Juvenile Justice Chapter 4

First Two social theories

Social Structure Theories, Social Process Theories

Theories within Social Structure Theories

Social Disorganization Theory, Strain Theory, Cultural Deviance Theory

Theories within Social Disorganization Theory

Concentric Zones Theory, Social Ecology Theory

Theories within Strain Theory

Anomie Theory, Institutional Anomie Theory, General Strain Theory

Theories within Cultural Deviance Theory

Focal Concern Theory, Delinquent Subculture Theory, Differential Opportunity Theory

Author of Social Disorganization Theory

Shaw and McKay

Author of Strain Theory and Anomie Theory

Robert Merton

Author of Institutional Strain Theory

Messner and Rosenfeld

Author of General Strain Theory

Robert Agnew

Author of Focal Concern Theory

Walter Miller

Author of Delinquent Subculture Theory

Albert Cohen

Author of Differential Opportunity Theory

Cloward and Ohlin

Theories within Social Process Theories

Social Learning Theory, Social Control Theory

Theories within Social Learning Theory

Differential Association Theory, Neutralization Theory

Theories within Social Control Theory

Social Bond Theory

Author of Social Learning Theory

Akers and Burgess

Author of Differential Association Theory

Sutherland

Author of Social Control Theory and Social Bond Theory

Hirschi

Albert Cohen’s 1955 book, Delinquent Boys, theorized that lower class boys who reject middle class culture fit into what three subcultures

Corner Boy, College Boy, Delinquent Boy

What is the Corner Boy?

Most common type: not a chronic delinquent but may be truant and engage in petty/status offenses, aware of his failure to achieve American dream/middle class values but finds comfort in lower class peers who reinforce delinquent behavior

What is the College Boy?

Embraces the cultural and social values of the middle class / subscribes to middle class measuring rods, attempts to be successful with those standards but is not equipped with the social, academic and linguistic means to do it.

What is the Delinquent Boy?

Has a set of norms and values that are in direct opposition to normal middle-class values. Reaction formation occurs when he can’t focus on being successful (studying, etc.) so he rejects it and does the opposite so he can still be “good” at something

Merton’s Theory of Anomie’s 5 modes of adaptation include which 2 components

Cultural Goals and Institutionalized Means

can be plus or minus depending on the individual person 

Explain Social Disorganization Theory

This theory explains delinquency using socioeconomic conditions and cultural values, a community that lacks the ability to exert social control on its residents. Institutions like family, school, church and thriving businesses can shape people’s behavior. Without them, a community doesn’t have that social control 

What are Transitional neighborhoods?

Downtown Urban areas in cities that are constantly experiencing changes in population and demographics. They aren’t very stable and are usually deteriorated and filled with poverty.

Explain Concentric Zones Theory

This theory shows a visualization of distinct ecological areas in a city. Shaped like a circle, each ring represents a distinct area that has its own delinquency rates and population density.

What is social control?

It is the ability of a community to influence human behavior.

What are the two biggest forms of social control?

They are, Formal Social Control and Informal Social Control

What are some examples of informal social control?

Family, Friends, Church, Clubs, Fraternities

What are some examples of formal social control?

Police, Courts, Corrections, Criminal Justice System

What is Social Ecology Theory? 

It is an updated version of Shaw and McKay’s social disorganization theory and it believes that criminal behavior is a response to social and economic changes (environment) instead of individual forces in urban areas. 

What is Siege Mentality?

It is a a view that society and authority like the government and police are out to get your neighborhood. They and the outside world are the enemy and they should not be trusted. Police aren’t trying to help but only want to abuse people. This view is common in poor neighborhoods.

What is Collective Efficacy?

It is the ability of a community to regulate the behavior of its residents through the influence of positive institutions like family, school and church.

What is public social control?

it is a form of social control where stable neighborhoods get help from outside sources like government funding and community fundraising to give them resources.

What is street efficacy?

it is when kids use their own wits to avoid violent confrontations and feel safe. They are less likely to join youth gangs and get into trouble because they know what is right and wrong from their parents teachings.

Explain Strain Theory

Tension or Strain that is caused by negative social and economic factors in a person’s life can lead to a person giving in to delinquent behaviors when they don’t have good coping mechanisms for the strain.

