Theories of delinquency

TheoriesDeterrenceFree will, rational choicesSwiftness, certainty and severity of punishmentBelief in certainty of apprehension the most important factor, most direct relationshipSeverity of punishment does not appear to have a direct effect

BiologicalMorphological: little support, except for mesomorphic body buildInheritance: some supportOther biological factors: diet, head injuries, EEG findings, birth problems, lead poisoning, hormonesFAS, other drugs, LD, ADHD (prenatal care)

Psychological conceptsPsychoanalytic approachPersonality (personality disorders)Mental illnessLearning theory: reinforcement, findings on punishment (immediacy, consistency, punishing enough without being excessive, alternative behaviors that are reinforced)Moral development research

Social structureEcological theoryCity zonesTransitional, (interstitial) areas, poverty, cultural heterogeneity, mobilityCriminal and victims tend to live in these areasSocial disorganization theory (alienation, cultural heterogeneity and lack of common value system, less cohesion, less informal control

Strain theoryPeople who cannot achieve societal goals will experience strainU.S.: emphasis on getting ahead and being materially successful, having money, prestige, power through skill, education and hard workPeople react in different ways to this strainCriminals may try to achieve some measure of material success through crime

General strain theoryIndividuals who are stressed may commit crimesCultural goal of success may apply less to juvenilesAnger, frustration, disappointment, depression and fear generated by negative social relationsNot only economic goals but other noneconomic ones having to do with relationships

Consensus Durkheim and alienationNormlessnessDifficulty to control societys members when there is a lack of consensus about appropriate behaviorIncreasing lack of consensus in modern, diverse complex societies

Subculture theoriesSet of norms, values and beliefs different from those of the mainstream cultureWhen these are at odds with those of the larger culture, members of the subculture and more likely to get into troubleExample of cults (Waco and Ruby Ridge)Cohens middle class measuring rod (education and delaying gratification)

SubcultureStatus frustration, may rebel and act in opposition to the middle classDifferential opportunity theoryYouths have the goal of economic success and middle class membershipIf they cannot get those through mainstream methods they might turn to delinquent subculture

Subculture There is a stratified mainstream opportunity structure (for example, college is more readily available to some students, and opportunities available through colleges also vary, not all opportunities are available)There is also a stratified illegitimate opportunity structure, need for connections to successfully carry out crimes

Subculture Exemplified in criminal gangs (access to older offenders, criminal opportunities), conflict gangs (less structures available, crime tends to be unorganized and spontaneous, less lucrative), and retreatist gangs (little access to either legitimate or illegitimate opportunity structures)

SubcultureMiller and lower class cultureAfter 2 years of observation, argued that lower class values found in poor areas differ from those in mainstream societyDelinquency may occur when youths are following norms and values of their immediate environment that put them in violation of the law (i.e., fighting, conning people)

Social processDifferential association: learning from peers, associatesAssociations affected by frequency of association, duration of the association, priority (age at which association is first made), and intensity (prestige and emotional bond to the associationMore definitions favorable to violating the law

Delinquency and drift Mental techniques (rationalizations) may help shield a person from being guiltyYouths may use these techniques of neutralization to allow themselves to commit delinquent acts (drift), and then back into conventional behaviorDenial of responsibility (not my fault, I did not mean to do it)

Drift Denial of injury: didnt hurt anyoneDenial of victim: victim is unworthy and deserved what they gotCondemnation of others: shift blame to other people, i.e., other people are corrupt or at fault and people are just picking on me when others are guiltyHigher loyalties: did it for my friends

Social controlAttachment, commitment, involvement and beliefSelf-control theory: self control is the ability to control ones behavior. Those who commit delinquent acts have low self-controlimpulsive, insensitive to others and need immediate gratification, caused by inadequate parenting practices

Labeling Primary and secondary deviancePrimary can lead to status degradation ceremonies, leading to labeling and then to secondary deviance, deviance that is the result of being labeledDiversion, due process, deinstitutionalization

Conflict theoryDelinquent behavior is due to conflict in society that comes about because of the distribution of wealth and powerConstant conflict in societies, some more than othersConflict over issues, about the distribution of wealth, about who gets to decide

Conflict Poor more likely to be prosecuted for crimes because they have little power and no wealth to protect themDelinquents more likely to be adjudicated, middle class more likely to be diverted to programs that their parents can pay for (rationale of probation officers and others for this)

Marxian theoryPoor are exploited by the wealthy who take advantage of their wealth and power to make workers work hard for very littleThe more the wealthy can get out of the workers for less money, the more profit for themTherefore there is a tendency to exploitUse to have a cheap desperate labor supplyIf workers are kept poor, this creates the conditions for crime