NCJ Number
26391
Journal
ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1975) Pages: 95-108
Date Published
1975
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE WAYS IN WHICH THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSES AND DEVIANCE MAY INFLUENCE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF DEVIANCE AND THEREBY AFFECT THE FORMS THAT DEVIANCE ASSUMES.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT IT IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT WHAT COMES TO BE SEEN AS DEVIANT IN A SOCIETY INVOLVES A PROCESS OF DEFINTION. HE ALSO OBSERVES THAT THE IDEOLOGIES WHICH HAVE BEEN USED THROUGHOUT HISTORY TO EXPLAIN CRIME AND DEVIANCE ARE, AT THE LEAST, CULTURALLY AND HISTORICALLY RELATIVE. SEVERAL EXAMPLES ARE OFFERED WHICH DEMONSTRATE THE OFFENDERS THEMSELVES MAY TEND TO EXPLAIN THEIR OWN DEVIANCE BY MEANS OF THESE THEORIES, WHICH IN TURN PROVIDES A 'VERIFICATION' OF THESE THEORIES. THREE DIFFERENT AVENUES ARE DESCRIBED BY SHICH MEMBERS OF A CULTRUE ARE EXPOSED TO IDEOLOGIES OF CRIMINALITY SO THAT THEY MAY COME TO EMPLOY THEM IN MAKING SENSE OF THEIR OWN OR ANOTHER PERSON'S EXPERIENCES. THESE: 1) THE MASS MEDIA; 2) PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH CONTROL AGENT WHO ESPOUSE SOME PARTICULAR IDEOLOGY, AND 3) INTERPRETATIONS OF CRIMINALITY OFFERED BY EXPERTS OR REFORMED DEVIANTS. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PROCESS TO FUTURE FORMS OF CRIMINALITY ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)