CRJS410 IP1

CRJS410 8

CRJS410-IP1

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Criminological theories are developed to explain why criminal offenders commit crime. The labeling theory finds crime is a result of stereotyping or defining an offender as a criminal which in turn results in the individual displaying criminal behavior. As a result of the label that is put on the criminal offender the offenders conforms their behavior to meet the expectations of society. The cultural deviance theory finds the fault of crime is the urban area and lower class citizens. Criminal subcultures that emerge in urban areas are the reason crime trends spike and gang’s crime emerges.

The rational choice theory looks at the offenders to discern why crime occurs but does not but the blame it on a particular group or environment but instead on the choices made by the criminal offender. The rational choice theory finds that a criminal offender will weigh the benefits against the possible consequence when committing a crime. In other words they will make a choice based on free will and possible financial, emotional, or physical gain. Instead of focusing on the circumstances that result in the criminal offender committing the crime the rational choice theories adopt quite a different approach to the study of social action, human agency, and social systems and structures (Regina, 2010).

The rational choice theory finds all people that commit crimes act rationally. Whether or not the environment of the individual or how they are perceived factors into crime is not a focus of this theory but instead on the choices made by the individual. If the choices that are made by the individual do not involve their race, ethnicity, income level, or environment then the offender cannot be stereotyped. Individuals from all aspects of life can choose and have chosen to commit crimes.

Stereotyping can be avoided through the use of the rational choice theory because any individual can be provided with the opportunity to commit a crime. When this opportunity becomes available the individual will look at the benefits or financial gain and decide if there is an opportunity to get caught or if the benefits outweigh the risks. The stereotype can easily be destroyed because the result of a rational choice can be because of street crime, the lower class environment, or even white collar crime (Scott, 2000). Crime is not confined to one class or one gender and it is not confined to one race.

The rational choice theory finds that criminal behavior is calculated and an attractive opportunity can trigger the offender’s choice to commit the crime. The rational choice theory finds in order to stop criminal behavior the perspective of the offender must be adapted. One way to stop criminal behavior according to this theory is to remove the opportunity. This can be done through the use of better enforcement by the police, homeowners taking security measures, and community neighborhood watch programs. Also by putting harsher penalties in place the criminal offender will be deterred from committing crimes.

The labeling theory finds people from the lower classes become labeled by members of the upper classes. The theory finds the two consequences of these labels perpetrated against the lower classes by the upper classes. One consequence involves the stigma that can become one identifies an individual as a criminal offender. Stigma refers to the public attitude of condemnation and the subsequent exclusion of the criminal (O’Connor, 2006). For example if an individual goes to jail for stealing and they will be labeled by society as a thief. The criminal offender will be treated with suspicion and will receive negative reactions from other members of society.

The second consequence of labeling a criminal according to this theory involves the individual modifying their own self-image to align with the image perpetrated onto them by society. If an individual is called a thief or treated like a criminal by other members of society they will eventually take on this self-image and become what society already believes they are. The modification of the individual’s self-image is the result of the stigma they become labeled with. This theory can be applied to other aspects of life such as labeling an individual as an alcoholic or a drug addict.

The labeling theory can be legitimate crime causation especially when it involves the juvenile offender but would not be the sole reason a criminal offender commits a crime. There are many individuals in society that commit crimes that are never caught so there for they cannot be labeled as well as individuals that commit white collar crimes that would never have been labeled an offender before committing their crimes. The labeling theory would apply to individuals that have committed previous crimes or that have been stereotyped as criminals by society. For example some people in society might assume because an individual is poor they commit crime or even because they belong to a minority group they will commit crimes.

Negative labels can affect how an individual perceives themselves. If a devalued status is conferred by a significant other, the negative label may cause permanent harm to the individual being stigmatized (O’Connor, 2006). In other words if an individual is labeled a liar they will take on this self-image and become a liar. If an individual is labeled with a positive label or stigma it can have the opposite effect. For example if an individual is labeled a genius they may strive to become better educated in order to meet this self-image.

Cultural deviance theory suggests that the lower class culture has its own set of goals and values and that these differ from those of other groups (Zarka, 2007). Because society fails to provide these citizens with the same and equal opportunities of the middle and higher classes a new criminal subculture will emerge that is the result of these discriminatory practices in society. According to this theory the lower classes are the cause of crime and the subcultures that emerge in the lower class and urban are create the high crime trends. The criminal offender lives in a disorganized neighborhood that is full of crime and neglect and community members no longer cooperate with the police.

The gang environment is a subculture that emerges from the disorganized and the urban and lower class communities. When an environment is neglected and crime ridden as well as the community members refusing to cooperate with police the response of members of the community will be to form groups or gangs that are focused on the best interests of the criminal subculture and not the best interest of society. The lower class community does not provide the criminal offender with the same opportunities as individual form the middle and upper classes so in response they look for that success through crime.

The gang is the result of the environment that breeds cultural deviance. Of the three influential versions of cultural deviance theory two could fit the gang environment while one does not seem completely realistic. The first influential version is that all crime is the result of lower and urban areas. While this may have seemed true at the time this theory was developed this is definitely not the case in modern society. With the rising number of white collars due to new emerging technologies crime is not only the result of the urban area but can occur in any geographical location by any class of individual.

The second influential version of the cultural deviance theory concerning urban lower-class areas produce subcultures that are responsible for the rise of crime can fit the gang subculture because a majority of gangs develop in lower class urban areas. Gangs have been known to develop in the middle and upper class areas by bored youths but in truth the most violent gangs emerge form the urban area. In the third influential version concerning subcultures that band together to form groups or gangs for their own personal gain and satisfaction can be applied to the gang environment but this type of group could develop in other environments.

Of the two theories the cultural deviance theory would be more applicable to the gang environment than individual choosing this lifestyle. Individuals that become members of gangs are usually juveniles. These juvenile are vulnerable to the manipulations of the gang environment and when their environment offers little or no opportunity they have little choice. The cultural deviance theory finds the criminal subcultures emerge in the urban area where most gang violence occurs while the rational choice theory finds the opportunity, benefits and the possible consequences are the determents of crime.

According the labeling theory crime can be prevented by not stereotyping individual they will not become offenders. The rational choice theory find by limiting the opportunity and strengthening the punishment the offender will receive for the crime can be prevented. According to the cultural deviance theory crime can be prevented by providing urban areas with the resources and programs they need to be successful in life.

There are many possible reasons that crime is committed. It could be the result of the offender environment or the fault of the offender. No one theory can explain all aspect of criminal behavior but labeling theory discusses the impact while the rational choice theory looks at the free will or choice made by the offender. Criminological theories provide the framework in which criminal behavior is explained. By understanding what causes crime to occur it can provide measures to stop crime.

References

O’Connor, T. (2006). Labeling Theories of Crime. Retrieved July 24, 2011 from

http://www.drtomoconnor.com/1060/1060lect07.htm

Regina, U. (2010). Rational Choice Theory (RCT). Retrieved July 24, 2011 from

http://uregina.ca/~gingrich/f1000.htm

Scott, J. (2000). Rational Choice Theory. Retrieved July 24, 2011 from

http://www.uregina.ca/~gingrich/f1000.htm

Zarka, H. (2007). Strain, Cultural Deviance and Self-Control Theories.

Retrieved July 24, 2011 from

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/243038/strain_cultural_deviance_and_selfcontrol