Explain Anomie Theory

In this theory, Anomie, a sense of alienation from society can be produced when people’s personal goals can’t be achieved using available means or methods (I want a fancy car but I can’t afford it because I don’t earn enough money) 

In Anomie Theory, Define cultural goals

They are goals that a culture has like, getting lots of money, having a fancy house, a nice car, fancy women

In Anomie Theory, Define Institutionalized means

They are socially approved ways that a person can achieve their cultural goals (making lots of money or owning a big house). It could mean getting a job and putting in hard work, or going to college and studying hard to get a degree

Five types of social adaptations that people in society fit into in Anomie Theory

Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, Rebellion

In Anomie Theory, Explain what the Conformity type means

It means, they embrace the cultural goals (+) and they also are ok with the institutionalized means or methods to achieve those goals (+)

In Anomie Theory, Explain what the Innovation type means

It means, they embrace the cultural goals (+) but they don’t agree with the institutionalized means or methods to achieve those goals (-). They have the goal of being rich and having a nice house but they don’t want or can’t legally get those things so they have to do it illegally.

In Anomie Theory, Explain what the Ritualism type means

It means, they don’t embrace or don’t want the cultural goals of society (don’t care about big house or lots of money), but they are willing to follow the institutionalized or legal means in society (they follow the law). They are attracted to religious orders, clubs

In Anomie Theory, Explain what the Retreatism type means

It means, they don’t embrace the cultural goals of society but they also don’t follow or can’t follow the legal ways to get those goals either. They usually are mentally ill, psychotics, drug addicts and severely autistic people.

In Anomie Theory, Explain the Rebellion type

It means, they substitute their own set of cultural goals and legal means instead of the regular ones of society. Revolutionaries or terrorists do this because they want to promote a radical lifestyle in society.

Explain Institutional Anomie Theory

This theory is a macro level version of anomie theory and it explains that delinquency or anti social behavior happens because of the cultural and institutional factors in society instead of individual factors like a person’s negative social and economic status. The whole institution or “Capitalist American Dream” is wrong and is the problem that causes the pressure in society to commit crime

According to institutional Anomie Theory, why does anomie or a breakdown of social norms in society occur?

It occurs because of a materialistic society that only cares about a person’s economic status or how much money they make instead of their family, community and religion.

Explain General Strain Theory

In this theory, Strain has multiple sources and it can cause crime when there is a lack of good coping mechanisms. This theory helps to identify the micro or individual influences that explain why a person who feels stress or strain is more likely to commit crime or engage in bad behaviors. 

According to General Strain Theory, delinquency comes from what?

it comes from Negative Affective States

What are Negative Affective States?

They are things like anger, frustration, depression, and disappointment that come from strain that a young person feels because of negative social relationships

What are some things that cause negative affective states?

They are, Failure to achieve positively valued goals, a disjunction between expectations and achievements, removal of positively valued stimuli (like a girlfriend, boyfriend, death of loved one, move to new neighborhood), prevention of negative stimuli (child abuse, racism, discrimination)

Explain Cultural Deviance Theory

This theory combines the effects of social disorganization and strain theory. Because their lifestyle is frustrating and full of stress, they create their own subcultures with their own sets of morals, values and rules. 

In Cultural Deviance theories, why do young people create subcultures?

They do this because they can’t meet the middle-class society’s demands of good behavior so they create alternative subcultures that promote exciting and immediate pleasure

Explain Focal Concern Theory

This theory believes that lower class subcultures conform to focal concerns or lower class value systems that dominate their life.

What are focal concerns?

They are the value system of lower class cultures that are characterized by the need for excitement, immediate pleasure, street smartness, and toughness.

Explain Theory of Delinquent Subculture

In this theory, Delinquent behavior in lower class youth is a protest against the norms and values of middle class American culture. Because their social conditions don’t allow them to achieve success legally, they form cultural conflicts called status frustration. 

According to the theory of delinquent subculture, What is status frustration?

It is a form of culture conflict where lower class youth are prevented from having success in society because of social conditions like their status as a bad student

According to the theory of Delinquent Subculture, What are Middle-class measuring rods?

They are standards that teachers, bosses and other authority use to evaluate student’s or young people’s behavior. (being able to get good grades or pass a class)

In delinquent subculture Theory, what is reaction formation?

It is when a person does the opposite of what is socially acceptable or expected (society says you should work hard and stay away from alcohol and drugs, delinquent boy flips that upside down and says being lazy, drinking alcohol and doing drugs is good)

Explain Theory of Differential Opportunity

In this theory, lower class youth who have limited opportunities to succeed in society, join gangs and pursue crime as an alternative way to achieve success in life. These kids want to conform to middle class values and success but lack the ability or way to do it.

