Criminal Crime Theory Essay
analytical Essay
1135 words
Theories are designed and developed in order to explain the causes and effects of processes and phenomena, as well as to predict likely outcomes. There are many theories that attempt to explain the motives of criminal and deviant behaviours, including strain theory, structural functionalism, and conflict theory (Akers, Krohn, Lanza-Kaduce and Radosevich, 1979). Social learning theory examines the individual learning process, the formation of self, and the influence of society in socialising individuals (Brezina and Piquero, 2002). It is proffered that the formation of one’s identity is a learned response to social stimuli (Brezina and Piquero, 2002). That is, social learning theory postulates that an individual’s identity is not merely the product of the unconscious, but rather the result of modelling oneself in response to the expectations of others. Behaviours and attitudes are theorised to develop in response to the reinforcement and encouragement from the people around us (Jenson and Akers, 2002). Psychologist Albert Bandura argued that human behaviour is significantly acquired vicariously through the process of modelling, whereby humans learn through the observation of others, and either imitating or avoiding their behaviours (Bandura, 1969). In relation to deviant behaviours social learning theory postulates that there are three core mechanisms by which individuals learn to engage in crime; differential reinforcement, beliefs favourable to crime and modelling (Jenson and Akers, 2002). Differential reinforcement of crime refers to the notion that individuals can teach others to engage in deviant behaviour by reinforcing or punishing certain behaviours (Winfree, Bäckström and Mays, 1994). According to Akers (1973) individuals ... ... middle of paper ... ... of Criminology, 2006). Conclusively, sociological attention on the study of deviance has provided various explanations of crime, such as social learning theory, which provide a strong theoretical framework through empirical research and ongoing anecdotal evidence in arguing that criminal behaviour is learned behaviour (Brezina and Piquero, 2002). While statistical analyses of adolescent offending in 2013 appears to further support this notion (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2013; Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2013; NSW Recorded Crime Statistics, 2013; Western Australia Police, 2014; Victoria Police, 2013), it would be a correlative-based fallacy (Richardson, 2012) to assume all deviant behaviour is rooted solely in social learning and modelling in favour of examining all behavioural determinants and risk factors (Winfree, Bäckström and Mays, 1994).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that theories are designed and developed to explain the causes and effects of processes and phenomena, as well as to predict likely outcomes.
- Argues that human behaviour is acquired vicariously through the process of modelling, whereby humans learn through observation of others, and either imitating or avoiding their behaviours.
- Explains that differential reinforcement of crime refers to the notion that individuals can teach others to engage in deviant behaviour by reinforcing or punishing certain behaviours.
- Explains that peers can teach an individual beliefs that are favourable to crime, such as social approval of minor forms of crime and conditional approval or justification.
- Explains that the imitation of criminal models refers directly to bandura’s arguments for social learning theory by stating that behaviour is not only a product of beliefs and reinforcements but also of the behaviours surrounding the individual.
- Explains that there is no singular determining factor in regards to the cause of anti-social or deviant behavior. richards (2011) states that the ‘tangled roots of delinquency’ can be more accurately garnered by observing the way multiple risk factors cluster together and interact in the lives of some adolescents.
- Argues that the risk from anti-social peers is a strong feature of adolescents onset offenders who may otherwise have had positive childhoods.
- Explains that puberty produces a strong desire to be older, or more mature, which allows for peers who commit offences to appear mature because their behaviours are perceived to resemble the independence and choices that come with adulthood.
- Concludes that sociological attention on the study of deviance has provided various explanations of crime, such as social learning theory, which provides a strong theoretical framework through empirical research and ongoing anecdotal evidence.
Related
- explanatory
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- Crime Theory Essayexplanatory essayThe world will always be full of crime, thus it is necessary for scientist to grow along with the gruesome and increasing amount of violations. Due to this it sparked scientist to develop crime theories in which emerged to explain why crime is caused by individuals. Some of the few theories that have advanced over the past century and provided many answers to why crimes are committed are biological theories, psychological theories and learning theories. These theories provide an insight to its first use and change in order to provide answers.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that scientists need to grow with the gruesome and increasing amount of violations and develop crime theories to explain why crimes are committed.
