The Power Of Context By Malcom Gladwell

Edwin Sutherland’s theory of Differential Association theory is about an individual learning criminal behaviour through interaction with intimate groups. His theory includes four modalities, which are frequency, duration priority and intensity. Sutherland’s theory is seen

High crime rates are an ongoing issue through the United States, however the motivation and the cause of crime has yet to be entirely identified. Ronald Akers would say that criminality is a behavior that is learned based on what an individual sees and observes others doing. When an individual commits a crime, he or she is acting on impulse based on actions that they have seen others engage in. Initially during childhood, individuals learn actions and behavior by watching and listening to others, and out of impulse they mimic the behavior that is observed. Theorist Ronald Akers extended Sutherland’s differential association theory with a modern viewpoint known as the social learning theory. The social learning theory states that

In Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Power of Context,” includes a series of short anecdotes in which are all defined by environment and how society shapes mankind. While reading these short stories Gladwell put into the novel, the audience can conclude that the rules of society have the power to shape a person or community. When reading “The Power of Context,” the reader must be able to grasp the understanding of how environment can affect an individual. One would say nature is the setting in which a person is brought up, nurture is the care variable one has the power to influence how they behave or how the setting can define who they are. In this style of writing Gladwell uses, shifts in societies behaviors tell stories of how the setting can influence behaviors of the main characters.

This paper analyzes and applies the social learning theory to Richard Ramirez a convicted serial killer. From exploring and understanding the social learning theory to giving a glimpse on Ramirez’s backstory and crimes. Beginning with early childhood that consists of his abusive father and personal head trauma. Thus, connecting social learning and other factors that lead to his heinous crimes. Middle childhood that includes his social interactions with his family members and the onset of his first crimes. Shortly, adolescence starts and stronger perverse emotions after hanging out and being influenced by his cousin Mike. Emerging adulthood and adulthood, Richard’s desire is thereon turned into actions that ultimately makes him the “Night Stalker”. Crimes such as burglary, rape, and murder that were learned from his social environment. Finally, a brief analysis on what was learned from the life span and applying the social learning theory to a serial killer Richard Ramirez.

And on the other hand how “Code of the Streets” shows links to the Differential Association and Social Learning theories of crime. The Differential Association (closely related to Social Disorganization theory), developed by Edwin Sutherland, and Social Learning theory, developed by Ronald Akers, both theories of crime are theories that try to explain, at a micro-level, why individuals rather than groups of individuals commit crime (Feldmeyer, Differential Association and Social Learning, 2015).

From birth, our families, friends, and society influenced our choices. We were told what we could and could not accept. The music we listened to, the food we ate, and the clothes we wore were all influenced by someone in our community or household. These experiences from your childhood tend to determine the choices we will make as adults. We are living in a world that approaches life with a black or white perceptive, meaning decisions in life are either morally right or morally wrong. Differential Association Theory is defined as a criminological theory created by Edwin Sutherland that focuses on criminal behavior being learned through association with others (Walsh, 559). The theory focuses on an individual’s life that could lead them to a life of crime.

The movie “Menace 2 Society” which highlights the livelihood in Watts, California and had characters that had relations with many criminological theories. Watts, is an impoverished and crime reckoned neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. The movie highlights the life of Caine who is an African-American 18 year old. Although Caine graduated from high school he struggled to find ambition to go on to find a job or obtain higher education. He rather do obtain wealth by drug dealing and hang out with peers in his neighborhood. Most of his friends were no strangers to experiencing crime as crime rate was high in Watts. Some of them would go out and commit murder. Because how bad the living is in his neighborhood, he has thoughts of moving out. During my analyzation of the characters and their actions in the movie, I’ve related them to the criminological theories of social strain theory, social learning theory and Self-control theory.

Crime and deviance can be observed on many levels in society, ranging from speeding to illicit drug use and human trafficking (Kilpatrick et al, 1987). Social scientists and criminologists dedicate their careers to deriving patterns and developing interventions and programs for people who have had frequent contact with the criminal justice system. This paper will reflect on the types of criminal activities that occurs in the movie “Animal Kingdom”. Specifically, it will follow the actions and outcomes of the protagonist, Joshua “J” Cody. Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory and Agnew’s General Strain theory will be introduced and compared. Applications and limitations of these criminological theories will be discussed and used to explain main character’s motivations and justifications to initially become involved in and continue engaging in criminal activities.

It allows us to examine what makes crime acceptable and desirable in the minds of potential criminals, and it gives us the tools necessary to use a proactive rather than reactive approach to crime control. To look at crime from a psychological point of view is nothing new. However, use of this technique may lead to better methods of deterrence. To begin, we must understand what the concepts are that have shaped the average person’s mind. In general the average person is faced with the concepts of determinism, free will, and social identity as they mature into adulthood.

In this paper, I plan to first describe the “Code of the Street” which is a term coined and a book written by Elijah Anderson. I would also summarize and describe two journal articles that test Anderson’s idea of the “Code of the Street” for a more definite explanation. I will tell how the two articles that I have chosen relates to some of the concepts that Anderson talked about in the book. I will then define general strain theory and social learning or differential association theory. Lastly, I will explain how general strain theory and social learning theory or differential association theory explain some of the behaviors that were seen by the individuals in the book published by Anderson. I will point out some of the individual’s behavior and demonstrate whether it may lead to crime or whether the behavior was learned in any way.

It is known that crime is caused through imitation, arousal and desensitising. The social Learning theory (2009), looks at how people engage in crime due to their associations. It explains that a person’s behaviour is a product of the people who surround ourselves – people imitate those who people admire. Theorist Bandura (1997) had completed an experiment in which looked at

Why some people cannot escape from criminal activities while others never have any problems has been examined for decades. The study of criminology targets why individuals commit crimes and why criminals behave in certain situations. This criminology research helps to break down a true story on the film “Blow” which tells the story of George Jung, one of the most significant drug traffickers in the United States in the 1970’s. The film depicts several criminal theories on why George lived his life the way he did. This paper will explain the theories best noted in the film Blow about General Strain theory, Differential Association theory and Social Bond theory. These three theories help possibly explain why George became a criminal.

A theory that an individual’s behavior is most likely based on factors such as personal convictions, personality, or inherited genes is a common belief in nowadays’ society. This theory seems like reasonable and logical because it is quite natural that a person’s behavior follows his or her characters. Malcolm Gladwell, however, in his essay, “The Power of Context: Bernie Goetz and the Rise and Fall of New York City Crime,” examines those factors affecting peoples’ behaviors and comes up with his own theory. Gladwell believes that the environmental conditions have the most significant influence on how one behaves. Throughout his essay, he presents a few different studies to help persuade

The limitation of the differential association theory lay in the question: if deviant behaviour is learned and is indeed "contagious", then why do so many in high crime areas, including criminals own siblings not become criminals? . Sociological conceptions, which regard an individual as a hapless victim of pernicious influences, are limited in providing a critical explanation of deviance, as they ignore the role of personal choice .

20). This illustrates that not only is persons' genetics contributing to criminal behaviour 'but' also the environment in which the they are socialised can initiate deviancy.