Abstract This paper presents a case study of a sixteen-year old girl who, along with two friends, has been charged with assault and fraud. The paper discusses Aker's social learning theory which operates on seven basic principles to explain criminalbehavior and explores these principles. The paper then analyzes the general strain theory (GST) on criminalbehavior. Finally, the paper integrates the theories and discusses how they apply to the case study.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Joyce's Story
Theory Evaluation # 1 - Aker's Social Learning Theory
Theory Evaluation #2 - General Strain Theory
Theory Integration
Conclusion: Policy/Practice Implications
From the Paper "The theories work somewhat in addressing weaknesses in their complement. Aker's theory that criminal behavior is learned is refuted by research demonstrating that delinquent behavior proceeds criminal social attachments. GST would state this is because the cause of criminal behavior is emotional and is therefore the result of the individual, not the individual's peers (though this emotion is spurred by outside forces). GST's emphasis on emotive responses also explains why some crimes are not committed for material benefit - a factor Aker credits as instrumental in the crime process. GST's failure to acknowledge the higher proportion of male crimes (as compared to crimes committed by females) may be accounted for in Aker's theory of social learning and material benefit, but not enough research has been done on the topic to confirm this. Also, the simplicity implicit in GST and its inability to adequately distinguish between types of strain may be explained using Aker's Social Learning Theory. Perhaps some strains are linked to delinquency when there is an obvious benefit, and types strain not linked with crime may produce not obvious advantage for the individual."
Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the Bogle family - one whose members all exhibit criminalbehavior - with respect to social learning theory and choice theory as possible causes of criminalbehavior.
From the Paper "The Bogle family history rivals that of the Jessie James clan. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and other relatives of Dale Vincent Rooster Bogle perpetrated practically every crime possible from rape and ..."
Tags: social learning theory, behavior, choice theory, criminality, crime, abuse, development
Abstract This is a high level essay discussing the implications of genetics in criminalbehavior which then focuses on the argument of whether or not genetics and DNA should successfully be implicated for their role within the context of a criminal defense. The stance taken for this paper is that this is not a viable defense for criminal activity. The paper cites current research.
From the Paper "The question of "nature vs. nurture" relative to the role of aberrant behavioral displays has been one that is long debated, filled with considerable research and vested interests on both sides of the debate and one that is not likely to be resolved in our lifetime. This paper will present a high level argument demonstrating that a defendant's genes, while potentially a contributory factor, do not by themselves excuse criminal behavior. Three factors will be reviewed: genetic predispositions and what they mean, role of the environment and the legal implications for genetic defenses. "Genetic Predispositions Tehrani and Mednick" (2000 as cited by Jones, 2005) concluded that there was conclusive evidence of a genetic "component" in criminal behavior."
Abstract This paper looks at how the social environment affects criminalbehavior. It explores how the effects of peer and family relationships can lead to criminalbehaviors such as violence, delinquency and drug abuse.
From the Paper Sutherland's Differential Association Theory suggests that people commit crime by learning in a social context through their interactions with others and communication with them. He believed criminal behavior whatever its nature is learned by interaction with others and this includes learning the techniques of committing the crime and the motives, drives rationalizations and attitudes for committing it. This is due to their definition of legal codes as being favorable or unfavorable and so if someone believes the legal codes are unfavorable they will be more likely ..."
Abstract This paper examines how numerous theories have been advanced about the causes of criminalbehavior ever since criminology became a serious subject of study in the late 18th century. It looks at how, although most of these theories give us some insight into the mind of criminals and why they commit crimes, there is still no consensus among the experts about most of the reasons advanced to explain the committing of crimes. It explores some of these theories of criminalbehavior, including a discussion of serial killers and the possible reasons behind their deviant behavior.
Outline
Background
Classical Criminology
Lombroso's Theory of the 'Criminal Type'
Modern Biological Theories of CriminalBehavior Psychological Theories
Social Causes
Opportunity Theory
Serial Killers
Conclusion
From the Paper "Serial Killers are the "ultimate criminals" since they are responsible for committing the most heinous of crimes, i.e., of taking another human's life without legitimate cause, perform the dastardly act repeatedly and usually derive pleasure by doing so. It is, therefore, instructive to briefly look at their behavior pattern as it gives us a useful insight into the functioning of the criminal mind. Studies made by FBI reveal that serial killers fall into two fairly distinct categories: the "organized" and the ?disorganized.? (Reed, "Specialists look"?) The organized killer is usually male, white and fairly intelligent, socially adept and ordinary looking who can easily blend into the background. He plans his crimes with great detail, leaving very little evidence behind."
Abstract This paper reviews the theory of self-control in criminalbehavior. The author discusses the two opinions that modern psychologists have on the origin of the antisocial or criminal impulse among individuals who engage in criminalbehavior: 1) criminal predisposition is explained by genetics, parental roles and self control, and 2) neither genetics nor parental roles is as important as purely environmental factors such as social class, economic opportunity, and other societal influences. The paper concludes that ultimately, the self-control theory of crime applies only to that subset rather than explaining criminality in a broader sense.