- Explains that the biological theory is based on the belief that criminals are physiologically different from noncriminals.
- Explains that psychological theories have advanced over the past century, such as sigmund freud's idea that people with low intelligence were why crimes were committed.
- Describes the learning theory, which was described by tarde as something learned by normal people as they adapted to other people and the conditions of their environment.
- Opines that the biological theory best explains urban crime in the u.s. because many individuals have a certain disorder of factor that causes them to commit the crime.
- Opines that the united states explains why crimes are committed and will sooner discover the light.
1049 wordsRead More - Akers' Social Learning Theoryexplanatory essayHigh 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...
In this essay, the author
- Explains ronald akers' theory that criminality is a behavior that is learned based on what an individual sees and observes others doing.
- Explains how albert bandura and coworkers tested the social learning theory with several experiments on children and their imitation of aggression based on what they saw and were exposed to.
- Explains that the social learning theory is important in explaining the non-medical use of prescription drugs by young adults ranging in age from eighteen to twenty-five.
- Explains that a study was done on family violence and sibling abuse testing akers social learning theory.
- Explains that robert akers' theory on social learning and its correlation to crime has been tested throughout the years.
- Explains ronald akers' criteria for evaluating a theory consist of seeing that the theory is empirically testable, clearly defining the concepts involved, having the ability to explain the data, and having some usefulness.
- Concludes that akers' social learning theory is the transformation of sutherland's differential association theory with a contemporary touch.
- Describes lilly, j. robert, francis t. cullen, and richard a. ball's criminological theory: context and consequences.
- Explains that social learning theory has been tested on different aspects of crime, such as underage drinking, alcohol abuse, and the use of drugs.
2220 wordsRead More - John Wayne Gacy's Social Learning Theoryexplanatory essaySocial 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,
In this essay, the author
- Explains that john wayne gacy was a u.s. serial killer who was found guilty of killing 33 boys and young men. his father was an auto repair machanic and world war i veteran.
- Explains that john wayne gacy was a kind and caring model citizen. he was married and divorced twice and had biological children and stepchildren.
- Explains that john wayne gacy was convicted of sexually assaulting two teen boys in 1968, but was released on parole in 1970, and was arrested a year later for sexual assault but the charges were dropped.
- Describes john wayne gacy as the killer clown, one of the most notorious serial killers in united states history.
- Explains that social learning theory is one of the core criminological paradigms and can be used to understand both criminal and non-criminal behaviour.
- Explains that differential reinforcement is influenced by the degree, frequency, and probability of its occurrence.
- Explains that social learning theory outlines that imitation involves individuals engaging in behaviour that they have previously witnessed others doing. albert bandura created the bobo doll experiment which proved that children learn through observation of adult behaviour.
- Explains that differential association assumes that deviance is a direct association with others who engage in certain kinds of behavior, as well as indirect association and identification with more distant reference groups.
1627 wordsRead More - Columbine Shooting Essayanalytical essaySecondly, differential association varies based on the intensity, duration, frequency, priority, and timing of one’s process of learning. Through this notion, the individual’s self is disregarded and more emphasis is placed on the extrinsic factors. Furthermore, “it is an individual’s experiences and the ways in which the individual defines those experiences which constitute to the learning of criminality”. (Gongenvare & Dotter, 2007,
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the role of differential association- reinforcement as altered by akers in propelling dylan klebold to commit such heinous act.
- Explains that dylan klebold was born to a middle class family on september 11th 1981. his upbringing was like every typical child.
- Explains that klebold was active in the performing arts and computer enthusiast in ken caryl middle school. he was a shy, reserved, and didn't fit in with the dominant jock culture.
- Analyzes how klebold adopted a whole new persona and became influenced by violent video games such as doom and all things german, wearing the swastika in public and heiling hitler.
- Explains that harris and klebold both worked in the same pizza restaurant where they were described to commit deviant acts whenever they felt bored.
- Explains that klebold and harris shared a common hatred of school, which led to the rampage of their high school in columbus in 1998.
- Analyzes how harris and klebold used each other's expertise to build bombs strategically in the cafeteria and in their car.
