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