Which theory, control or differential association theory, better explains why someone exhibits deviant behavior? This is a difficult question as both theories have merit in explaining the deviant behavior being exhibited by individuals in society. Deviant behavior is difficult at times to explain using one theory. This paper will break down the key components of each theory while applying it to the Becker article in helping explain why someone becomes a marijuana user. To start, control theory has four different aspects that explain the bond to society. The basis for this theory is that deviant behavior happens when bonds become weaker between society and the individual. There are four different elements that compose this theory. The …show more content…
However, three of these propositions can be used to explain the theory. This theory proposes that criminal behavior is learned through associations with others in society. The first important proposition is that criminal behavior is learned. This is ultimately the biggest proposition of this theory as criminal behavior is learned but more importantly it is learned through other people. We do not just inherit criminal behavior but rather learn it through our associations with other people in society. The second important proposition is that “The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable” (Sutherland 1992). This lines with the idea that if someone sees the law as something to break then you are more likely to follow those actions. If an individual exposes himself to criminal associations as opposed to those who do not commit delinquent acts, then they are more likely to become delinquent. The third important proposition has to do with exposure. This means that the more frequently one is exposed to criminal acts, the more likely they are to exhibit these traits. This also ties into how early they are exposed to these criminal acts. If one demonstrates criminal behavior at an early age, then those behaviors are more likely to follow as they grow up. These three propositions, in my mind, are …show more content…
There are many examples that can be explained using the differential association theory. The part that talks about learning the technique is a prime example. One does not become a marijuana user unless they learn from a group of people who have been using. This is because in order to get high from marijuana, a proper technique must be taught to the individual. Otherwise, they will not continue using the drug because they are not receiving the benefits of becoming high. Essentially, differential association theory provides an explanation that one becomes a marijuana user through the learned behaviors from others. They learn how to smoke and the benefits of smoking from others who have already been smoking. In reference to control theory, there are two elements that are more applicable to becoming a user. The first is the involvement element. The article talks about how experience can help make the drug more enjoyable. This only can happen when the user has the time to do so. Less involvement in activities will lead to more time to use the drug. The other element has to do with commitment. The use of the drug comes down to costs and benefits. If the benefits outweigh the costs, then the user will decide to use the drug. The article talks about the reference that the drug brings pleasure. To the eyes of people who become smokers,
Differential Association Theory The film “Blow” covers many different topics of differential association theories. The attitudes, the values, and the motives for criminal behavior as learned behavior. The film Blow, goes into the start of a young kid name George Jung, his parents want him to have values and live a wonderful life for himself. George is raised with father owning his own business, a stay home mother.
Control theory states that all people are potential deviants and that social bonds determine the outcome. If the family has strong social bond, such as the Simpson’s, though they have problems they are able to overcome them remain a loving family. The strong bonded family keeps their bonds strong by a healthy mix of parenting, discipline, and time spent together. On the contrary the family that has weak social bonds, the submissive parent and son, often have deviant children who defy them. These weak social bonds accumulate through lack of parenting and not a lot of social interaction with each
For example, since George and Tuna did not want to get regular jobs, Tuna came up with the idea of selling the marijuana and George’s association with Maria lead him to meeting Derek Foreal, who gave George his first bulk of marijuana to sell. Meeting Derek is what began this road of criminal activity for George, as he continue to be the main marijuana distributor in California he later gained the name “Boston George” from it. After realizing he was good at being a drug dealer he began to expand and with him he was able to rope in an old friend known as Kevin Dulli. Boston George’s thirst for financial wealth lead him to go to Mexico on a quest to find a source so he could sell more marijuana back in the states. The “Differential Association Theory” is capable of explaining why Boston George began to sell marijuana because growing up as a child he knew that he needed money in order to be happy since he seen how his parents would struggle in life. This thirst of financial gain was quenched once Tuna gave him the idea of selling marijuana. Boston George even states “I was making way more money than I could in a real job”, thus proving that he was content with how he made his money as long as he made money so he didn’t have to live like his parents. With George’s want for financial wealth and Tuna influencing him to sell drugs, caused George to engage in criminal activity, thus showing how the “Differential Association Theory”applied to how Boston George began selling