- Explains that the bombs in the cafeteria did not go off, so harris and klebold stormed into the school and shot all who came in sight. the rampage lasted a gruesome hour.
- Explains that klebold and harris' crime shocked the nation and led to an extensive investigation. theories were developed in hopes of finding the key to stop criminality at an earlier stage.
- Explains that differential association was coined and developed by edwin sutherland and focuses heavily on the idea of the process of learning criminal behaviors.
- Explains that criminal behavior must be learned through interaction with other persons in the process of communication. sutherland indicates that through gestures the conversation elicits stimuli that allows for response from each individual.
- Explains that differential association varies based on the intensity, duration, frequency, priority, and timing of one’s process of learning.
- Explains that a person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to unfavorable to violation of law.
- Opines that sutherland's differential association theory was criticized for not taking into account individual personalities and differences in learning, how an individual’s contact with another is measured, nor the role of biology in criminal tendencies.
- Explains that aker's alteration of this theory takes into account the three factors listed above but proposes that behavior is learned based on the principles of skinner’s operant conditioning with classical conditioning as a secondary factor.
- Explains that akers outlines the necessary components for this process to take flight. the group/gang must have normative definitions of what they perceive as right or wrong.
- Explains that akers defines two classes of descriptive stimuli; positive and neutralizing/justifying.
- Analyzes how dylan klebold's actions could be analyzed by the differential association-reinforcement theory.
- Analyzes how klebold lacked opportunities to expand his social network and found himself confiding with eric harris, who led him astray. this satisfies the principle of differential association that crime is learned through association of other individuals.
- Analyzes how klebold's time with harris developed into a strong bond, which induced the "trench coat mafias" which was their statement of rebellion against the social norms and the popular culture.
- Explains that klebold and harris shared commonalities that formed the basis to build their own discriminative stimuli, from the admiration of all things german to their hatred of school.
- Opines that klebold was not as flagrantly psychotic as other school shooters, since his early learning of criminal behavior enhances his predisposed tendencies to act out.
- Explains that crime is an entity that develops in mysterious ways and will always have its footprint in the world. understanding what makes crime manifest at an early stage can help prevent it from spreading and starting.
2357 wordsRead More - Albert Desando Social Learning Theoryanalytical essayThrough 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the model and the learner play an important role in whether social learning is successful.
- Describes albert henry desalvo as an aggressive, violent, alcoholic fisherman from newfoundland, who brutally beat up his wife and children with fists, belts and pipes.
- Explains that the social learning theory analyzes behavior through direct experience or by observing the behavior of others.
- Analyzes how bandura proposed the social learning theory with the belief that direct support cannot account for all types of learning.
2043 wordsRead More - Differential Association Reinforcement Theory Analysisexplanatory essayAkers claimed that the main processual variables of the theory used at the micro level, differential association, differential reinforcement, definitions, and imitation, are affected indirectly by the social structures which, in turn, have a direct affect on an individuals behavior (As cited in Cullen et al., 2014). There have been four dimensions of social structure to which provide the contexts for the social learning variables to operate which include, differential social organization, differential location in the social structure, theoretically defined social structure variables, and differential social locations. These social structure dimensions discussed above, Akers noted, “provide the general learning contexts for individuals that increase or decrease the likelihood of them committing crime… immediate contexts that promote or discourage the criminal behavior of the individual…and socialization, learning environments, and immediate situations conducive to conformity or deviance” (As cited in Cullen et al., 2014, p. 147).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that burgess and akers published a theory called differential association reinforcement theory in 1979. the theory has been elaborated and refined to explain various delinquent and deviant behavior.
- Explains that the sssl model hypothesizes that social structures have an indirect effect on an individuals conduct.
- Opines that empirical research in support of the sssl model formulated by akers is scarce and being developed. although there have been relatively few studies on this area of research, it is too soon to arrive any conclusions in regards to its validity.
414 wordsRead More - Relation between Burglary and Differential Association Theoryanalytical essayDifferential association theory best explains the burglary deviance. There are many principles associated with this type of learning theory. Edwin Sutherland’s theory discusses how crime is a learned behavior where one’s family, peers, and environment are of great influence. Differential association theory seeks to prove that criminal behavior is learned and this paper will evaluate the connection between the two.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that burglary was the act of creating an opening by disabling any part of the dwelling meant to serve as a prevention tool against intrusion.
