PART ONE: CHAPTER 7
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Box A: THEORY 1: Merton’s Theory of Anomie. THEORY 2: Sutherland’s theory of differential association. |
| Box B: Merton’s theory of anomie explains that crime is caused by a dysfunction between the American dream and the means of achieving it. It further explains that ethnic structures and success offer different access to the American dream of success. According to Merton, crimes are committed when there are discrepancies in the social goals of a person or group and the means available for achieving them. The opportunities for achieving the American dream of success are not available at all. However, American society continues to put people's social worth on their material prosperity. As a result, crime is caused by the very values of a community that encourages individuals to attain success by an individual upon a large number of materials yet does not provide an approved means to achieve this. |
| Box C: According to Sutherland’s theory of differential association , having an excess of contacts of people with criminal minds predisposes them to become criminals. As a result, a person will learn and accept illegal values. It further states that individuals' personalities develop and change in the course of interaction and socialization. Therefore, one's character is the total of the impressions he perceives on the evaluation of others. This socialization process is primarily influenced by people who are most important to the individual. As a result, this theory states that crime is a learned social phenomenon. |
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Box D: In both theories, crime is as a result of social influences. Besides, in both theories, people resolve to crime because of the advantages of breaking the law outweighs the disadvantages associated with it. Both theories explain that criminal behavior is an expression of needs and values. |
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Box E: While Merton’s theory associates crime to the American dream of success and little or no lawful opportunities to achieve it, Sutherland’s theory associates crime with associations or contacts with delinquent behavioral patterns or criminals. Besides, Merton’s theory majors on criminality among the low class and ignores crime among the elite groups. On the contrary, Sutherland's theory majors on both low and high class as long as one has access to an excess of criminal contacts. Whereas Sutherland's theory focuses on all kinds of criminal behaviors, Merton's approach focuses on materialistically or financially oriented crime and, as a result, ignores violent, illegal activities. These theories are also different in that Merton's theory explains why people become associated with criminals, that is, to achieve the American dream. However, Sutherland's approach does not explain why people have the associations they have despite that being the basis of the theory. |
| Box F: I agree most with Merton's theory. Sutherland's theory explains criminal behavior well. However, it does not explain why people have such associations. Therefore, I don't agree because being a criminal is risky, and it is less likely for someone to become a criminal just for fun. I think the "why" is the main thing. Merton's theory, as seen above, has explained criminal behavior in detail and, besides, also putting in mind that most crimes are committed by people attempting to climb up the ladder of social success. The only limitation is that it does not explain criminal behavior by elite groups and does not explain violent crimes. This could be because people from high social classes do so to keep their success. After all, it is never enough to achieve your American dream; you also have to maintain it. Besides, in the course of wanting to be successful, there may be barriers that result in violence. |
| Box G: Cybercrime. People take part in cybercrime majorly for material gain. For instance, getting access to the details of multimillion-dollar companies or even large banks enable cybercriminals to get away with fortunes. This, in return, can bring them towards achieving their American dreams of success. Therefore, the solution would be to first ensure stable securities for companies' essential details that could give it away and frequent monitoring of the security systems. Besides, the government creating more opportunities for people to attain success and encouraging other views of progress other than from a materialistic point of view can be a good policy for intervention. |
PART TWO: CHAPTER 8
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BOX H THEORY 1: Elliott’s integrative theory. THEORY 2: Lemert’s secondary deviance. |
| Box B: Basing on Delbert Elliott's integrative theory, strain variables and bonding have minimal effect on delinquency. Social learning is more significant since bonding to delinquent peers has an impact on minor crimes. As a result, the social bond theory is less meaningful than the social learning theory perspective. |
| Box I: Lemert’s theory of secondary deviance talks about the primary deviance itself and the psychological reorganization in an individual when he or she has been labeled a deviant. It further explains that once this discrediting mark is attached, the individual may come to identify with this new identity since it might be challenging to escape. |
| Box J: Both theories are based on social interactions and perceptions |
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Box K: Lembert’s theory explains that deviance results from societal control and stigma, while Elliott’s theory explains crime to result from social learning by dominant groups. In Lembert’s theory, the individual is forced to become a criminal as a result of stigma. In contrast, in Elliott's approach, the individual decides on his own accord to learn illegal activities. Lambert's theory fails to explain the reason for the primary deviance, while Elliott's approach gives a detailed explanation of how an individual starts criminal activities. |
| Box L: I agree most with Elliott’s theory. Lambert's theory blames society for an individual's criminal activities, and it does not explain the initial deviance of criminals. Elliot's theory distinguishes which type of bonding can lead to deviance behavior. It acknowledges that while bonding is significant to delinquency, only bonding with criminals can lead to criminal activities. |
| Box M: Sexual assault. People who associate with rapists, for example, start to exhibit delinquent behaviors of other forms of sexual assault as a result of social learning. Elliott's theory would favor policies such as jail sentencing of the criminals to be an example for others and strategies that teach youth how to have self-control and maintain a good company. |
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