Sociology Families, Delinquency and Crime Term Paper

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11).

Perhaps the most major and identifiable sociological theorist is Emile Durkheim. He literally helped formulate the ideas and theories of modern sociology, and many of the criminal justice theories are based on his ideas. Durkheim developed many of the modern theories of criminality, such as cultural disintegration, which can lead to an individual's gradual disassociation from society, with no bonds or commitments to a society that is dissolving around him or her. Durkheim felt this could help lead to deviant behavior and even suicide (Geiger & Fischer, 1995, p. 72). He also felt crime in society is normal, and it can even lead to desirable social reforms, ideas that were very revolutionary when he lived and worked in the late 19th century. Many later theorists used Durkheim's models, including social theorist Travis Hirschi, an expert in social control theory and delinquency.

Travis Hirschi is not the father of the social control theory, but his book, Causes of Delinquency, written in 1969 has been hailed as a landmark book in the field of control theory. He updated the book in 2002, and it is still the "Bible" of the social control theory. He believes that the cultural deviance theory helps explain why so many ghetto residents join gangs and become involved in criminal activities. He writes, "There is a very strong tendency for boys to have friends whose activities are congruent with their own attitudes" (Hirschi, 2002, p. 159). Thus, the social order of their environment is no longer family and value oriented, it is peer oriented, and this helps explain both the culture of gangs and the cultural devaince theory. These youths live ouside the mainstream of traditional society, and their values and needs are very different than a typical modern middle-class youth. They must survive, often in poverty, broken families, and with drug or alcohol-addicted parents and family members.

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Thus, their models for normalcy are far different than youths who grow up in a family with strong morals and ideals and pass those ideals through the family. The same youth in middle-America sees gang and violent activity as morally wrong, while the inner city youth sees it as a way to survive and perhaps make it out of the ghetto.

In conclusion, both of these sociological theories have merit. However, it seems that the cultural deviance theory may have more merit in today's society. Society and its values have changed. There is much more emphasis on money, possessions, and high-end belongings. Sneakers must be name brand, cars must be luxury models, and homes must be large and showy. Many young people identify with these values and beliefs, and do not feel they can ever attain them. Without proper family supervision, from family members who may be working two or three jobs or addicts in their own right, they have little moral input from family, and much from friends. To fit in inner city society, they must conform to the gang mentality, or perhaps not survive. This is a deviant society, based on violence and crime, and if an inner city youth has no other values or influences, they can easily become ensconced in the gang lifestyle. A group of writers note, "As compared with nonmembers, gang members self-report higher rates of delinquency, violence, drug use, and drug sales; they are also more likely to have an official arrest history" (Thornberry, Krohn, Lizotte, Smith & Tobin, 2003, p. 182). I believe the cultural deviance theory is a reflection of our time, relaxed morals, more overall violence, and gang activity actually becoming acceptable and even superior to many levels of society. With little inner understanding of societal norms, gang, and much other delinquent activity can trace back to cultural deviance and.....

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