Family Influences on Criminal Behavior: Social Process Theories, Slides of Criminology

Download Family Influences on Criminal Behavior: Social Process Theories and more Slides Criminology in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Social process theories Psychological & sociological 2 Social process  Criminality is a function of individual socialization and the social psychological interactions people have with the various institutions and processes of society  Socialization: process by which an individual’s behavior is shaped in conforming with the standards of the culture 5 Family characteristics  2. Poor supervision  3. High levels of family conflict, escalation  4. Parental deviance, such as parental substance abuse, parental criminality (often in the past) and maternal depression  5. Large family size (supervision issue)  6. Poor living conditions 6 Family characteristics  7. Abuse and neglect  Neglect a bigger problem  Studies surveying delinquents indicate higher rates (about 1/3) as compared to the general population  A New York study found that about ½ of families with abuse had a child who went to juvenile court 7 Characteristics of families  8. Broken homes  Early studies showed a relationship, later studies have not been definitive  In the earlier studies, one parent homes less common  Stigma and difficulty of obtaining a divorce  Stigma attached to unmarried mothers 10 Characteristics  The major variable appears to be amount of supervision. Families in which there is adequate supervision, whether the mother is helped by other relatives, paid caretakers, etc..., are not at high risk for delinquency.  This is also the case for very young mothers, whose children are at risk. 11 Major factors  Age  Educational level  Financial status  Social capital 12 Woodlawn study  This study was done in the Woodlawn area of Chicago (high crime area)  Children categorized as aggressive or nonaggressive. Aggressive children in both one and two parent homes more likely to be delinquent. With non- aggressive, children in single homes more at risk than in two parent homes. 15 Attachment (cont)  At around 4-5 months, begin to distinguish and exhibit “stranger anxiety”  Typically develop a preference, usually for one person (usually the mother)  Prefers that person to all others, seeks comfort, etc...  Must happen within the first two years 16 Attachment (cont)  Children who do not form a strong attachment typically have problems, including school difficulties, lack of empathy for others, and dysfunctional relationships  In some cases there may even be failure to thrive  Harlow’s monkeys 17 Attachment (cont.)  Factors which hinder attachment/ bonding  Unattractiveness, illness, irritable baby, handicaps, chronic stress, chaotic environment  Protective factors  Being attractive, healthy, an “easy” baby, stable environment 20 Attachment (cont)  If there is not a bond, then the child will not care about love and approval from the parent, and the parent will be less able to control the child. In adolescence, once the child is bigger and stronger, a parent can control only through approval/disapproval. 21 Schools  Offenders are more likely to have poor academic achievement  Fail more grades  Truant or drop out  Low motivation  Feel alienated, not involved in school activities 22 Family environment Restrictive Permissive Warmth Submissive Active Compliant Outgoing Polite Creative Hostility Withdrawn Delinquent Neurotic Aggressive 25 Differential association (cont)  A person becomes criminal when he perceives more favorable to unfavorable consequences to violating the law  and, when he has more rationalizations favorable to violating the law than to obeying the law 26 Differential association (cont)  Social support for criminality can overcome social controls. This social support comes from associating with criminal peers  Such associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity  As frequency increases, more likely 27 DA (continued)  Duration: longer the association, more likely  Priority: age when one first encounters criminal peers--earlier, more likely  Intensity: importance and prestige given to the people that are learned from 30 Neutralization theory  Rationalizations which overcome society’s norms  Denial of responsibility: I didn’t mean to do it  Denial of injury: I didn’t really hurt anybody (insurance will pay for it, etc...)  Denial of victim: They had it coming to them 31 Neutralization (cont)  condemnation of others: everyone is picking on me. Shift blame to others-- corrupt CJS, etc...  Appeal to higher loyalties, i.e.., I did it for the group 32 Social control (Hirschi)  All people have the potential to violate the law  Modern society presents many opportunities for illegal activity  Why to people obey the law? 35 Research on social control  Hirschi asked high school students questions concerning:  feelings of affection and respect for parents, teachers, peers, etc.  Plans for the future (commitment)  Their activities  Beliefs about society, right & wrong  Self reported delinquency, arrests 36 Social control (cont)  Youths strongly attached to parents and peers, less likely to be delinquent  Delinquents: weak and distant relationships (not what Sutherland would expect)  Commitment to conventional goals, education, jobs, etc..., less likely to be delinquent 37 Social control (cont)  Nondelinquents spent more time in conventional activities, such as homework, school activities, sports, family and community recreation, etc..  Delinquents--more time smoking, drinking, riding around in cars, began these behaviors younger  No differences in terms of beliefs 40 Labelling (cont)  Secondary deviance: deviance that is the result of labelling, a self-fulfilling prophecy primary deviance ceremonies labelling secondary deviance continuation of the behavior 41 Labelling  Implications: avoid labelling when possible  Advocated: diversion, deinstitutionalization, due process