Social Learning Theory and Juvenile Crime: A Criminology
Perspective
One immeasurable issue that
continues to affect our justice system seems to be inevitable among our
society; juvenile crime is a dynamic factor in our community in which affects
our everyday lifestyle. By engaging ourselves in this issue, we can familiarize
what causes deviant behavior, and can put into perspective the elements of the social
learning theory. This concern is highly important because if we are able to
understand why juveniles decide to commit crimes, we can prevent juveniles from
committing future crimes. Their act of deviance may lead to severe or heinous
crimes as adults, if it is not addressed in the early stages of adolescence. One
may ask, what is identified as “deviant” behavior? A term commonly defined with
several interpretations by society. The principles of criminology defines “deviance”
as a violation of societies norms, an intended non-judgmental, neutral concept
encompassing behavior and characteristics of people that are subject to condemnation
or stigmatization within a social system (Jenson, 2011). This is not a simple issue
and may not be resolved immediately, but the effort of every agency and authorized
individual should part take in this matter in order to assert a less violent
society. The ideology of
recidivism should encourage the focus of juvenile crime in our society, instead
of predicting deviant behavior we should propose deterrent methodologies.
The Social Learning Theory derives
from the perspective that criminal behavior is learned (Wesly G. & Ronald
L., 2011). A form of social association
influenced by environmental reinforcement. What is the correlation that
connects social learning theory and juvenile delinquency together? Richard A.
Cloward and Llyod E. Ohlin, authors of Delinquency
and Opportunity, reflected on the theories of Edwin H. Sutherland a
criminologist that proclaimed, “…
that opportunity consists at least in part, of learning structures. Thus
‘criminal behavior is learned’ and, furthermore it is leaned ‘in interaction
with other persons in a process of communication’ ” (Cloward & Ohlin, 2004).
The act of deviance is influenced and learned by imitating or modeling deviant
behavior, which in most cases are negative reinforcements. This causes
corruption in our communities. An incident that occurred on September 5th,
2012 in Placer County which involved two adults and three juveniles; the
juvenile’s ages were between fourteen to fifteen years old; according to my
understanding, a little too young to be involved with the justice system. They
were arrested for suspicion of robbery and conspiracy ("Officers arrest
two," 2012).
Sutherland also presents the idea
of “illegitimate opportunity” which draws attention to, “…conditions favorable
to the learning of such a role (differential associations). These conditions,
we suggest, depend upon certain features of the social structure of the
community in which delinquency arises.” (Cloward & Ohlin, 2004). How can we identify this explanation of
delinquency in our community? In
the Sacramento Bee newspaper that was featured on September 14th, 2012
discussed the incident of an 11-year old child that was taken into custody for
physically abusing his elderly mother, medical records indicated that his
mother was suffering from a disability (Hubret, 2012). He is facing charges of
elderly abuse and assault with a deadly weapon. The juvenile had an
illegitimate opportunity to commit a crime and with the condition of a learning
role, which in fact lead him to proceed with his crime. Juvenile crime is committed under the
influence of a learning system; a juvenile is more influenced by the community
and the social criterias of delinquency. An article called Social Learning Theory, which was featured in The Handbook of
Deviant Behavior by Wesley G. Jennings and Ronald L. Akers, reflecting upon the
theoretical origins and framework of the social learning theory presented by
Sutherland, claiming that the principle part of the learning of criminal
behavior occurs within intimate personal groups and a process of communication (Wesly
G. & Ronald L., 2011).
One assumption that can be made is that the majority of
juveniles live in broken homes and neighborhoods where crime is a common norm
to society. In some instances the criminal role or behavior is accepted and
reinforced. Of course this is not the issue in all cases, but Cloward and Ohlin
propose that, “Only those neighborhoods in which crime flourishes as a stable,
indigenous institution are fertile criminal learning environments for the
young” (Cloward & Ohlin, 2004). There is no solid element which enforces
the product of learning criminal behaviors, although several factors effect the
progress of a potential criminal and its learning environment, the social
learning theory is one of the many explanations why juveniles become
delinquents.
References
Cloward , R. A., & Ohlin , L. E.
(2004). Delinquency and
opportunity
. (3rd ed., p. 285). Long Grove,
Illinois:
Waveland
Press, Inc.
Hubert, C. (2012, September 14). Lawyer
appointed for elk
grove
boy accused of abusing disabled mom. Sacramento
Bee
. Retrieved from
appointed-for-elk-grove.html
Jenson , G. (2011). Deviance and
social control. New York, New
York:
Routledge Retrieved from
fOkVShSrJKIC&oi=fnd&pg=PT71&dq=definition
of
deviance
in criminology&ots=sZTOe-
mmsJ&sig=r2FB1BG3iTd4spoUyZCM3t6hICA
Officers arrest two adults, three
juveniles following armed
robberies
in placer county . (2012, September 06).
Sacramento
Bee . Retrieved from
armed-robberies-in-placer-county-lead-to-arrest-of-two-
adults-three.html
Wesly G., J., & Ronald L., A.
(2011). Social learning theory.
New
York, New York: Routledge Retrieved from
VJisQx8Fxa8C&oi=fnd&pg=PA106&dq=theories
of
sutherland
and deviant
behavior&ots=4pXpOGjGCS&sig=
yzUKZZEXIsMtCedHVGzw-RTPveY
As you pointed out,this learned behavior is something that juveniles learn from their surroundings, whether it be their parents and peers, ecnomic status or school enviornment. Because this is all that they know they may not see it as being wrong. Often, their mantality is focused on their wants. From a juveniles point of view it is a nessisity. An example, a pair of shoes he/she stole was something that they needed, not wanted. In other words the not only are juveniles learning what behavior gets them what they want, but they are creating wrong ideas of what is important in life. You very clearly explain Social Learning Theory. There are so many factors, and you did a good job on toucing on them. There are so many theories that can be used to look at Juvenile Delinquency!
ReplyDeleteSometimes juveniles do not understand "deviance" and deviance to them may be a way of life or a way of survival. Definitely family and social influence is one of the causes of juvenile delinquency. I also strongly believe that the learning theory explains why juveniles commit the crime that they do. Sometimes it is hard to believe that this theory may explain most of the reasons why juvenile crime occurs, there are other factors that may pertain to juvenile delinquency but it is proven that juveniles learn through their social groups and their immediate surroundings. Especially when a juvenile has conformed to their environment and to their way of life.
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