Societal Reaction Theories PDF

SOCIETAL REACTION THEORY  LABELLING THEORY “Howard Becker and Frank Tannenbaum” It concerned with how the self-identity and behavior of an individual is influenced (or created) by how that individual is categorized and described by others in their society. The theory focuse...

SOCIETAL REACTION THEORY  LABELLING THEORY “Howard Becker and Frank Tannenbaum” It concerned with how the self-identity and behavior of an individual is influenced (or created) by how that individual is categorized and described by others in their society. The theory focuses on the linguistic tendency of majorities to negatively label minorities or those seen as deviant from norms, and is associated with the concept of a self-fulfilling  MODERN LABELLING THEORIES 1. KAT’Z MORAL SEDUCTION THEORY 2. BRAITHWAITE’S REINTEGRATIVE SHAMING THEORY  KAT’Z MORAL SEDUCTION THEORY Jack Katz wrote the book ‘Seductions of Crime’ The central thesis of this theory is that the situation-specific emotional and sensual sensations play a major role in the committing of crimes. The book states that crime is based on the emotional state of the offender rather than the background variables. The book analyzes the seductions and compulsions that are felt by people as they commit a crime and what draws them to commit the crime  BRAITHWAITE’S REINTEGRATIVE SHAMING THEORY John Braithwaite “Shame and Reintegration” There are two types of shaming: reintegrative (bring the offender back into the fold of society) accomplished if there were societal rituals or gestures of forgiveness, or better yet, ceremonies to decertify the offender as deviant. Disintegrative (shunning the offender for good from society). Create a class of outcasts.  SOCIAL CLASS THEORIES Social Disorganization theory Anomie theory Theory of Differential Oppression  SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION THEORY Clifford R. Shaw and Henry D. McKay Shaw and McKay noted that neighborhoods with the highest crime rates have at least three common problems, physical dilapidation, poverty, and higher level of ethnic and culture mixing. Delinquency was not caused at the individual level, but is a normal response by normal individuals to abnormal conditions  ANOMIE THEORY Émile Durkheim coined the term anomie in his 1893 treatise, “The Division of Labor In Society”. Anomie is a state of being where social norms are unclear or not present. It can also be defined as a general state of lawlessness. People stop behaving in such a fashion that benefits the group, and they start behaving  THEORY OF DIFFERENTIAL OPPRESSION John D. Hewitt and Robert Regoli Juvenile delinquency is a product of the oppression of children by adults, particularly within the context of family. Argues that adult perception of children force youths into socially defined and controlled inferior roles, including the socially constructed “Juvenile delinquency role that separates youthful and adult offenders for treatment and control. CONTROL THEORIES SELF DEROGATION THEORY INTERACTIONAL THEORY SELF CONTROL THEORY  SELF DEROGATION THEORY by Kaplan Suggests that individuals with low self- esteem or self-worth tend to engage in self- critical or self-deprecating behavior as a way to cope with their perceived inadequacies. This theory posits that people with low self-esteem may devalue themselves or their abilities in an attempt to protect their self-concept from external threats or to manage feelings of failure and inadequacy.  INTERACTIONAL THEORY Terrence Thornberry The fundamental cause of delinquency according to interactional theory is a weakening of a person’s bond to conventional society. Adolescents who are strongly attached to their parents and family and who strive to achieve within the context of approved social arrangements, such as education, rarely turn to serious delinquency.  SELF CONTROL THEORY Argues that it is the absence of self-control rather than the presence of some force or factor such as poverty, anomie, opportunities for deviance, delinquent peers. Self-control theory rejects the notions that deviance is learned, that deviance may be economically motivated, or that deviance can result from effort to achieve social status.  THEORIES OF FEMALE OFFENDERS FEMINIST THEORY MASCULINITY THEORY OPPORTUNITY THEORY ECONOMIC MARGINALIZATION THEORY CHIVALRY THEORY  ExaminesFEMINIST the role of THEORY men and women in crime and deviance and how these sex differences influenced as to how they are treated This theory argues that crime is mostly interpreted in the context of male perspective and with this, crime notions are less applied to females. For instance, women who are into alcoholism and drugs are more negatively criticized compared to men doing the  FORMS OF FEMINIST THEORY LIBERAL FEMINISM- This argues that women should be treated as co-equal with men as they inherit the same capacity of reasoning and moral agency. It believes that gender inequality is the direct result of blocking the chances of women to be involved in various social aspects such as politics, education, employment, and others.  MARXIST FEMINISM-views gender inequality as a by-product of hierarchical set up between men and women viewing the former as having more control in the economic aspect compared to the latter. It argues that women performing housework is viewed as a form of oppression and the trivialization thereof is viewed as inequality.  RADICAL FEMINISM- blames women biology as the root cause of patriarchy and gender inequality This is fueled by the existence of power relations in which male view themselves as superior over the females. It does not only focuses on the victimization of women but also on the contributions the women offered to the society.  