sociological theories of crime.pptx

Sociological approaches suggest that crime is shaped by factors external to the individual: their experiences within the neighbourhood, the peer group, and the family. are shaped by between people's everyday movements through space and time.

1. Sociological Theories of Crime Aqsa shahid

2. Content Distribution of Group Members: Introduction Social Learning Theory Social disorganization Theory Different association Theory Labeling Theory Control Theory Theory of Anomie/strain theory Conflict Theory Structural functionalism Rational Choice Theory

3. Introduction: Sociological approaches suggest that  crime is shaped by factors external to the individual : their experiences within the neighborhood, the peer group, and the family. are shaped by between people's everyday movements through space and time. The theory assumes that people, at birth have neither a motivation to commit crime nor to conform. Why does an individual commit crimes? The answer to this question stresses the process of learning, which involves the interaction between thought or cognition, behavior, and environment.

4. Social Learning Theory: Why do people engage in crime according to social learning theory? They learn to engage in crime, primarily through their association with others. They are reinforced for crime, they learn beliefs that are favorable to crime, and they are exposed to criminal models. As a consequence, they come to view crime as something that is desirable or at least justifiable in certain situations. According to social learning theory, juveniles learn to engage in crimes in the same way they learn to engage in conforming behavior: through association with exposure to others. Primary or intimate groups like the family and peer group have an especially large impact on what we learn. Social learning theory postulates that there are three mechanisms by which individuals learn to engage in crime:  differential reinforcement , beliefs, and modeling.

5. Social Learning and Behavior Reinforcement: Differential reinforcement of crime. Individuals may teach others to engage in crime through the reinforcements and punishments they provide for behavior. Crime is more likely to occur when; It is frequently reinforced and infrequently punished Results in large amounts of reinforcement (e.g. a lot of money, social approval, or pleasure) and little punishment. Is more likely to be reinforced than alternative behaviors.

6. Case: 47-year-old Tracey Bogle served a 16-year prison sentence for kidnapping, armed robbery, assault, car theft and sexual assault (Court of Appeals for Oregon, 2001). He committed the crime in 1993, with one of his older brothers, Robert Zane Bogle (Court of Appeals for Oregon, 2001). The pair were motivated by money, following a terminated business deal between themselves and their two victims, David Fijalka and Sandra Jackson. During the ordeal, the brothers threatened, intimidated, physically and sexually assaulted the victim’s, before stealing their car. Tracey and Robert Bogle were convicted of first degree burglary, two counts of first degree robbery, two counts of second degree assault and a single charge of first degree sodomy; all counts were increased in sentencing due to use of a firearm. They were also convicted of single counts of use of an unauthorized vehicle, felon in possession of firearm, and kidnapping by confinement (Court of Appeals for Oregon, 2001).

7. Conti…. The Bogle family had a history of criminal behaviour , dating back to 1920 ( Spitznagel , 2018). Evidence suggests that criminal behaviour was conditioned in the Bogle children from an early age by the criminal matriarch of the family, their father Rooster Bogle (Butterfield, 2018). Tracey was incarcerated consistently from the time he was 15 years old (Butterfield, 2018). It appears the Bogle family views criminal behaviour and incarceration as a rite of passage (Butterfield, 2018). Tracey said “There is a domino effect in a family like ours, what you’re raised with, you grow to become. You don’t escape”. (Butterfield, 2002). Through strong family ties and encouragement, Tracey observed a model of behaviour , leading to the acquisition, instigation and regulation of criminal behaviours .

8. Social Disorganized Theory The social disorganization theory is a theory developed by the Chicago School, related to ecological theories. The theory directly links crime rates to neighborhood ecological characteristics; a core principle of social disorganization theory that states location matters. The social disorganization theory is a sociological theory of crime that focuses on the relationship between community characteristics and crime rates. It suggests that crime is primarily a result of the breakdown of social institutions and the absence of social control in certain neighborhoods or communities.

