...Deviant behaviour is learned through interaction with people in a process of communication. As John B. Watson once said "Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select--doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief, and, yes, even beggarman and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors" – in other words criminals are not born but shaped not only due to circumstance but through learning from intimate relationships with others. Throughout the course of this paper I will focus on why people behave in ways that lead them to be defined as deviant...
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...Applying Theories and Concepts There are many theories throughout sociology and criminology that explain deviance and why individuals involve themselves in deviant activities and become deviant. In this particular case study there a many theories that an individual could apply to Kevin and his deviant behavior, but the three theories that I view as the best to explain Kevin’s deviance and behavior that was studied. The three theories that apply best to Kevin’s particular aspects of deviance are Social Bond Theory, Social Learning Theory, and Reaction Formation Theory. Social Bond Theory is a theory that states that if an individual has strong relationships and or bonds , and values, then they will not involve themselves in deviant behavior whether they have deviant friends or not. The theory also says that if the individuals lack these values and or strong relationships, then they fall back on peers in search of those bonds whether they are negative or positive ones. In relationship to Kevin, this theory plays a role in his deviant behaviors because of his relationship with his family and then his involvement in deviant behaviors with his peers. Kevin’s parents were divorced and his mother eventually remarried when he was in the seventh grade. His relationship with his step-father was negative relationships which often lead to arguments and or confrontations between Kevin and his stepfather and Kevin’s mother and step-father, do to his step-fathers alcoholism. Social Learning...
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...The second class of micro-level origin theories, control theories, explores the causes of deviance from an altogether different perspective. Control theories take for granted the existence of a cohesive set of norms shared by most persons in the society and reason that most persons want to and will typically conform to these prevailing social norms. The emphasis in these theories, unlike learning theories, is on the factors that bond individuals to conforming lifestyles. The bonds act as social and psychological constraints on the individual, binding persons to normative conformity (Toby 1957; Hirschi 1969). People deviate from norms when these bonds to conventional lifestyles are weak, and hence, when they have little restraining influence over the individual. Among control theorists, Travis Hirschi (1969) has made the greatest contributions to our knowledge about bonding processes and deviant behavior. Writing on the causes of delinquency, he argued that four aspects of bonding are especially relevant to control theory: emotional attachments to conforming others, psychological commitments to conformity, involvements in conventional activities, and beliefs consistent with conformity to prevailing norms. Among the most important of the bonding elements are emotional attachments individuals may have to conforming others and commitments to conformity—psychological investments or stakes people hold in a conforming lifestyle. Those having weak attachments—that is, people who are...
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...Secondly, the focus moves to social learning theory. Learning theory is “deviant behavior is learned through one’s interaction with others” (Thio and et al, 2012. p.23). Also, Edwin Sutherland, an American sociologist, “developed the theory of different association to explain how the learning of deviance comes about” ((Thio and et al, 2012. p.23). The theory of different association explains that people who are related to others holding deviant ideas have higher likelihood of committing deviant behavior than people who do not have interaction with those with deviant ideas. People learn deviant ideas and/or different ideas from one’s own from different group. There are more other explains and corrections. For example, Glaser insists the deviant...
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...consequences." In the 1950’s and 1960’s, labeling theory or social reaction theory came to be out of a rejection of consensus theory or structural functionalism. Sociologists were beginning to study the aspects of different kinds of behavior. Labeling theory was just a theory until 1966 when Thomas J Scheff published his book called, Being Mentally Ill. His book stated that there are certain behaviors and actions that society views as deviant and those who engage in these types of behaviors are considered mentally ill or having a mental illness. Another labeling theorist was Frank Tannenbaum. His theory was of labeling was socially stigmatizing and that suggesting, tagging, defining, identifying, segregating, describing, and emphasizing any individual out for special treatment becomes a way of stimulating, and evoking the very traits that are complained of. A person becomes the thing they are described as being. This theory implies that no act is intrinsically criminal, rather, criminality is established through the formation of laws, and the interpretation of those laws by the courts police and correctional institutions. Deviance is therefore not a set of characteristics of individuals or groups, but rather it is a process of interaction between deviants and non-deviants and the context in which criminality is being interpreted. Labeling theory or social reaction theory is concerned with how the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the...
