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Law
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English (U.S.)
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Topic:

Theoretical Explanations of Juvenile Delinquency

Essay Instructions:

The Week 2 and 3 lessons in this course focused upon various theoretical explanations for why juvenile delinquency occurs. As highlighted in these lessons, the theoretical views can be categorized into the following groupings: (1) Individual causes; (2) Societal causes; (3) Social process; and (4) Social interaction.
Compose an essay of 500 – 700 words in a Word Document, which you will upload as an attachment. Explain the primary differences in the types of theories that fall into each of these four groupings. As part of your response utilize examples of theories that fall within each grouping, being sure to explain why those theories best align with the group you identified as opposed to another grouping.
Directly quoted material may be used, but will not count towards the minimum word count. Be sure to support your response with cited scholarly resources as required by APA. A minimum of three (3) peer-reviewed scholarly sources must be used when composing your response.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Theoretical Explanations of Juvenile Delinquency
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Theoretical Explanations of Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile delinquency results from several factors that range from poor access to education and a breakdown of the family structure. These factors can be classified into four main groups: (1) individual causes; (2) societal causes; (3) Social process; and (4) Social interaction. There are three theories that attempt to explain the juvenile’s actions: anomie theory, subculture theory, and differential opportunity theory. All these theories provide different reasons for the engagement in crime by these young people.
The Anomie Theory
This theory was established in the 1940s by Robert Merton and attributes juvenile delinquency to the inability of the juveniles to make themselves happy. According to this theory, since these young ones have the desires that they cannot fulfil legally, they are tempted to resort to unlawful means to attain them (Bernburg, 2019). This theory explains the individual causes of juvenile delinquency that include biological, psychological, behavioral, and cognitive factors. For example, a juvenile with a goal to get a job and purchase a car but is unable to get the job and purchase the car he desires may be tempted to engage in criminal activities to supplement his income and get the car. This is a behavioral factor, which depends on the individual, rather than the society.
The Subculture Theory
This theory was established in 1955 by Albert Cohen and comprises several of his previous theories. According to this theory, juveniles unable to meet the social standards tend to seek validation from a subculture. The subculture entails a group comprising other juveniles who also do not meet the social standards (Nwalozie, 2015). The individuals then act in manners that are not socially acceptable and rebel against the socially acceptable standards. This theory explains the societal causes of juvenile deli...
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