Theories of Delinquency

What to look for in a theory

• What are the central concepts (causes)• Is the theory empirically supported?

– Survey research, experimental research

• Does the theory make an assumption about human nature?

• What are the policy implications?– Every theory has a policy implication– Every policy implication is derived from a

theory

Individual Level Sociological Theories:

• The Big 3 – Social Learning Theory– Social Control Theory– Strain/Anomie Theory

• Others:– Deterrence Theory– Labeling Theory

Social Learning Theory

• Edwin Sutherland– Differential Association Theory– Crime learned in intimate personal groups

• Communication, “definitions” and techniques

• Ronald Akers’ Social Learning Theory– Differential Associations, Definitions, Imitation,

Differential Reinforcement (Process)

Evaluating Social Learning

• Empirical Support– Delinquent Values, Delinquent Peers

• Assumptions about human nature?

• Policy implications?– Use learning to shape behavior away from

crime and towards prosocial activity

Strain Theory

• Robert K. Merton– Social Structure and Anomie– The “American Dream” is criminogenic– Modes of Adaptation

• Rebellion • Innovation• Retreatism

• Heavily Criticized:– Why do people adapt do strain differently?– Only explain lower class, economic crime– Poor empirical support

Evaluating Strain

• Agnew’s General Strain Theory• Strain = stress, some people better equipped to

handle stress• More empirical support

• Policy implication of strain theories?

• Assumption about human nature?

Informal Social Control Theory“Control” theories

• Three Types of Informal Social Control– Direct– Indirect– Internal

• Hirschi’s social bond theory• Gottfredson and Hirschi’s “Low Self-Control”• Gerald Patterson’s Social Interactional Theory

Evaluating Control Theory

• Direct Control Supported Most (parenting)

• Some support for “bonds”

• Assumption about human nature?

• Policy Implications?

Review of the “Big 3”

• Social Learning Theory

• Social Control Theory

• Strain Theory

Deterrence Theory

• Like “control” theory, but emphasize formal control– Swift Certain Severe punishment reduces

crime– Specific vs. General Deterrence– “Marginal Deterrence”

Evaluating Deterrence

• General Deterrence– Death penalty, clearance rates (certainty), etc

• Specific Deterrence– Regular probation vs. ISP– The effect of “arrest” or “imprisonment”

• Sherman’s D.V. studies

• Policy Implications?

• Assumption about human nature?

Rational Choice Theory

• Flipside of Deterrence:– How “rational” are delinquents?

• The “criminal event” and “criminal involvement”

• Policy Implication of the Criminal Event– “Situational Crime Prevention”

Labeling Theory

• Context of the 1960s/1970s

• Theory with “ironic twist”– Government intervention designed to help

kids actually makes matters worse

• Arrest change in self concept change in behavior (secondary deviance)

Evaluating Labeling

• Empirical tests difficult– Effect of arrest? (See p. 90 of book)

• Assumption about human nature?

• Policy Implications– OJJDP 1974– The “Four D’s”

Recent Revisions of Labeling

• “Informal” labeling

• John Braithewaite– Crime Shame and Reintegration– “Reintegrative Shaming”

• Deterrence and labeling theory both wrong…and both right

Macro Level Explanations

• Focus on differences in group rates across some “aggregate”– State, city, neighborhood, country

– Example: Social Disorganization Theory

History of Social D.

• Chicago School of Crime– Theories of the “city” and the “immigrant”– Concentric Zones and city growth– Shaw and McKay

• Methodology• Findings

The Decline and Resurgence

• Decline in Popularity– Number of Criticisms (official data, classist/racist)

• Resurgence (1980s-present)– Recast as “social control”– Consistent empirical support

Ecological Social Control Crime(Collective Efficacy)

• Policy Implications?• The “Truly Disadvantaged” and Concentration of

Poverty

What to Make of Poverty, Unemployment, or SES

• Cox et al. Book: Delinquency spread evenly across classes: Is this true?– Self-report data (limitations)– Individual vs. Aggregate (neighborhoods)

• Hinges on what type of delinquency you are talking about

• New role of poverty in theory– Old theory rather simplistic (blocked opportunity)– Newer: effects on family, neighborhood, catch up with

children

Psychological Theories

• Behaviorism (Overlap with learning and control theories in sociology)– Operant conditioning = “direct control”– Vicarious learning = “social learning”

• Personality

• IQ

• Cognitive – Again, overlap with sociological theory

Biological Explanations

• Genetics

• Neurological Deficits

• Biological Harms– Pre/Perinatal risk– Toxins (Lead)

• Theories? “Biosocial”– Moffitt’s Dual Taxonomy

Feminist Theory

• Feminist theory and the JJS

• Feminism and Theories of Delinquency– The Gender Ratio– The Gender Gap

Debates

• Doing Research—Specific Web sites, what is a “good” source