Theoretical Explanations of Delinquency Chapter 2 Theoretical Explanations of Delinquency

Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Schools of Thought Classical School of Thought Positivist School of Thought Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Classical School of Thought Human beings are rational and are capable of free-will Cost-benefit analysis Individuals are self-serving Punish the offense rather than the offender Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Positivist School of Thought Look for multiple factors to explain crime Punish offenders rather than the offense 3 Explanations: Biological Sociological Psychological Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

3 Positivist Explanations Biological Sociological Psychological Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Biological Explanations Seeks to explain crime on the basis of form follows function Caesar Lombroso (1876)—considered Father of Criminology Criminals are evolutionary throwbacks Stigmata 3 Groups of Criminals Born Criminal Insane Criminal Criminaloid Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Biological Explanations, cont’d. William Sheldon (1949) Somatyping 3 Body Types Endomorphs Ectomorphs Mesomorphs Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Biological Explanations, cont’d. Feeblemindedness and crime began to be used. Increased use of IQ testing was begun. Recent research suggests that IQ may be linked to delinquency. Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Biological Explanations, cont’d. Twin Studies Assessed delinquency patterns of twins separated at birth 60-70% of identical twins had similar delinquency patterns 15-30% of fraternal twins had similar delinquency patterns Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Biological Explanations, cont’d. Other Biological Explanations XYY Chromosomal Patterns Delivery Complications Frontal Lobe Dysfunction Reduced Spinal Fluid Levels Reduced Levels of Autonomic Reactiveness and Poor Conditioning of Autonomic Responses Nutrition Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Psychological Explanations Based on the Medical Model Sigmund Freud Psychoanalytic Explanations Understand the relationship between personality and crime 3 Distinct elements of personality Id Ego Superego Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Psychological Explanations, cont’d. Yochelson and Samenow (1977) Cognitive Based Theories Identified 52 Thinking Errors Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Sociological Explanations Look to the environment for explanations of crime 6 Theoretical Explanations Anomie Theory Anomie/Strain Theory Labeling Theory Social Bonding/Control Theory Differential Association Developmental Perspectives Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Anomie Theory Emile Durkeim—”Father of Sociology” Argued that crime is normal Normlessness/Anomie Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Mertonian Anomie/Strain Robert Merton Crime occurs when there is a disjuncture between societally-approved goals and means to achieve those goals. Humans develop 5 Modes of Adaptation when they are unable to meet both the goals and means. Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. 5 Modes of Adaptation Conformity Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Labeling Theory The theory holds that if one is part of a group that is deemed undesirable, then regardless of the honesty or “goodness” of one or several of the members, all can be labeled with the same stigmatizing tag. Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Edwin Lemert (1952) The act of being labeled does not occur with one label. 2 Forms of Deviation Primary Deviance Secondary Deviance Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Social Bonding/Control Theory Travis Hirschi (1969) Juveniles become free to commit delinquent acts when their ties to the conventional social order are severed. There are 4 dimensions which bond an individual to society. The stronger the bonds, the less likely crime/delinquency will occur. Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

4 Social Bonds/Dimensions Attachment Commitment Involvement Belief Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Differential Association Edwin Sutherland His theory posits that delinquent values are transmitted from one person to another or from one group to another. Sutherland put forth 9 Propositions Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Developmental Perspective This perspective addresses the existence and persistence of delinquent behavior over the life course Pittsburgh Youth Study Identified 3 major pathways to identifying chronic & serious delinquency Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. 3 Pathways to Crime Overt Pathway Covert Pathway Authority Conflict Pathway Difference between persisters and experimenters Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

3 Distinct Characteristics of Prevention and Treatment Programs Early Intervention Comprehensive Interventions Long-term Interventions Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

3 Areas That Need to Be Addressed by a Comprehensive Program Programs should address the multiple risk factors of youth. Chronic offenders appear to have co-occurring problem behaviors, therefore, programs should address multiple problems. Programs must address protective factors. Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Drugs and Crime The issue of drugs and crime permeates the criminal justice system. The Drug Use Forecasting Program (1996) indicated that 79% of all arrestees showed a positive for any drug. In 1998 11 % of all juvenile offenses were for a drug-related offense. In 2002 ADAM found that 60% of male and 45.9% of female juvenile detainees tested positive for drugs. Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Connection Between Drugs & Crime According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics the following report committing crimes for drugs: 10% of federal prisoners 17% of state prisoners 13% all convicted jail inmates Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton

Implications for Tax Dollars It is important to understand the connection between theory and delinquency. We must understand programs that work to diminish the possibility of investing in programs that don’t work. Prentice Hall © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. Juvenile Justice: Theory, Systems, and Organization Houston/Barton