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,
Differential association theory was founded by Edwin H. Sutherland (Lilly, 2012, p. 43). This theory states that “any person will inevitably come into contact with definitions favorable to violation of the law and with definitions unfavorable to violation of the law” (Lilly, 2012, p. 44). Whichever definition is more prominent in a person’s mind, will lead to their decision of “whether the person embraces crime as an acceptable way of life” (Lilly, 2012, p. 44). Sutherland composed nine propositions that explained the theory. He explained that “crime is learned through the process of differential association” (Lilly, 2012, p. 45). The nine propositions explained that “criminal behavior is learned” (Lilly, 2012, p. 45). He explained that by communicating with others, especially those that are close to them they are more likely to pick up behaviors from those people. Differential association theory also explains that learning criminal behaviors “involves all the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning” (Lilly, 2012, p. 45). While learning a criminal behavior one not only learns “the techniques of committing the crime” but also the “specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes” involved with crime (Lilly, 2012, p. 45). This is theory is shown throughout the book when the young Mr. Moore was influenced by the life of crime that was present in his
...y theory, affirms that in order for a crime to be committed, three specific specifications must be involved. These specifications are that there must be a suitable target, a motivated offender, and the absence of a capable guardian. The purpose of this theory is to show that the more criminal behavior in their everyday lifestyle, the higher the likelihood that a person will commit criminal activity.
In light of this, looking more in depth into Aker’s alteration of this theory he takes into account the three factors listed above but proposes that on top of it “behavior is learned based on the principles of Skinner’s operant conditioning with classical conditioning as a secondary factor” (Burgess & Akers, 1966, 137). This gives way to the idea of reinforcement, that social reinforcement enhances the learning of criminal behaviors.
In this paper, I am going to going to examine the criminological theory of Differential Association theory by Edwin H. Sutherland. Also I am going to examine Kirk White from the film The Wild and Wonderful World of the Whites of West Virginia. Furthermore, I am going to apply Edwin H. Sutherland’s Differential Association theory to explain and understand the deviant actions of this character. I conclude that Differential association theory will explain why this character act in a deviant why.
Differential 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.
The positivist view of deviance places emphasis on individual's behavior being manipulated by outside forces (Goode, 2007, p. 23). Individual's are unable to contend with these outside forces which are beyond their control. Criminals and other deviants are created through biological defects which were responsible for their behavior, as it was something inherently organic and passed on through birth. The self-control theory of crime was developed by Travis Hirshi and Michael Gottfredson, two famous criminologists. Self-control theory, also known as the General Theory of crime, portrays deviance as stemming from the criminal's lack of ...
Deviance is defined as the violation of norms —or rules or expectations. (Henslin, Essentials of Sociology) Social Control is then defined as a group’s formal and informal means of enforcing the norms. (Henslin, Essentials of Sociology) These two concepts become very important when discussing societal behaviors and guidelines. The film entitled Boys N’ the Hood is a notable example that clearly shows deviance and social control put into action.
...haviors he so wishes to comprehend are those whom he labels as The Cocaine Kids. Now that examples of these drug sellers’ behaviors have been provided, the criminological theories that can explain such behaviors have been made visible to the unseen eye. Criminological theories including the theory of Differential Association, the Subculture of Violence Theory, and the Social Learning Theory can be viewed as methods for developing a knowledgeable understanding of how and why such behaviors introduced individuals to the drug-selling world, kept them submerge deep within it, and allowed for them to leave it.
This theory is based on the work of Sociologist Edwin Sutherland. Differential association theory states that people learn criminal behavior through the social groups with which they associate. If a person associates with a group that defines criminal behavior as acceptable, the person will probably engage in criminal behavior due to their influence. The theory stresses the impact that others have on one’s view of deviant behavior (Kendall,
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,
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.