SOCIALIST FEMINISM-this is similar to marxist feminism only that unlike the former which ranks class as the most important variable, socialist feminism treats gender and class as equally important. In addition, marxist feminism argues that gender inequality can be solve through the elimination of capitalism while socialist feminism recommends for the improvement of micro and macro level conditions.  POST MODERN FEMINISM the contemporary form of feminism centering on the rejection of traditional male-female assumptions Categorization of women as the minority for instance, is n traditional assumption and is therefore for from the universal truth. The hierarchical structure is argued to be a socially constructed concept. CRITICAL RACE FEMINISM-studies on the interplay between gender and race. This form of feminism argues that oppression is not only caused by gender minority but also with racism.  MASCULINITY THEORIES (FREDA ADLER) Those women who cannot adjust to their absence of and longing for a penis in culturally prescribed manner of dutiful sexual performance and motherhood, attempt to acquire symbolic masculinity by aggressively rebelling against their natural feminine roles. In short they attempt to be a man The females who are involved with crime are dominated by male characteristics in their OPPORTUNITY THEORY BY RITA J. SIMON Males are more active in crime because of their greater social opportunities, competences, and networking than females. In the broader social context, in female opportunity, efficiency and social communication are increased, then the rate of female criminality increases accordingly. OPPORTUNITY THEORY BY RITA J. SIMON When more women get access in labor market as skilled labor and possess highly specialized position in the job sector they commit more employment related property crime like men. Some women take the advantage of these opportunities, just as some men do before.  ECONOMIC MARGINALIZATION THEORIES (Daly and Chesney- Lind (1988)) Claims that more female participation in the labor force does not necessarily indicate either more gender equality or improved economic condition for women To find out the causes of the majority of female criminality it has been seen that their position is marginalized by less salary, un-respectful occupation and less secured job.  ECONOMIC MARGINALIZATION THEORIES (Daly and Chesney- Lind (1988)) Women are motivated to commit crime as a rational response to poverty and economic insecurity. This theory argues that the major causes of female crime are unemployment, poorly paid employment, inadequate welfare payments, and the increasing number of females headed households with large number of children  CHIVALRY THEORY Argues that historically there have been lower rates of female criminality because of the more lenient treatment of female offenders by criminal justice personnel. Females are more prone to violating the law but according to the economic standard they treated as less destructive in nature. Thus, female offences get less importance than male ones in the criminal justice system OTHER THEORIES OF CRIME  CULTURE DEVIANCE THEORY Links delinquent acts to the formation of independent subcultures with a unique set of values that clash with the main stream culture. This theory argue that children learn deviant behavior socially through exposure to others and modeling of others action.  Theory of Subversion and Containment Stephen Greenblatt in his essay Invisible Bullets. Subversion and Containment is a means of control. At its simplest level this is achieved by manipulating the fact that another has doubt in their beliefs. The doubt is dubbed Subversion and control of this is Containment. Where this process is calculated, the Subversion is created by the party that wishes to contain it- Production, Subversion and Containment. OUTER CONTAINMENT- which is about community socialization and the application of social norms and rules. INNER CONTAINMENT-_the controlling of the self, by a favorable self concept frustration tolerance and the ability to follow norms.  RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY Posits that individuals make decisions by weighing the costs and benefits of different actions to maximize their personal gain or utility. It suggests that people engage in criminal behavior when they perceive the benefits of the crime to outweigh the risks or costs associated with it.  ROUTINE ACTIVITY THEORY Lawrence Cohen and Marcus Felson. The routine activities approach gives equal weight to the role of both the victim and the offender in the crime process. Criminal opportunity is significantly influenced by the victim’s lifestyle and behavior.  This theory viewed that crime is a normal function of the routine activities of modern living. FACTORS AFFECTING ROUTINE ACTIVITY THEORY LACK OF CAPABLE GUARDIAN SUITABLE TARGET MOTIVATED OFFENDER  STRAIN THEORY explores how societal pressures contribute to deviant behavior. It suggests that when individuals are unable to achieve culturally approved goals through legitimate means, they experience strain or frustration. This strain can lead to deviant behavior as individuals may turn to alternative methods to achieve their goals or adapt to their situation.  MERTON’S MODES OF ADAPTATION Conformity: Accepting both cultural goals and the prescribed means for achieving them. Innovation: Accepting cultural goals but using new, often unconventional means to achieve them. Ritualism: Abandoning the goals but rigidly adhering to the means or rules.  Retreatism: Rejecting both the goals and the means, often leading to withdrawal from societal expectations. Rebellion: Rejecting both the established goals and means, and attempting to create new goals and means.  SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY Concept in political philosophy that explores the legitimacy of authority and the origins of societal rules. It posits that individuals consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to surrender certain freedoms and abide by common rules in exchange for protection and social order provided by a governing authority.  