Term Paper on "Sociology Families, Delinquency and Crime"

Term Paper 4 pages (1380 words) Sources: 3 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Sociology

Families, Delinquency and Crime

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and analyze the topic of delinquency and crime. Specifically, it will compare and contrast two sociological theories that apply to delinquent behaviors, including major theorists in the area of sociology and delinquent crime. Delinquency, combined with gang membership may be one of the most pervasive problems facing American society today. Sociologists discuss group influences, social conditioning, and other factors when they discuss the sociological approach to crime. They offer several theories for delinquency, including the cultural deviance theories and social control theories, which this paper will address.

The social control theory of juvenile delinquency believes that social learning and socialization, which teaches self-control and reduces the need to participate in antisocial or deviant behavior, can control delinquency. Two experts note, "Within the framework of social control theory, the more the youths are attached, committed, and believe in the moral validity of the social norms, the stronger are their social bonds and the less likely they are to commit delinquent acts (Geiger & Fischer, 1995, p. 69). The social control theory is broken down into four distinct types, which include direct, indirect, internal, and control through needs satisfaction. Direct control includes punishment for deviant behavior and rewards for normal, approved behavior. Indirect includes the youth's own choice not to engage in deviant behavior because of their own conscience or ego. Internal includes controls that help prevent deviant behavior because of what it would do to other close family members or friends, and finally, the needs satisfaction type that recognizes when all needs are met, there is no need for deviant behavior. This theory literally uses the beliefs and value systems of a person to show that deviant behavior comes when beliefs and values are skewed. Most often, beliefs and values are passed along to children from their families, which makes the family unit extremely responsible for the actions and belief systems of their children. Thus, children from happier more bonded and "normal" family units will have less of a need to commit deviant acts of juvenile delinquency and violence. One of the leading social control theorists, Hirschi said, "[C]hildren who are attached to many significant others and have various avenues of commitment have additional stakes in conformity and stronger beliefs in the moral validity of the social norms. They are therefore less likely to deviate" Geiger & Fischer, 1995, p. 69). This takes into account morals and societal values, and the agreed on cultural belief systems of a particular group, neighborhood, or community, as well.

In contrast, the cultural deviance theory is directly opposed to the social control theory. Cultural deviance theory proposes that the subculture and environment have vast influence on the juvenile, and pressures the juvenile to deviate from accepted norms and become delinquent and commit crimes. Expert Hirschi notes, "According to cultural deviance theories, the deviant conforms to a set of standards not accepted by a larger or more powerful society" (Hirschi, 2002, p. 3). Thus, these two theories offer two very different approaches to why crimes are committed and what causes juveniles to choose crime over conformity. The control theory believes laws and morals prevent deviance, while the cultural deviance theory believes morals, peer pressure, and the individual's environment all combine to cause deviant behavior.

Obviously, both of these theories have their basis in deviant behavior and what prevents it. However, the influence of family is recognized in the control theory, as they are part of the overall influences that shape an individual's morals and ideals, and help them decide whether to abide by the laws or not. Family teaches the correct morals and social behavior in the control theory and the individual abides by these morals because they know they are the "right" thing to do. However, the individual is more swayed by peer pressure and societal pressures in the cultural deviance theory, and that their own conditions and what society expects of "successful" people push them into choosing deviant behavior to get the things they feel they need or must have to survive and thrive. In addition, these theories believe that individuals… READ MORE

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