IV. Life Lessons and Criminal Behavior Crime Causation Worksheets (Click Here) (Word Doc)
A. Family, friends, and the media: Social processes of crime
1. Function on the basis that potential for criminal behavior exists in everyone and will be realized depending on the individual’s interaction with various institutions
B. Learning theory Video (Click Here)
1. Popularized by Edwin Sutherland and his theory of differential association
2. Sees crime as learned behavior, where the “teacher” is usually a family member or a friend who exposes the “student” to criminal behavior
Teaching child to steal video (Click Here)
C. Control theory
1. Hirschi’s control theory suggests that social bonds promote conformity
2. All people have the potential to commit crimes, most are dissuaded because they care about the opinions of family and peers
D. Labeling theory Video - (Click Here)
1. Contends that if someone is labeled “delinquent” or “criminal” by authority figures, there is a better chance that person will consider himself or herself as such and continue the criminal behavior
2. Society creates crime and criminals by labeling certain behaviors
i. Divert youth from formal juvenile justice process to prevent them from being labeled as “delinquent”
ii. Schools implement programs to steer children away from crime by encouraging them to “just say no” to drugs and stay in school
E. Social process theory and public policy
F. Looking back to childhood: Life course theories of crime
1. Believe that lying, stealing, bullying, and other conduct problems that occur in childhood are the strongest predictors of future criminal behavior
G. Self-Control theory
1. Michael Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi
i. Propose a general theory of crime
ii. Believe that criminal behavior is linked to “low self-control,” a personality trait that is formed before a child reaches the age of 10 and can usually be attributed to poor parenting
iii. Someone with low self-control is generally impulsive, thrill seeking, and likely to problem solve with violence rather than intellect
iv. Both theorists subscribe to the continuity theory of crime, which essentially asserts that once negative behavior patterns have been established they cannot be changed
H. The possibility of change
1. Can be separated into two groups
i. Life-course persistent offenders
a. Biting at five, skipping school at ten, steal cars at sixteen
ii. Adolescent-limited offenders
a. Life of crime is limited to teenage years
I. Life course theories and public policy