course theory views an individual from childhood to adulthood and how they are influenced by other individuals, life experiences and personal traits. When kids are in trouble throughout their childhood, things like a stable job and intact relationships can help them deter from crime. On the other hand, some children continue to hang with the wrong crowd and develop a criminal career. This is an original theory first discovered by Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck. The major strength of this theory is that it focuses on the history of a person as well as present day. A weakness of this theory is that it is hard to keep up with the changes in society and the changes that can affect an individual’s way of life. Interactional theory is viewed that individuals get involved with crime due to …show more content…
In this theory there are two different sources of coercion; interpersonal and impersonal. Interpersonal involves the bullying and attacking of an individual by his or her family, peers, or spouse. Impersonal involves indirect pressures such as losing a job or poverty. The pros of differential coercion theory are that it explains how coercion determines behavior. Control balance theory suggests that when there is an imbalance of the control one is subjected to from others and the control one has over others, deviant and criminal behavior can occur. Predation, defiance, and submission are three types of behaviors an individual turns to, to restore balance. The strength of the control balance theory is that it shows how the ability to control the things around them is important. Although trying to take control of other people is considered a deviant behavior, it cannot be suggested that all individuals who try to balance out the controls in their life will commit
First and foremost, the theory states that criminal behavior is learned, meaning that the behaviors of an individual are influenced and shaped by those they associate with (Clinard & Meier, 2015). The primary reference point here is the nuclear family. Parents teach their children how to walk and talk, who grow up with siblings or in some cases, elderly relatives. With good reason, it is widely held that these interactions create the foundation of the individual’s conception of societal norms and values. That being said, if the individual is capable of assessing proper behavior in society, they are also capable of learning what is considered
They studied the criminals lives and show how the link as juveniles and the factors that led them to become a criminals. Statically showing, most people that become criminals fail high school. Showing if a person continues their education the likely hood of becoming a criminal become less and less. These individuals come from broken homes, little education, little money and lack of resources. Growing up in a broken home or family, the child begins to suffer because of either neglect or lack of supervision from a parent figure, either they are not home or work low wage jobs just to make it. Since there is a lack of family support, the child will look for support from another source. The supports they usually find are products of their environment, usually gangs or other bad influences. Even with places that helps less than fortune kids have a role model or after school activates, but most of the time, they do not seek these programs which could help the child on a better path, rather than a life of crime joining a gang or even just commit crime altogether. The main influences on our lives are our families and society that we grow up in, and has a great effect on the individual which can dictate what they do with their lives. When looking at the theory, the effects come from homelessness, abuse neglect, subcultures,
Schaefer also described social control as techniques that prevent deviance (Schaefer, 2013). With Schaefer’s defin...
The study of Juvenile delinquency and the theories pertaining to it are vital for several reasons. In order to more effectively engage with youths and foster positive behavior and schemas, the individuals must first be understood. The study of theory provides a means of understanding adolescents and the factors that lead to or detract from delinquent behavior. In the case of juvenile delinquent, Jordan Brown, theory helps to provide insight into why an eleven-year-old boy murdered his stepmother.
Social learning theory argues that individual behavior is shaped through the process of reinforcement and punishment. It argues crime is largely detrmined during childhood as a result to incompetent parenting, and tends to persist thereafter.. Differential reinforcement is defined as the balance of anticipated or actual rewards and punishments that follow or are consequences of behaviors. Social learning theory focuses on four principles: Differential association, differential reinforcement, imitation and definitions. The debt of differential association theory can be seen in these for principal said to affect the individual's probability of committing law violations.
In criminology, researchers have constantly tried to explain why people commit crime and engage in juvenile delinquency. Many theories have emerged for over a century about why people commit these deviant behaviors. Macro-level theories focus on social structures and the effects of those structures on the human behavior. Basically, macro-level theories explains aggregate crime. Micro-level theories focuses on individuals and their interactions with various groups of people. For example, the relationship between family members, friends, and groups, that individuals interact with every-day, which explains individual criminal behavior. These interactions affect their attitudes, beliefs, and what seems normal for people. One of the most interesting theories that that tries to explain this, is Hirschi’s social bonding theory, which is based on how crime is the result of weakened bonds to society and is considered a micro-level theory.
The three forms of social learning theory are differential association theory, differential reinforcement theory, and neutralization theory. Differential association theory states that behavior of criminality is learned by association with criminal values, patterns, and attitudes. It does not explain how one individual can be exposed and learn these patterns, but does not get influenced by them. Differential reinforcement theory also explains that crime is learned, but combines the points of differential association theory and learning behavior psychologically. It combines theories included in trait theory, which deals with the psychological aspect, and reward and punishment, and the concepts of differential association theory. Neutralization theory is also a learning theory. Subterranean culture and the individuals that follow values within are not always consistent. The theory suggests that criminals slip in between criminality and regular society, and their actions can even lead to the defense of law-abiding
An integrated theory is a combination of 2 or 3 theories that offers many explanations on why crime is occurring, compared to a traditional criminal theory that just focus on one type of aspect (Lilly et al.2010). The purpose of integrated theories is to help explain many aspects into what causes criminal behavior and why one becomes delinquent. From this an argument arises can integrated theories be used to explain all criminal behavior. Integrated theories are successful in explaining certain aspects of crime on what causes one to become deviant; however one theory alone cannot explain why an individual engages in crime. This paper will examine three integrated theories and look in-depth how these theories can explain different aspects on why criminal behavior occurs and the weakness of each theory. The three integrated theories that will be discussed in this paper are Cloward and Ohlin Differential Opportunity theory, Robert Agnew General Strain theory, and lastly Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond theory.