Outline:
Introduction
Parental Responsibility and the Role of Self Control
The Significance of Race, Economics, and Social Culture
Genetic Predisposition to Criminality Conclusion
From the Paper "Unlike the case with laboratory animals, humans cannot be bred or separated from their parents at birth for genetic research into the source of their behavioral tendencies. Surely, traits of personality such as patience, impulsivity, quickness to anger, and self control have specifically identifiable genetic profiles, making it even more difficult to connect parenting style to self-control issues in children, much less to such behavior that rises to the level of criminality."
Abstract This paper examines how, in many contemporary criminology texts, theories concerning criminalbehavior are generally classified according to some biological, psychological, or sociological perspective. It looks at how, in recent years, however, several theories of criminalbehavior have appeared that make such simple categories inadequate for the complexities that have been identified in such analyses and how these new behavioral theories have specifically combined both biological and social environmental variables in their explanations of people's varying tendencies to commit crime. It reviews nine such categories of criminalbehavior, followed by an analysis and summary of the research in the conclusion.
From the Paper "This category of crime holds that criminal behavior is caused by exercise of free will and criminal responsibility. The classical theory of criminal behavior was prevalent prior to "modern" criminology's search for the causes of crime, which did not begin until the nineteenth century. Classical theory did not attempt to explain why people commit crime but was rather a strategy for administering justice according to rational principles (Garland, 1985). Classical theory was based on assumptions about how people living in the emerging historical period of seventeenth-century Europe, called the "Classical period" or "Enlightenment era," began to reject the traditional idea that people were fixed social types (e.g., landed gentry and serfs) with vastly different rights and privileges."
Through a study of Stanton E. Samenow's book 'Inside the Criminal Mind', this paper argues Samenow's approach to criminalbehavior that the blame lies with the criminal, not society.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 4 sources, 2006, $ 44.95
Abstract This paper explores Stanton E. Samenow's book 'Inside the Criminal Mind' and outlines the general strength of his argument as well as the surprising parallel between his doctrine of personal accountability and traditional Christian ethics. The paper notes Dr. Samenow's disdain for sociological explanations for criminality and also records some of the views of David Powlison, a Christian scholar whose work shares some of the same general conceits as Dr. Samenow.
From the Paper "One of the great mysteries of criminal psychology over the generations has been what precisely it is that motivates seemingly intelligent and - on the surface, at least - well-balanced individuals to commit illegal acts. For many years, it has been thought that social factors created criminals - or at least a great many of them. However, since the 1990s, Stanton E. Samenow has argued publicly that social factors really have nothing at all to do with criminal behavior; rather, people do wrong because their peculiar world-view privileges wrong-doing. The following paper will review Samenow's theory and argue that his work offers a compelling justification for such a view. "
Abstract This paper explores the classical theory of crime causation, one of the major theoretical perspectives in the field. The paper begins by describing Cesare Beccaria who is generally seen as the founder of this theory. Several of his influences are evaluated, including ideas regarding the nature of punishment which are central to his theory. The paper evaluates the classical theory in light of modern criminology. A chart entitled 'Comparison of Classical and Positivist Schools' is included.
Outline:
Introduction
Man Pleads Guilty
Classical Causes
Vital Components
Foundation and Focus
Causes Contributing to Frank's Crimes?
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "The Classical Theory, one of the major theoretical perspectives of crime causation, will not fully explain Frank's criminal behavior. This theory may, however, shed a bit of light on the underlying factors contributing to his dark deeds. "Cesare Beccaria - 'the Rousseau of the Italians' (Beirne, 1993:14) - is generally seen, at least symbolically, as the founder of this movement." (Carrabine, Iganski, Lee, Plummer & South, 2004, p. 32 - 33) Beccaria, a humanist born in Milan, Italy in 1738, feverishly worked for the eradication of injustice and illogicality of the judicial system prior to and continuing into his day."
Abstract The paper looks at the various reasons for people's criminalbehavior as well as the biological, sociological and psychological theories explaining their actions. The paper also analyzes the role of learning in murder and shows that murderers are not born but learn their behavior based on their environment.
From the Paper "In the world of criminology, the most interesting crimes are not necessarily the most common crimes. Serial killers, mass murders, and spree murders are given fame for their crime even though their murders only account for approximately three or four percent of murders. People are interested in these murderers because their acts are surprising and unexplainable for the average person."
Abstract The focus of this research review is the relationship that exists between child abuse and neglect and juvenile delinquency and adult violence or criminality. This work reviews relevant, reliable, and peer-reviewed literature in this subject area and states findings about prevention methods that target early identification and intervention of those who are predisposed to juvenile or adult violence or criminality due to childhood abuse. The review of literature reveals that a community-based effort that is collaborative in nature and that integrates the many levels of the community into a dynamic process of intervention and prevention is one most likely to succeed. Recommendations of this study include the recommendation that further and deeper research effort be applied toward the establishment of a knowledge base that has the potential to contribute to development of appropriate treatment and interventions. This work makes recommendations for a restructuring of the community-based service provisions for families with domestic violence and child abuse issues. This program implementation would be on a community-wide basis with the central heart of the operation being a community transition and transformation services home center that worked in a close and collaborative relationship with all other service agencies in the community in bringing about a community-based transformation in the lives of families and individuals throughout the community.