In Differential Opportunity, what are the three types of gangs that young people will be recruited into?

Criminal gangs, Conflict gangs, and Retreatist Gangs

In Differential Opportunity Theory, what are criminal gangs?

These are more sophisticated gangs that exist in stable poor neighborhoods where young offenders can interact with older and more experienced criminals. Youth Crime can often be more successful and profitable here.

In differential Opportunity, what are conflict gangs?

They are gangs in neighborhoods where success can’t be found legally and illegally. These are deteriorated neighborhoods where there isn’t even enough stuff to steal so crime isn’t very profitable. these types of gangs are more unorganized and individualistic, they have a “rep” or reputation to defend

In differential Opportunity, What are Retreatist gangs?

These are gangs in neighborhoods where success can’t be found legally but also people are not willing to get it illegally. Retreatists are too weak, stupid, or scared to join violent gangs. These types of gangs focus on getting high, sex, street pleasures. homeless people and mentally ill

Explain Social Process Theories

In these theories, delinquency is caused by socialization, or the interactions people have with organizations, institutions, and processes of society. It is not about a person’s position in society but their individual interactions with others. 

In Social Process Theories, What is socialization?

It is the processes by which human beings learn to adopt the behavior patterns of a community where they live.

What are some elements of socialization in a young person?

some elements can be Family Influence, School, Peers or Friends, Religion

Explain Social Learning Theory

This theory says that Delinquency is learned, through close relationships with others, children are born good and learn to be bad from other, Delinquency is the product of learning the norms, values and behaviors of committing crime. it expands on differential association theory

Explain differential association theory

It says that crime is learned through two things, definitions and techniques. Criminals have more definitions that are favorable to violating law than definitions favorable to obeying the law. 

Explain Social Control Theory

This theory says that delinquency results from a weakened commitment to the major social institutions (family, friends, school). the lack of commitment allows young people to commit crime. We are born bad but internal and external forces cause us to obey the law

Explain Neutralization Theory

In this theory, becoming a delinquent involves learning criminal techniques that can neutralize normal values and drift back and forth between appropriate and inappropriate behavior

In neutralization theory, what are subterranean values?

It is the ability of young criminals to repress social norms, they are things that are popular in culture but is condemned in public by normal society (smoking, drinking alcohol, gambling) its common in society for kids to have both subterranean values and normal values,

In neutralization theory, what is drift?

It is the idea that young people move in and out of delinquency and that their lifestyle can include both deviant or inappropriate values and normal and healthy values

In Neutralization theory, what are neutralization techniques?

They are a set of attitudes or beliefs that allow future delinquents to negate any guilt or regret that they might have about committing crime. They are basically excuses for committing crime

What are some examples of neutralization techniques?

Deny responsibility (not their fault), deny injury (It wasn’t stealing, it was borrowing), Deny the victim (they had it coming), Condemn the condemners (police are bad, teachers are bad), Appeal to higher loyalties (but I want to fit in with my friends)

Explain Social Bond Theory

In this theory, the onset of delinquency is linked to the weakening of ties that bind people to society (attachments). All kids are potential delinquents but they are controlled by their attachments or relationships with family, friends and teachers. If their bonds are weak, then they are at risk to delinquent behavior

What is a social bond?

The ties that a person has to institutions and process of society

According to Social bond theory, what are the four elements of social bonds?

Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, and belief

What is attachment in Social Bond Theory?

It is a person’s sensitivity to and interest in others. developing a conscience and accepting social norms depends on being able to attach to others

What is commitment in Social Bond Theory?

It means the time, energy, and effort that you expend in lines of action like getting an education and saving up money. If you have more commitment to society’s values, you’ll be able to do these things and stay away from delinquent behavior

What is involvement in social bond theory?

It means that spending lots of time in normal and healthy activities leaves little time for illegal behavior. Idle mind is the devils work

What is belief in Social bond theory?

it means that people who share the beliefs of those who they live with. Without these beliefs of good values like sharing, kindness, and knowing right and wrong, they are at risk of delinquent behavior

What are some well known delinquency prevention programs throughout history?

Shaw and McKay’s 1933 Chicago Area Project, The Cambridge-Somerville Massachusetts Youth Study, the 1960’s Kennedy New Frontier Programs, Johnson’s War on Poverty, Day Care programs