Contemporary Theories of Crime

Contemporary Theories of Crime Name Institution Due Date Contemporary Theories of Crime Introduction There are many theories that attempt to explain the root of juvenile delinquency. One of the theories is Differential association theory by Sutherland which he presented as processual. Sutherland argued that people commit a crime when they define the crime as acceptable and there is an explicit connection between people and their ideas CITATION Edg92 \l 1033 (Borgatta & Borgatta, 1992). The process of defining some ideas as acceptable is mainly through interacting with others learning their ideas, attitudes, techniques, motives and criminal behavior. For someone to learn a particular behavior, he/she must define it favorably and in isolation with those who define it unfavorably. When the favorability of the behavior outweighs the unfavorable definition of it, the person learns and normalizes the behavior. Sutherland’s theory of differential association theory attempts to explain conformity and deviation. Additionally, CITATION Ron11 \l 1033 (Akers, 2011) points out that Sutherland theorized that the underlying causes of crimes are conflict and social disorganization and they determine the patterns of differential association which he used to come up with the nine propositions of his theory. Summary of the Differential Association Theory Sutherland as authored in CITATION Wal05 \l 1033 (DeKeseredy, Ellis, & Alvi, 2005) fronted nine propositions to explain differential association theory * Criminal behavior is learned * Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication * The principal part of learning of criminal behavior occurs in intimate personal groups * When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes (1) techniques of committing the crime, which are sometimes very complicated and other times very simple, and (2) the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalization and attitudes * The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable * A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to the violation of law over definitions unfavorable to the violation of law * Differential association may vary in frequency, duration, priority and intensity * The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anticriminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning * Although criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, because noncriminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values From the above propositions, Sutherland’s theory is pegged on several assumptions; first, a theory is learned from other people through interactions with them. Thus, a juvenile learns his or her delinquent behavior from the people he/she interacts with. It asserts the commonly held assumption that if a child continually interacts with criminals, he/she will eventually become a criminal. Secondly, the process of learning to commit a certain crime entails the techniques, motives and attitudes of committing it. Mostly, the criminals have justifications for their behavior and therefore they pass their ra...