Outline:
Abstract
Objective
Introduction
Significance of the Study
Methodology
Literature Review
Summary of the Literature Reviewed
Findings of the Study
Recommendations for Future Research
From the Paper "The woman who has been beaten may withdraw from the family, which often results in child neglect, and the stress associated with domestic violence may cause women who are at risk for violence to resort to violence. It is also held by researchers that some abused women, in an effort to protect them from the batterer punish the children too harshly. Children who have not experienced physical abuse may still become traumatized over having witnessed domestic violence. Furthermore, children often imitate the behavior they observe and victimize other children while alternatively they may adopt the role of the victim and become withdrawn. Finally the child witnessing domestic abuse or being abused, neglected or victimized may developmentally fail to acquire the ability to control their temper or expression themselves emotionally."
Abstract Today, deviance and crime plague American society. There are vast degrees of deviance, including a simple shoplifter, a car theft, or the killing machine with no conscience, otherwise known as the serial killer. But how is this killing machine created? Where and how does this type of criminalbehavior begin? The paper explains that answers to these questions must be addressed in order to stop the formation of this deviance. The essay investigates the life of one of the most infamous serial killers, Henry Lee Lucas, to answer these questions. In a search for the answer, the question of nature vs. nurture is inevitably brought up. Scientists and psychologists have debated whether a child's upbringing forms behavior or whether an individual is born with a personality. Most scientists believe that biological dysfunctions and physical illnesses are the factors that bring on this type of deviance. Most psychologists will argue family, society, environment, and the media cause criminalbehavior. While many factors contribute to this frightening deviance, the root of criminalbehavior lies in the home and the family structure of children. The ability to understand and repair such deviance prevents people from becoming either victim or victimizer.
From the Paper "Exposure to extreme violence in childhood can also lead to violent behavior in the child. In the Lucas household, violence was, for the most part, the only type of behavior exhibited. Lucas grew up believing that this was normal, so his tolerance level for violence remained abnormal. Marshall B. Clinard and Robert F. Meier, authors of Sociology of Deviant Behavior, describe, "a person becomes deviant because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of norms over definitions unfavorable to violations of norms"the predominance of deviant definitions leads to deviant behavior? (86). In other words, everything that went on in the Lucas household defied all the norms of society, but to Lucas, even though these weren?t the norms of the larger society, they became the norms for his behavior because he grew up with them and did not know any differently."
A discussion of risk factors for adolescents and the development of antisocial behavior and the role of school and family in the development of deviant and criminalbehavior.
Abstract This paper discusses the impact of schools and family on future deviant or criminalbehavior and discusses the proven correlation between negative school and family environments and future deviant or criminalbehavior. It describes risk factors for adolescents and the development of antisocial behavior. The paper looks at the role of escape conditioning during family interactions in the development of aggressive and antisocial behavior and discusses the application of the social learning theory.
From the Paper "According to Williams (2000) Long Beach school officials found that in the year following implementation of the school uniform policy, overall school crime decreased thirty-six percent, fights decreased fifty-one percent, sex offenses decreased seventy-four percent, weapons offenses decreased fifty percent, assault and battery offenses decreased thirty-four percent, and vandalism decreased eighteen percent. Unexpectedly, fewer than one percent of the students have elected to opt out of the uniform policy."
"Some school systems have allowed students to decide whether to wear uniform clothing, but others have determined that a mandatory school uniform policy with no opt out provision is necessary to address a disruptive atmosphere. According to Cruz (2001) a Phoenix, Arizona school, for example, adopted a mandatory uniform policy requiring all of its students to wear school uniforms, or if they choose to defy the policy, attend another public school. Encouragingly, this Phoenix school uniform policy was recently upheld by a state trial court."
Abstract This essay examines crime and deviance, looking at the different theories on what causes criminalbehavior with the main focus on the family and childhood. The author pays particular attention to the case of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, exploring his childhood and linking it to his criminalbehavior.
From the Paper "Today, deviance and crime plague American society. There are vast degrees of deviance, from a simple shoplifter, to a car theft, to a killing machine with no conscience, otherwise known as the serial killer. But how is this killing machine created? Where and how does this type of criminal behavior begin? The answers to these questions must be addressed in order to stop the formation of this deviance. This essay will investigate the life of one of the most infamous serial killers, Henry Lee Lucas, to answer these questions. In the search for the answer, the question of nature vs. nurture is inevitably brought up. Scientists and psychologists have debated over whether a child's upbringing forms their behavior or whether they are born with a personality. Most scientists believe that biological dysfunctions and physical illnesses are the factors that bring on this type of deviance. Most psychologists will argue family, society, environment, and the media cause criminal behavior. While many factors contribute to this frightening deviance, but the root of criminal behavior lies in the home and the family structure of children."