9. It is important to note that social disorganization theory does not claim that individuals within these communities are inherently predisposed to criminal behavior. Instead, it emphasizes the impact of community-level factors on crime rates An example in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could involve a neighborhood or community that experiences high levels of crime and deviance due to factors such as poverty, unemployment, limited access to education, inadequate social services, and weak community ties. Gang-related crimes, Property crimes, Violent Crime

10. According to this theory factors that increase crime rate: Poverty, residential instability, ethnic heterogeneity, and a lack of social cohesion within a community. High population turnover: The neighborhood experiences a high rate of migration, with people frequently moving in and out. Ethnic and cultural diversity Inadequate infrastructure and public services Weak social institutions

11. Differential Association Theory In 1947  Edwin Sutherland proposed: Crime is a learning process that could affect any individual in any culture This theory focus on how individual learn to become a criminal . According to differential association theory, individuals learn criminal behavior through their interactions with others, particularly within social groups or subcultures that promote and reinforce criminal activities

12. Differential Association Theory: Principal Criminal behavior is learned. For example(For example, a teenager may learn how to shoplift by observing and interacting with peers who engage in such activities) Criminal behavior is learned through communication: Individuals learn criminal behavior through verbal and nonverbal communication with others. For instance,( a gang member might teach a new recruit the techniques of drug dealing or the tactics for committing a burglary Criminal behavior is learned in intimate groups close-knit groups such as families, peers .(For example, a group of friends involved in graffiti vandalism may reinforce and teach each other new tagging techniques).

13. Conti… Learning involves techniques and motives. ( For instance, a person involved in white-collar crime may learn how to manipulate financial records while also justifying their actions by believing they are "beating the system" or providing for their family.) Criminal behavior is reinforced through rewards and punishments: People are more likely to engage in criminal behavior if they perceive rewards or benefits from it. . For example, a drug dealer may be motivated by the financial rewards of drug sales while being deterred by the potential risk of imprisonment. Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity: The influence of different associations varies based on factors such as how often they occur, how long they last, the importance individuals attach to them, and the emotional intensity involved. For instance, a person who spends significant time with a group engaged in criminal activities is more likely to be influenced by their behaviors compared to someone who only has occasional encounters with that group.

14. Criminal behavior is expressed when favorable definitions outweigh unfavorable definitions. (For example, if a person grows up in an environment where they witness family members, friends, and role models engaging in criminal behavior, they are more likely to adopt those behaviors themselves.) Learning criminal behavior involves the same mechanisms as other forms of learning .Individuals acquire criminal skills, values, and attitudes through observation, imitation, and reinforcement, much like how they learn other skills or behaviors.

15. Case Study In Lahore, there is a neighborhood called " Gulshan Town," which has a high crime rate. Within this neighborhood, a group of young individuals, including Ali, Basit , and Kamran, has formed a close-knit friendship . They spend a significant amount of time together, often engaging in activities such as gambling, drug use, and theft. Ali, Basit , and Kamran have grown up in an environment where criminal behavior is prevalent and accepted as a means of gaining status and material benefits. They have been exposed to criminal values, techniques, and rationalizations through their interactions with older peers and family members involved in illegal activities. Over time, through repeated exposure to these criminal behaviors and the influence of their social group, Ali, Basit , and Kamran start to internalize the attitudes, beliefs, and skills associated with criminal behavior. As a result, Ali, Basit , and Kamran begin engaging in various criminal acts in Gulshan Town, such as shoplifting, pickpocketing, and drug dealing. They recruit other vulnerable individuals from the neighborhood, further expanding their criminal network. The cycle continues as they pass on their criminal knowledge and values to their recruits, perpetuating the criminal subculture within the community.

16. Labeling Theory Labeling theory, was formulated by the sociologist Howard Becker. Rather than looking at the qualities or circumstances that make a person turn bad, Becker (1963) asks how this definition of bad behaviour was originally constructed. As he explains in his book The Outsiders, “social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labeling them as outsiders”  

17. Cont … Labeling someone as a criminal can lead to bad conduct. The theory purports that society's establishing someone as a criminal based on deviant behavior may lead others to mistreat the person labeled as a criminal. In other words, individuals may face stigma , discrimination against them because of the criminal label. Therefore, the person might become a criminal. Thus, the focus of the labeling theory is to show that society's perception and treatment of others can cause them to commit wrong acts. Therefore, the person might, in turn, become a criminal.