- Explains that 91.4 percent of burglars are either african-american, male, or young, according to bernasco. burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson cause damage to one’s property.
- Explains that differential association theory is one of many theories that place an emphasis on social learning to explain the concept of crime and criminals.
- Explains differential association theory's seven principles, including that criminal behavior is a social learning mechanism, and that learning is by-product of interaction.
- Analyzes the effects of attractiveness, opportunity, and accessibility to burglars on residential burglary rates of urban neighborhoods.
- Analyzes how differential association theory explains burglary, which is a type 1 index crime because of its potentially violent nature.
- Explains that modern society's definition of burglary is quite different from the one under common law, although the use of force is not necessarily an element of the crime.
- Explains the sixth principle of differential association theory, which states that criminal behavior is an expression of a person's individual needs.
1691 wordsRead More - nhexplanatory essayThe second of social Process theories is Differential Identification theory. This theory was presented by Daniel Glaser in 1956 which allows for learning to take place not only through people close to us but also through other reference groups, even distance ones, such as sports heroes or movie stars with whom an individual has never actually met or corresponded (Tibbetts, 2013:146). As in Sutherland’s proposal, Glaser too thinks that criminal activity is learned from significant others but proceeds to step outside of the concept and add in external groups. The important thing, according to Glaser, was that an individual must identify with a person or character and thus behave in ways that fit the norm set of this reference group or person (Tibbetts, 2013:146). In this concept Glaser’s argument is just as justifiable as Sutherlands’ in Differential Association theory, a person can too be influenced by a person that is not a significant other if they are considered to be of extreme importance to the individual.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that daniel glaser's differential identification theory allows for learning to take place not only through people close to us but also through other reference groups, even distance ones.
- Explains that differential reinforcement theory assumes people are born with a blank slate and must be socialized and taught how to behave through various forms of conditioning either operant or classical, as well as modeling.
- Summarizes social process theories and argues that the cause of crime stems from learned behavior through the association of a pro-crime valued group.
- Explains that an individual can experience many ups and downs throughout their life that can contribute to their decision to engage in criminal behavior.
605 wordsRead More - Conflict Perspective On Crime Analysisanalytical essayTherefore, individuals negotiate the definition of situations they find themselves thereby coming up with realities. Thus one relies on symbols, for instance, gestures and words to arrive at a shared interaction. As such, the interaction of individuals gives rise to crime whereby people learn criminal behavior and other perceptions of social problems from other people. Further, people adopt the attitudes that justify committing crimes coupled with learning the special techniques involved in criminal activities. Robbers make decisions regarding where and when to rob with interactions with other thugs reinforcing their
In this essay, the author
- Argues that armed robbery is the product of the frustration and despair of living in poverty and lack of jobs.
- Explains that the power elite in the society controls the important decisions and decides what is criminal with the effects being felt by the less powerful. the powerful and influential can commit crimes which in turn attract little legal retribution.
- Analyzes the symbolic interactionist perspective, which sees people as constructing their roles while in the course of interaction rather than merely learning such roles. the interaction of individuals gives rise to crime whereby people learn criminal behavior and other perceptions of social problems from other people.
- Explains that crime is subjective in nature, although its labeling as cool and fun by the media may make individual to start robbing. labeling an individual as a criminal may lead to changes in their self-concept and behavior.
415 wordsRead More - Crime and Delinquencyanalytical essayAccording to Differential Association, criminal behavior is learned based on the interactions we have with others and the values that we receive during that interaction.
In this essay, the author
- Explains age, ses, and race are the major factors that lead to an increased chance of being caught.
- Explains that sutherland's theory of differential association is based on the social environment and its surrounding individuals and the values that they gain from significant others.
- Explains that criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication. it includes techniques of committing the crime, specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations and attitudes.
- Explains that the process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patters involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning.
- Argues that labeling gives off a wide net of social control that captures too many people, thus making them think they are criminals.
1421 wordsRead More