Developmental theories are broken up into two perspectives: Life-course, and Latent Trait. These perspectives may answer questions on why juveniles have grown to lead a destructive life-style and why others grow out of their delinquency. Latent trait explains some of the tendencies we may be born with and how important it is to be there for our children. Our parenting skills do have a profound effect on how our children may lack self control or have impulsive behavior. Life course perspective takes place as we grow and learn more in life.
There are many types of development theories, Psychoanalytic theories, Cognitive theories, Behavioral and social cognitive theories, ethological theories and ecological theories. Development is how a person changes throughout their life, from the time they are conceived to the time they die. Everyone processes and interprets things and information differently. After researching these various developmental theories ecological theories best describe development. Urie Bronfenbrenner is the researcher that created the ecological theory. Psychoanalytic theories least describe development. Both Ecological and Psychoanalytic theories have certain aspects that I personally believe to make a valid point and certain aspects that do not make a valid point when it comes to development. Eclectic theoretical orientation takes pieces of each theory that makes the most sense when it comes to lifespan development and follows that system. Ecological theories are everyone and everything having an impact on a child’s development, even if those people and events have no direct contact with the child.
Life course theory has five basic concepts they 're cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points. These concepts are used to analyze people 's social, structural and cultural standpoints. And with the knowledge of these five basic concepts they help me understand myself as a person who didn 't commit crime compare to my peers who I met and reconnect with who did. Sadly they end up being unhappy in their lives due to the crimes they committed and troubles they caused in their lifetime. Necessarily they weren 't bad people, but like the theory says crimes can be affect due to circumstances of within structural, social, and cultural standpoint during their lifetime, which may also be the cause of their choices. One example of this is if a person would to resort to stealing through life events such as a father who stole in front of them as a child, they will then learn that behavior. The life course perspective takes a look at things on more macro level perspective from social aspect such as family life at home, bad neighborhoods, and lack of income. What prevent me from committing any crimes is that I had a good family relationship with my parents and sibling, so in other words my lfie course perspective or cohort was rather healthy compare to my peers. Through these example the assumptions can be made that social
People who deviate from social norm are motivated by anti-social people such as criminals and drug addicted. Control theory suggests the opposite hypothesis, in that people will naturally commit crime if situation allowed doing so (Bernard et al., 2010, p. 203). The control theories suggest that every society have a set of values, norms and behavior for their citizen. A person is considered as anti-social, if s/he breaks the norms set by the society. Albert J. Reiss’s article, in 1951 described about various aspects of control theory (Bernard et al., 2010, p. 203). The researchers showed that juvenile were more violent when they were identified of lacking self-controlling capacity (Bernard et al., 2010, p. 203). Young adults with less self controlling capacities were not able show good behavior and lead to delinquent behavior. It was found that when young-adults were frequently absent from the school and the school authorities believed them as having involved in anti-social activities (Bernard et al., 2010, p. 204). When social norms are weak on an individual, then that individual may get involve in the anti-social activities. Reiss’ suggested that juveniles’ delinquent behavior rate can be influenced by several other factors outside the perimeter of control theory, however, later he was inclined towards control theories (Bernard et al., 2010,
Psychological theories of criminal behavior emphasize criminal thinking patterns or personality defects. These theories emphasize individual differences in behavior and the approaches to thinking, feeling, and decision-making that make some people predisposed to committing criminal acts.
explained why people engaged in delinquent behavior. Through studying these theories, we are able to analyze and critique the way they viewed criminals and how we can shape our Criminal Justice Systems to become more affective in dealing with criminals and their behavior. Another important note that we all have to understand is that no one theory will be able to take complete control over one or more views, because of this theories should be integrated together to form new and larger approaches to the problem that is before us today.
Juvenile delinquency is a prevalent issue that society faces, regardless if the community is primitive or modern, rich or poor, and so on. Juveniles are juveniles under 18 years of age. Delinquent acts range from something as minor as being out past curfew to more serious acts like physical assaults. Strain Theory suggests juvenile delinquency is at its highest during ages 10-17, because of several factors: desire autonomy, financially dependency upon their guardians, and often experience a lack of social support from family and friends. In the past, there have been multiple theories that examined juvenile delinquency from a biological or social lens. For example, Lombroso’s biological theory claimed that kids resulted in committing acts for