18. Case Study A young man named Ali across the street is a thief because he was seen in the company of Arif with deviant behavior. Even though he may not be a thief, it might cause him to steal due to the label given to him.

19. Social Control Theory In criminology, social control theory proposes that exploiting the process of socialization and social learning builds self-control and reduces the inclination to indulge in behavior recognized as antisocial. It derived from functionalist theories of crime and was developed by Ivan Nye (1958). Example: An example in a religious setting is if an individual engages in religious rituals in order to bolster their beliefs.

20. Types of Social Control Theory There were three types of control: Direct: by which punishment is threatened or applied for wrongful behavior, and compliance is rewarded by parents, family, and authority figures. Indirect: by identification with those who influence behavior, say because their delinquent act might cause pain and disappointment to parents and others with whom they have close relationships. Internal: by which a youth refrains from delinquency through the conscience or superego.

21. What is happening?

22. Strain /Anomie Theory Strain theory is a sociological and criminological theory developed in 1938 by  Robert K. Merton . The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (such as the  American Dream ), even though they lack the means to do so. Parental rejection, child abuse, bullying, loss of job, loss of a loved one, discrimination, and criminal victimization. However, the characteristics of some strains are more likely to lead to crime. Two Formulations of Strain Theory Structural strain Individual  strain

23. Case study One example of a Pakistani case that could be related to the Strain Theory of Criminology is the case of a man named Ahmed and his brother-in-law, who were involved in a family dispute over property. Ahmed and his brother-in-law had a heated argument that ultimately led to Ahmed shooting and killing his brother-in-law. The dispute over property could be seen as a source of strain that led to the violent confrontation. Ahmed was arrested and charged with murder.

24. Rational choice Theory Humans beings are rational beings and have free will to make their own decisions. Rational choice theory is the view that people behave as they do because they believe that performing their choosen actions has more benefits than cost. That is, people make rational choices based on their goals, and those choices govern their behavior.

25. Conti….. A criminal may also decide NOT to engage in crime if the COST overweigh the BENEFITS. Example: a student choosing what to do after high school, a business decision involving a large purchase, or a family deciding where to move https://youtu.be/JaKMimJPxyA

26. Conflict Theory Conflict Theory is most commonly associated with Karl Marx. Macro level approach Looks as society as a competition for limited resources. Focuses on the causes and consequences of class conflict between bourgeoisie ( the owner of the mean of the production) and the capitalists___ basically the rich people) and the proletariat ( the working class and the poor) Societal conflicts as force that drives change in society.

27. Functionalist theories on crime The functionalist view on crime explains the existence of crime as being the result of the structure of society (rather than as a result of individuals themselves).   Émile  Durkheim's functionalist theory of crime According to   Émile  Durkheim  (1964), a limited amount of crime is inevitable. Durkheim stresses that not all members of society can commit to shared norms, values and beliefs and that exposure to different experiences or circumstances is what makes them different to one another. As a result, some end up breaking the law.

28. 2. Social regulation Social regulation is one of the functions that societal structures carry out in managing public interests like the environment, health, education etc. By punishing someone for their crimes in this way, enforcers of the law are sending a warning message to the rest of society that such deviant behaviour won’t be tolerated. 3. Social change The law clearly states what is or isn’t permissible in society, but it isn't fixed. People notice when the laws don’t line up with the shared values and beliefs of the majority. Eventually, this can spur social change.

29. 2. Social regulation Social regulation is one of the functions that societal structures carry out in managing public interests like the environment, health, education etc. By punishing someone for their crimes in this way, enforcers of the law are sending a warning message to the rest of society that such deviant behaviour won’t be tolerated. 3. Social change The law clearly states what is or isn’t permissible in society, but it isn't fixed. People notice when the laws don’t line up with the shared values and beliefs of the majority. Eventually, this can spur social change.

30. Limitations of sociological theories of crime All sociological theories of crime are limited and may be incorrect. This could be the result of incomplete information, faulty assumptions, or even overt bias stemming from cultural, religious, or political prejudices. The sociological theory assumes that crime is unnatural for people and comes about because of problems in society such as poverty, inequality, and unemployment.  It dismisses the idea that a person can be born with criminal tendencies, but are instead shaped by their environment.

31. Thank you Any question?