DIFFERENTIAL IDENTIFICATION THEORY Daniel Glasse was maintained that a person pursues criminal behavior to the extent that he identifies himself with real or imaginary persons from whose perspective his criminal behavior seems acceptable. A person with the propensities of becoming a thief will consider thieves as their ideal person to Identify themselves.  The Identification need not be in intimate personal association but It may be done identifying themselves with character in movies, radios and televisions. IMITATION SUGGESTION THEORY GABRIEL TARDE Is a sociological theory that emphasizes how behaviors and social phenomena spread through imitation and suggestion. Tarde, a French sociologist, proposed that individual behavior and societal trends are heavily influenced by the processes of imitation and social suggestion. CONFLICT OF CULTURE THEORY  THORSTEN SELLIN emphasized that multiplicity of conflicting culture is the principal source of social disorganization. The high crime and delinquency rates of certain ethnic or racial group is explained by their exposure to diverse and Incongruent standards and code.  CONTAINMENT THEORY developed by Walter Reckless in the 1960s that focuses on the factors that prevent individuals from engaging in criminal behavior. Reckless proposed that there are internal and external factors that act as "containments" or controls to prevent deviant behavior.  Inner Containments: These are internal factors, such as self-control, moral values, and a strong sense of personal responsibility, that help individuals resist the temptation to engage in criminal activities  Outer Containments: These refer to external factors that help keep individuals from committing crimes, including social institutions, laws, and community norms. Outer containments are often provided by family, educational systems, and law enforcement.  CULTURAL TRANSMISSION THEORY Cultural transmission theory by Shaw and McKay focuses on how societal norms and values are passed down through generations in specific neighborhoods. They argued that in areas with high levels of poverty and social disorganization, delinquent behaviors are transmitted culturally among youths.  Gang Theory Frederick Thrasher made much out of the Recognition wish, extracting the significant features of a "gang" group awareness, shared tradition, solidarity and cohesiveness, group cooperation, esprit de corps, turf, and unreflectiveness. CONCENTRIC ZONE THEORY  CONCENTRIC ZONE THEORY Central Business District (CBD): This innermost zone is the commercial and business hub of the city, characterized by high land values and dense development Zone of Transition: Surrounding the CBD, this area often contains deteriorated housing, light industry, and warehousing. It is typically marked by social and economic instability.  CONCENTRIC ZONE THEORY Zone of Working-Class Homes: Beyond the transition zone, this area features residential neighborhoods where working- class families live. Housing is generally older and more affordable compared to the outer zones. Zone of Better Residences: Further out, this zone consists of middle-class residential areas with more modern and spacious homes.  CONCENTRIC ZONE THEORY Commuter Zone: The outermost ring is characterized by suburban developments where the affluent live. This zone includes larger homes, green spaces, and a more suburban environment. The Concentric Zone Theory reflects how urban areas develop and expand, often showing a pattern of social and economic stratification from the center to the  HUMAN MIND, TRAITS AND BEHAVIOR Alchorn ( Wayward Youth) Abrahamsen( Crime and Human Mind) Cyril Burt (Theory of General Emotionality) Healy ( Individual Delinquency) Bromberg (Crime and The Mind)  ALCHORN ( WAYWARD YOUTH) argued that the causes of crime and delinquency are the faulty development of the child during the first few years of his life. As child, the human being normally follows only the pleasure impulses instinctively. Soon he grew up and finds some restriction to these pleasure, these impulses must be controlled.  ABRAHAMSEN (CRIME AND HUMAN MIND) - In his crime and human mind, 1945, explained the causes of crime by his formula “Criminal Behavior equals criminalistics tendencies plus crime inducing situation divided by the persons mental or emotional resistance to temptation.  ABRAHAMSEN (CRIME AND HUMAN MIND) C= T+S/R Where: C= Crime/Criminal Behavior T= Tendency( desire/intent) S= Situation ( Opportunity) R= Resistance to Temptation ( Control)  THEORY OF GENERAL EMOTIONALITY CYRIL BURT ( YOUNG DELINQUENT) Focuses on the role of emotional factors in influencing behavior and personality. This theory examines how emotional states and traits can impact various aspects of an individual’s life, including their behavior and interactions with others.  Emotional Traits: Burt proposed that individuals possess general emotional traits that influence their overall behavior. These traits include tendencies toward emotional stability or instability, and how these traits shape an individual’s responses to different situations. Impact on Behavior: According to the theory, high levels of emotional instability or reactivity can lead to a range of behavioral outcomes, including maladaptive behaviors. Emotional traits can affect decision-making,  BROMBERG (CRIME AND THE MIND) claimed that criminality is the result of emotional immunity. Person who is emotionally matures when he has learned to control his emotion effectively and who lives at peace with himself and in harmony with the standards of conduct which are acceptable to the society. An emotionally immature person rebel against rules and regulations, tend to engage in unusual activities and experience a feeling of guilt due to inferiority complex.