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...HOW DOES SOCIAL POWER AFFE\ ;L’;’’;’PL;L[P[P0O;;;.’;/;.’[‘’;/;L.L,/,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,M QQQQWQW4FCW2 C ‘T DEVIANT LABELLING, AND HOW DO G ENDER, RACE AND CLASS FEATURE IN THIS PROCESS JJJJJJJ N JJJ JJ JJJJJJJJJ JJJJ,,,, ‘ ‘’ \\ \ D \eviance as a violation of social norms Norms are rules and expectations by which members of society are guided.[2] . They are not necessarily moral, or even found grounded in morality; in fact, they are just as often pragmatic and, paradoxically, irrational. (A great many of what we call manners, having no logical grounds, would make for good examples here.) Norms are rules of conduct, not neutral or universal, but ever changing; shifting as society shifts; mutable, emergent, loose, reflective of inherent biases and interests, and highly selfish and one-sided. They vary from class to class, and in the generational "gap." They are, in other words, contextual. Deviance can be described as a violation of these norms.[3] Deviance is a failure to conform to culturally reinforced norms. This definition can be interpreted in many different ways. Social norms are different in one culture as opposed to another. For example, a deviant act can be committed in one society or culture that breaks a social norm there, but may be considered normal for another culture and society. Some acts of deviance may be criminal acts, but also, according to the society or culture, deviance can be strictly breaking social norms that are intact. ...
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...Advanced Crim. October 26, 2014 Ch. 2 Homework 1. When a person is around a deviant person, they tend to start imitating the deviant. Imitation refers to the engagement in behavior after the observation of similar behavior in others. Whether or not the behavior modeled by others will be imitated is affected by the characteristics of the models, the behavior observed, and the observed consequences of the behavior. If a person sees that the deviant person is getting away with the deviant behavior, they are going to imitate the deviant person to see if they can get by with it as well. 2. Definitions are one's own attitudes or meanings that one attaches to given behavior. Definitions are orientations, rationalizations, definition of the situation, and other evaluative and moral attitudes that define the commission of an act as right or wrong, good or bad, desirable or undesirable, justified or unjustified. In social learning theory, these definitions are both general and specific. General beliefs include religious, moral, and other conventional values and norms that are favorable to conforming behavior and unfavorable to committing any deviant or criminal acts. Specific definitions orient the person to particular acts or series of acts. 3. The probability that an act will be committed or repeated is increased by rewarding outcomes or reactions to it, which may obtain approval, money, food, or pleasant feelings. That is referred to positive reinforcement. The likelihood that...
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...Since been brought to this world, we are taught to act in different ways depending on the scenario. Often many behaviors and lessons are learned through experiencing life. Sociology has become a way in understanding and theorizing how things usually come to be. There are ways in which the particular learned behavior plays out differently. For example, learning to tie your shoe compared to learning to rob someone. It is a fact that behaviors are learned. But, sometimes that learned behavior is committing a crime. Movies often display fiction stories that have a questionable reasoning for the way the characters acting. Movies play off stereotypes and prejudices. Precious is a movie in where the main character precious struggling to escape the realities of her life. The abused and...
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...Lauralee Candelario Professor Lawrie Criminology April 13, 2016 The social learning branch of social process theory suggests that people learn criminal behavior much as they learn conventional behavior. If an individual were to grow up in an environment that fostered the pursuit of academic interests, this intellect trait would have the ability for increased expression rather than if the individual were in an environment that placed little value on learning. This can in turn relate to criminal behavior and social deviance. Various developmental and sociological factors play a role in an individual’s inclination towards exhibiting criminal behavior. One of the most important environmental factors during childhood development is that of socialization or the way a child is taught how to act. Children learn to merely obey the rules of their society. Certain actions are repeated because of directly correlated consequences. A child does not intuitively know that stealing is wrong; they have to be taught through negative consequences that this behavior is not acceptable. They then internalize these rules and eventually believe them to be fundamentally correct. Socialization refers to the developmental period where the ideals of morality and socially acceptable behavior are instilled in a child. If a child is consistently taught how to act through both positive and negative reinforcement, the child will begin to exhibit certain characteristics because they...
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...K. McClenton November 2015 AJS/514 City Demographics and Crime Profile Social learning theory considers the formation of an individual’s identity to be a learned response to what a person has been raised around or adapted to. In Memphis, Tennessee, many people within this state are influenced to criminal behavior at a very young age. According to WREG Memphis Channel 3 news, Memphis was only just ranked below Detroit and Oakland, California, but the Chair of the Crime Commission Ben Adams said he isn't sure how accurate the rankings are. Cordarro Vaughn's a lifelong Memphian, and he was anything but surprised when he heard the FBI labeled Memphis the third most dangerous city in the country (Rufener,Katie, 2015). When we talk about events or attitudes to a explanation of beliefs people reside in Memphis, Tennessee would accept for explaining criminal behavior, it points out the general connection of socialization opposed to the individual mindset. The social learning theory believes that an individual’s identity is not the product of the unconscious, but instead is the result of modeling oneself in response to the expectations of others. Behaviors and attitudes develop in response to reinforcement and give hope to the people around them. While social learning theorists acknowledge that childhood experience is important, they also believe that the identity people is formed by the behaviors and attitudes of others. Another factor that contributes to Memphis crime rate...
