What Causes Crime?

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

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the social learning theory of crime, and how it relates to certain criminal acts. Ronald Akers would say that a person’s desire to engage in crime is learned “through exposure to and the adoption of definitions favorable to crime” (Cullen, Agnew, & Wilcox 2014, p. 140). When an individual commits a crime they are acting on impulse because of actions they saw others engage in primarily during childhood, and therefore mimic those actions. Akers saw the need to extend Sutherland’s Differential association theory therefore creating a modern viewpoint known as Social learning theory (Cullen, Agnew, & Wilcox 2014). Social learning theory has four main mechanism of learning to describe how crime is learned.

Frank Schmalleger explains the theory of social disorganization as one that depicts both social change as well as conflict, and lack of any agreement as the origin of its cause for both criminal behavior as well as nonconformity to society and closed associated with the ecological school of criminology (Schmalleger, 2012, p. 152). The philosophy behind the organization and structure of a society and how that contributes to criminal behavior within society is by stressing poverty, economic conditions, lack of education, lack of skills, are not sought-after in the work place, and divergent cultural values. Criminal behavior is the result of the person’s assignment of location within the structure of society.

as a general concept, social learning theory has been applied to the many different fields of social science to explain why certain individuals develop motivation to commit (or abstain from) crime and develop the skills to commit crime through the people they associate with. Social Learning Theory (SLT) is one of the most frequently looked at theories in the criminology field. This theory was introduced by Ronald L. Akers as a reformulation of Edwin H. Sutherland 's (1947) differential association theory of crime meld with principles of behavior psychology (Bradshaw, 2011). Akers retained the concepts of differential association and definitions from Sutherland 's theory, but conceptualized them in more behavioral terms and

Sutherland’s theory piggyback on Social Disorganization theory by answering some of the critic’s questions about why only some people in crime-prone neighbors commit crime while many others do not. While Aker’s theory pick up where Sutherland

One may avoid negativity for any kind of reason. One may be distressed by it, or perhaps one may find negativity traumatizing to their emotions. Whatever it may be, some people attempt to dodge any sort of negativity. The topic of my independent novel serves to not only challenge the idea of avoiding any kind of depressing news, but to bring light to new ways of thinking that humanity should adopt should we want to understand the roots of crime. Furthermore, we should use our knowledge of these roots to prevent crime.

Edwin Sutherland’s Social Learning Theory of Crime is crime learned throughout social interaction with antisocial peers. This theory demonstrates the individuals demeanor that emulates society’s cultural and sub cultural values consisting of methods for executing crime - intentions, ambitions, justifications, or perspectives. A behavioral approach to studying sexual assault begins with the hypothesis that sexual aggression is educated. Theorists stress the importance of attitudes that rationalize or validate rape. Rape is produced by differences in the way women and men are sexually socialized, which implies that if women were socialized like men, they would

Social process theory believes that individuals are socially conditioned into or against crime (Siegel, “Social Process Theory”). Negative family relationships, limited education or association with others who have little or not respect for the

Social learning theory refers to Akers’ theory of crime and deviance. Akers attempted to specify the mechanism and processes through which criminal learning takes place by explaining crime and deviance; he did this in such a way that the likelihood of conforming or deviant behavior based on the influence of an individual’s history of learning was accounted for. This theory was based off Sutherland’s differential association

The aim of this essay is to compare, contrast and evaluate two sociological theories of crime causation and two psychological theories of crime causation.

Trying to understand why crime happens if a very important concept. Throughout history, criminologist have debated on which theory of crime is most accurate. Currently, social bond and social learning theory are two of the leading theories in the criminological world. Between these two theories there are a variety of differences and similarities. In addition to these theories Gottfredson and Hirschi have published a book where they use the concept of self control to describe crime. Analyzing these three theories can be important to understanding the current criminological world.

What determines criminal behavior? Are they born to be a natural born killer, is it in their genes, or is it a learned behavior? There are multiple factors resulting in criminal behavior, from genes to environmental factors. Although it is said and believed that criminal behavior is biologically determined there are even more learned or environmental factors that play a role in criminal behavior.

You’re video was my favorite! That was very informative and organized. The whole idea that we could be born as criminals is extremely interesting to me such as the “warrior gene”. However, Criminology is grounded more in the sociology field of study rather than other subjects. Biological factors could very well indeed contribute to criminality but it’s not solely to blame because other factors contribute to crime too. It’s almost as if some people have complete blindness to the concept of personal agency; as if the human being is a machine that runs on a program without a mind making choices. Impulses and influences alone do not control human beings; we make choices too. Personally, I’d say lets open access to water, food,

Throughout History, there have been many speculations as to why people commit crime. Criminologists, Psychologists, Sociologists and even Biologists have all, at one time or another claimed to have an explanation. However, there is one underlying explanation that has been maintained across centuries, presented by various theorists, and to this day, is widely perceived as truthful. That is the explanation that a certain propensity to commit crime exists within the lower classes of society that does not exist elsewhere. While this may be able to explain some crime, these explanations can lead to the perception that any and all types of offences, (the only exception perhaps being the complicated corporate fraud-type) including the most violent, are characterized by low-income neighborhoods and poor, under-educated individuals from broken homes. It is dangerous to assume that one’s position on the spectrum of social class affects their willingness and ability to disobey the law, especially if in a violent manner. Inversely, this suggests that those of a lower socio-economic standing somehow adhere to a different set of morals, in which violence and deviance is justified or normalized, as posited by Walter Miller (Alder, et al., 2012). Others like Albert Cohen, in his book “Delinquent Boys,” theorize that delinquent youth subcultures emerge when young men in the lower-class, feel the strain of not being able to measure up to middle class expectations.

My first source I found using EBSCOhost and the academic search premier. Using terms such as cyber, cybercrime, cyber security, and multiple terms commonly associated with hacking I was able to find a fairly informative list of tips for helping to protect yourself from the criminals out to get you on the internet. My second source I found on Opposing Viewpoints in Context, which goes into detail about identity theft along with the different methods used by internet criminals to target individuals. My third source I found on Opposing Viewpoints in Context as well searching through the computer crime page which provides information on how to make sure your staying safe with your emails. My last source is also from Opposing Viewpoints in