Factors Influencing Deviant Or Criminal Behavior - 932 Words

In previous summaries it was discussed that there are numerous theories that attempt to explain criminal behavior including biological, psychological, social, economic etc. These theories share a common understanding that there are factors influencing deviant or criminal behavior that predispose some individuals to aggressive, violent or criminal behavior. While these theories give a convincing argument that crime is caused by biological, psychological, social and economic factors. They tend to focus on one train of thought and excluding other factors that play a major role in crime causation. This often results in limited understanding of a phenomena and can cause one to miss the â€Å"big picture.† In this summary, it is argued that people are not born good or bad, instead, they learn to be good or bad based on their surrounding environment and their definition of the situation. No one is immune to deviant or criminal behavior. In fact, one can argue that we are all criminal. We have all been guilty of breaking the law at one point or another in life. What separates us from other criminals is the fact that we were not caught or labelled as such. The line between deviant or criminal and noncriminal behavior is very thin. Everyone has the potential to become a criminal, but most are controlled by the bond to society (Hirschi, 1969). As argued by social learning theories, individuals learn criminal behavior through observation and interactions with others. This goes withoutShow MoreRelatedDeviance And Its Effect On Society Essay1436 Words   |  6 PagesDeviance is any behavior that does not conform to the dominant norms or values in a society or social group. Deviance can be either non-criminal or criminal. In today’s society, citizens view deviance behavior as activities that are associated with alcoholism, larceny, lying, gambling, cross-dressing, wa lking around nude in public places, and so forth. These are just a few examples of what societal members view as deviance. People who decide to engage in such behavior are declared to be deviants. The conceptRead MoreAre Criminals Born or Made?1016 Words   |  5 PagesAre criminals born or made? A criminal is defined as someone who has committed a crime. Psychologists have come up with many theories and reasons about why people commit crimes. The two main explanations lie in genetic and environmental factors, which relates to the nature and nurture debate. Studies have been carried out to explain criminal behavior. Some suggest that criminals are born; these are twin and adoption studies. On the other hand there are also studies that have been conducted to proveRead MoreThe Theory Of Differential Association Essay1501 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Why do criminals commit crime? How to we learn to commit crime? These questions can be answered using social learning theory. Social learning approach is the assumption that all human behavior is socially learned (Thompson, Bynum 2013 115). The theory of differential association was developed by Edwin Sutherland to try and explain the development of criminal behavior. Essentially what this theory says is that deviant group behavior results from normative conflict. Normative conflictRead MoreThe Nature And Structure Of Criminal Behavior1707 Words   |  7 Pagesorigins of deviant behavior in the society. However, in order to understand the nature and structure of criminal behavior, there is need to understand a myriad of factors, such as societal functions, beliefs, norms, values, as well as sanctions. All these are part of a system in the society, and they play a significant role in influencing the behavior of individuals. For this reason, scholars have come up with social theories, which aim to explain why some individuals indulge themselves in deviant actsRead MoreHotel Rwanda vs. Erin Brockovich1660 Words   |  7 PagesDifferent Ways to Murder Thousands of People Hotel Rwanda and Erin Brockovich are two provocative films that take a look at separate deviant acts but still present similar dangerous social problems. The conflicts that are portrayed are different in the means of operation but both share a similar end with the endangerment of thousands of people. We will examine how these deviant decisions affect both their societies and the reasons behind these atrocious acts. Hotel Rwanda is a very graphic film filledRead MoreA Norm Is A Rule Of Behavior Of Individuals In Society1491 Words   |  6 PagesA norm is a rule of behavior of individuals in society or groups, Emile Durkheim sociological founder considered norms to be social factors that exist in individual’s society of independence that creates the shapes of our behaviors and thoughts (Crossman, 2017). In the terms of not having sociality without social control the society would have no function without enforcing social orders that make daily life and the complex division of labor possible (Crossman, 2017). Social order is produced byRead MoreInfluences Of Social Bonds And Perceived Social Expectations On Adolescent Deviant Behavior Essay1172 Words   |  5 PagesInfluences of Social Bonds and Perceived Social Expectations on Adolescent Deviant Behavior Although juvenile arrest rates have declined by 65% from 1996 to 2014 (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2015), juvenile delinquency is undoubtedly still a concern for practitioners, communities, and policy-makers in the United States. Seeking explanations of adolescent delinquency is a continuing quest by the social sciences to aid prevention and intervention efforts. Several questsRead MoreCauses Of Crime : Theory Reflection1680 Words   |  7 PagesCauses of Crime: Theory Reflection There are rarely simple answers when it comes to human behavior. Criminological theories have evolved greatly over the years as new measuring tools have become available, more communication pathways available for researchers to work together, and as the world has changed and advanced in numerous ways. The platform of criminal theories has evolved from primarily focusing on the individual, to looking towards the environmental and social influences, and on to encompassRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency Should Be Punished Or Rehabilitated For Their Crimes1094 Words   |  5 Pagesmust first be obtained and data analyzed for conclusions. There are specific traits that juveniles have that help determine the risk of delinquency in a child. These can be caused by a vast number of environmental factors ranging from simple peer pressure to as grave as relying on deviant acts for survival due to parental neglect or abuse. A big problem with the solution to delinquency is whether delinquents shou ld be punished or rehabilitated for their crimes. A child is at risk of becoming delinquentRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency Week 8 Jose1344 Words   |  6 Pagesinvolvement in deviant activities such as fighting and causing mayhem. It is widely believed that this was necessitated by the fact that his father was also a heroin addict. Substance abuse has tendencies of inhibiting ones senses and may cause someone to engage in activities he wouldn’t engage in if would he be in his right mind. Such are examples of family or community related factors that have increased the levels of child delinquency on society today. The intelligence of parents is the main factor (Rutter