SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES
4. CULTURE DEVIANCE THEORY
The theory states that the individual is not responsible for their deviance
as much as the community within which they reside. People are influenced
by the place, people and social structure of the community in which they
reside.
The major tenet of cultural deviance theory is that conformity to the
prevailing cultural norms of lower class society causes crime. Lower class
subculture has a unique set of values and beliefs, which are invariably in
conflict with conventional social norms. Criminality is an expression of
conformity to lower class sub cultural values.
Members of the working class commits crimes as they responds to the
cultural norms of their own class in an effort to deal with problems of
social -middle class- adjustment.
5.DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY
Differential Association Theory is one of many sociological theories that
aims to explain why people commit deviant acts Differential Association
Theory was proposed and developed by Edwin Sutherland in the late
1930s and early 1940s. In developing the theory, Sutherland dismissed
the notion that individual variants such as age and gender adequately
explained criminal involvement. Differential Association Theory stresses
the impact that others have on one's view of deviant behavior and the
law.
The theory relies on the social context of individuals to explain individual
behaviors. Individuals learn deviant behavior through the same
mechanisms that they learn other behaviors: through exposure to primary
and intimate social contacts. However, he noted that mere exposure to
deviant people does not necessarily result in one behaving in a criminal or
deviant manner. Rather, he suggested that the mechanisms involved in
whether or not deviant behavior or criminal acts take place are more
complex. He suggested that even when one is of a mindset to commit a
deviant or criminal act, the social context of the situation must be
perceived by the individual as an opportunity to commit the deviant or
criminal act.
Sutherland's Propositions for Differential Association Theory
1. Criminal behavior is learned.
2. Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a
process of communication.
3. The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within
intimate personal groups.
4. When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes (a) techniques
of committing the crime, which are sometimes very complicated,
sometimes very simple, and (b) the specific direction of motives, drives,
rationalizations, and attitudes.
5. The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions
of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable.
6. A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions
favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of the
law.
7. The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal
and anti-criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are
involved in any other learning.
8. Although criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and
values, it is not explained by those general needs and values, because
noncriminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values.
9. Differential association varies in frequency, duration, priority, and
intensity. The most frequent, longest running, earliest and closest
influences will be most efficacious or determinant of learned behavior.
6. SOCIAL BOND THEORY/SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY
Developed by American criminologist Travis Hirschi in the late 1960s,
social bond theory is sometimes referred to as social control theory. It is
the belief that socialization and the forming of personal relationships are
among the most significant aspects of human development that keep us
from committing crimes or other acts of social deviance.
For example, because people have formed many relationships with family
members and peers over the course of their lives and have unofficially
accepted the social conditions and expectations that come with being part
of a society, they are unlikely to commit crimes against another person.
According to social bond theory, this is because people recognize that
they are dependent on others for whom they have empathy and because
they have accepted that such acts have negative consequences, like
going to prison.
Fundamentally, social bond theory is a framework that criminologists and
sociologists use to explain why a person would decide to engage in
criminal behavior. In order to address such a complicated and confusing
issue, Hirschi has identified four major elements that can help social
scientists arrive at a conclusion. It's important to keep in mind that rather
than stand alone, these four elements tend to overlap and influence the
others.
Key components of social bonds are:
1. Attachment
How strong or weak is an individual's relationship with others? Do these
others expect certain kinds of behaviour (such as obeying the law) from
this individual? The stronger the attachment and the stronger the
expectations, the more likely it is that the individual will conform.
2. Commitment
The more an individual commits his/herself to a particular lifestyle (for
example, being married, being a parent, having a job), the more he/she
has to lose if he/she becomes involved in crime (and so deviate from the
lifestyle).
3. Involvement
This component comes down to time - the more time the individual
spends engaging in law abiding behaviour, the less time he/she has to
engage in law breaking behaviour.
4. Belief
This relates to upbringing. If an individual has been brought up to be law
abiding, they are less likely to become involved in crime.