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...Summary Social control theory examines the relationship build in society between those who are criminals and non-criminals. Within the social control theory, conflicts are developed between men and woman based on the specific labels and behavior that are placed on them and expected by society. There has been a constant swift change in power within society. Usually men are known for being the providers of the family, while woman are know for being caregivers. Woman are now taking control and are being more dominant in society than ever before. More conflict has recently risen due to the changes in society regarding the rights and privileges that women have and now share with men. Gender and association are two common and major sources that...
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...criminal behavior has evolved over the centuries. We will probably never live in a world that is free of crime, but learning more about the criminal aspects in our society may one day make our world a much better place to live. To help resolve criminal behavior becoming more familiar with the biological and psychological explanations of crime, the way criminals learn to commit crimes and the criminal justice system in place to deal with criminals must be understood. Understanding the explanations of crime is a controversial issue by many researchers. What is understood is that the crime rate over the last century has increased and that this is largely due to the criminals in our society. If the criminal could be understood then perhaps that would be a large step in the combat against crime. Criminologists study factors to explain why and individual would commit crimes. Although one explanation does not supersede the other when considering the causes of crime, research has shown evidence of biological and psychological factors resulting in the criminal characteristics. Often people experience both contributing factors that drive them into the world of criminal behavior. Biological causation of crimes used to be an instrumental tool for criminologists interested in the structure of a criminal. Biological theories of crime were a way that physiognomists and phrenologist differentiated criminals and prospective criminals by their physical and inherited traits. Biological theories are...
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...Behavioural change theories From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Behavioural change theories are attempts to explain why behaviours change. These theories cite environmental, personal, and behavioural characteristics as the major factors in behavioural determination. In recent years, there has been increased interest in the application of these theories in the areas of health, education, criminology, energy and international development with the hope that understanding behavioural change will improve the services offered in these areas. Contents • 1 General theories and models o 1.1 Self-efficacy o 1.2 Learning theories/behaviour analytic theories of change o 1.3 Social learning/social cognitive theory o 1.4 Theory of reasoned action o 1.5 Theory of planned behaviour o 1.6 Transtheoretical/stages of change model o 1.7 Health action process approach o 1.8 Education o 1.9 Criminology o 1.10 Energy • 2 Objections General theories and models Each behavioural change theory or model focuses on different factors in attempting to explain behavioural change. Of the many that exist, the most prevalent are the learning theories, Social Cognitive Theory, Theories of Reasoned Action and Planned Behaviour, Transtheoretical Model and the Health Action Process Approach. Research has also been conducted regarding specific elements of these theories, especially elements like self-efficacy that are common to several of the theories. Self-efficacy Self-efficacy is an individual's...
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...Sociological Theories of Crime AIU Online April 9, 2016 There are many theories as to why one commits acts of crime. Some of the theories revolve around socialism. Others involve theoretical assertions based on socioeconomic status. And another has basis on personal attributes and rationale to thought in motive. There are also different thoughts to explaining criminal behaviors, one being classical school of thought and the other being a positivist school of thought. For the focus of this paper we will be looking at the four main theories: Social control theory, Strain theory, Differential Association Theory, and Neutralization theory. Social control theory is the theory that those who engage in socializing or social learning build self-control and lessens the likelihood of antisocial behavior. This theory also explains the conformity of behavior accepted in society. Anti-social behavior due to lack of social links within society lend strong indications to criminal behaviors. Travis Hirschi’s held this same theory of ‘‘social control’’ stating that if a man is not variously bound to society by some attachment, commitment, or involvement, he is, at risk criminally. (Muraven, 2006) One of the strengths in this theory is the recognition of wrongdoing by offenders. With the recognition of wrongdoing should come the accountability of action. Therein lies the weakness to this theory as accountability for one’s actions tends to be ignored in today’s society, easily dismissed...
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...criminological analysis. Within this family unit, a range of behaviors and interactions emerge, ranging from criminal activity to religious involvement, from rebellious acts to nurturing pursuits. Through the lens of criminological theories, specifically social learning theory, social control theory, and strain theory, I will delve into the underlying dynamics shaping the Smith family's experiences and choices. By examining the family's circumstances through these theoretical perspectives, I aim to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving their actions and interactions, Social learning theory suggests...
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