Sociological Perspectives on Delinquent Behavior (From Kids Who Commit Adult Crimes: Serious Criminality by Juvenile Offenders, P 115-126, 2002, R. Barri Flowers, -- See NCJ-197664)

• NCJ Number: 197673
• Author(s): R. Barri Flowers
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter on sociological perspectives on delinquent behavior discusses social-control theories and delinquency, strain theories of delinquency, cultural-transmission theories of delinquency, and critical-criminology theories and delinquency.

Abstract

Social-control theories argue that all individuals have the potential and opportunity to perpetrate delinquent or criminal offenses, but most refrain from such behavior because of fear and social constraints. This perspective explains juvenile delinquency as a reflection of inadequate external social control and internalized social values for some youths, thus creating a freedom in which delinquent conduct may occur. Among social-control theories are social disorganization theory, which relates to the inability of social institutions and communities to adequately socialize and control its youth; social-bonding theory, which holds that a youth's behavior is significantly related to a social bond that ties a youth to the social order; and containment theory, which focuses on the quality and number of inner and outer containment mechanisms for controlling juveniles' behavior. Strain theories of delinquency explain the delinquency of youths as a response to a lack of socially approved opportunities. Strain theorists regard juvenile antisocial behavior as caused by the frustrations of lower class youth when they find themselves unable to achieve the material success expected of the middle class. Cultural-transmission theories postulate that delinquency is learned behavior that reflects the norms, values, beliefs, and behavioral characteristics of those with whom the delinquent interacts. Critical or radical criminology theories tend to explain crime and delinquency in terms of the relationship between capitalism and criminal and juvenile justice. Critical criminologists argue that the criminal laws primarily serve the interests of the ruling class who use these laws to exploit, control, and victimize the lower and working classes in order to maintain the economic and political system of capitalism.