Self-Control Theory of Crime Evaluation - Essay Example

Self-Control Theory of crime Evaluation Task: Self-Control Theory of crime Evaluation   Criminal theories are fundamental in understanding the persistence of crime and the counteractive actions. Social control theory focuses on the behaviors that children develop as they interact with their parents. These behaviors determine the likelihood of their committing crimes when they become adults. Concurrently, conflict theory focuses on the occurrence of crime based on the social and political variance. Positive reinforcement of both theories can reduce crime; however, social conflict theory is likely to address the occurrence of crime better in the modern American society.   The social control theory addresses issues that enhance social order and compliance. It analyzes factors that determine whether certain activities are against the law.  The theory states that the concepts that one perceives as norms are implied behavioral rules. This means that social stability relies on people’s responsibilities for others based on courtesy and etiquette. Violation of norms leads to punishment that varies depending on the prevalence of the norm. This theory emphasizes the effects of parental influence on crime rate. Positive reinforcement, as understood in the theory, may lead to a safe and happy community. This is because it enhances motivational factors that may foster acceptable behaviors. One of the motivational factors is love. For example, a person who feels loved is likely to love other individuals and become a peaceful person. However, a person who feels unloved is likely to be dangerous like the persons who are abused by the community (Burfeind & Bartusch, 2011). An additional advantage of the theory is its ability to foster social morality. This leads to social order that eventually becomes part of societal processes. This is because moral values become intrinsic features. Additionally, the theory emphasizes the promotion of appropriate behaviors through the development of social consciousness enhanced by attachment. It is fundamental to acknowledge that attachment is the bond that exists between a person, his or her family, and the entire community. The attachment is vital in the maintenance of social order because it encourages deference for authority and acceptance of the norm through commitment. Lack of commitment increases the occurrence of crime in a community, while commitment makes people look for ways of meeting their needs lawfully. Sociologists believe that such involvement discourages unlawful actions. For example, young individuals who are strongly attached to their parents are unlikely to engage in unexpected behaviors compared to persons who are distant from their parents. This is because attachment enhances direct control of children, reducing the probability of engaging in deviant behaviors. Positive reinforcement leads the formation of self-image.  Sociologists posit that one forms one’s self-image during one’s childhood, and this self-image is carried forward to the adulthood. Positive reinforcements can lead to the formation of a good self-image that makes an individual perceive himself or herself as a good person. Individuals with good images do not commit crimes because their conscience cannot allow them. For example, children who perceive themselves as good can resist peer pressure that lead to delinquencies. This is especially the case in places where crime rates are high, especially in informal settlements. People with poor images of themselves are likely to commit crimes because they are bitter (Burfeind & Bartusch, 2011). Additionally, positive reinforcement can enhance moral beliefs. These beliefs allow people to embrace the society’s moral concepts and hinder their involvement in unlawful behaviors. For example, if a child grows up believing that drugs can kill, he or she will not take the drugs (Hirschi, 2001). Negative reinforcement, as understood in the social control theory, increases crime. Factors that lead to negative reinforcement or lack of reinforcement are family problems like divorce, parents losing jobs, and highly involving work. These problems will hinder parents from directly supervising children. Consequently, they will lack the ability to recognize their children’s low-self control. Additionally, parents may fail to identify the consequences of their children’s deviant behaviors and correct them in time (Hirschi, 2001). The negative reinforcement may lead to lack of communal attachment and poor communication between parents and children. Lack of proper communication will lead to poor relationships with parents and other people in the community. Moreover, it will make the child self-centered and insensitive, so he will harm other people (Walklate, 2007). The critics of this theory claim that it relies on the community and family norms but fails to account for financial status and intelligence. Additionally, it does not address the effects of extended family relations on child’s behaviors. The critics also believe that theory would be effective if it explained the reason for engaging in criminal behaviors during adulthood and not childhood alone (Walklate, 2007). Conflict theory indicates that disagreements within societies arise from the desire to attain equity. According to Vito and Maahs (2012), human beings are always pursuing goals contributing to violation of laws. Authorities should implement the concepts of “conflict theory” partially to address crime in contemporary America. This is because conflicts arise due to the dissatisfaction of those who feel neglected in the community. For example, a conflict of needs among Americans has always persisted. The contemporary American society can adapt theories other than conflict theory when addressing inequities in the societies. For example, an individual may find a given rule relevant to him or her alone. However, such a law is important to the entire community (Vito & Maahs, 2012). The theory will prevent crime because the society will control people who are powerful and can enhance fairness. According to Siegel (2012), the competitive nature of human beings undermines criminal processes in various ways. Initially, it results in disagreements because of differences in opinions and perception of morals. According to the conflict theory, different opinions are the basis of human understanding. Consequently, the theory advocates for the existence of conflict in societies. Therefore, crime is likely to decrease in America if the majority of the public understands the theory. Conflict theory can fail because influential groups in the society use laws for their own benefit. The groups articulate policies that favor the majority at the expense of the minority in the society. This happens at all levels of leadership in the American society (Siegel, 2013). Consequently, criminal gangs are not responsible for all the ills committed in the US. It is common to view racial issues in America using conflict theory, especially among Caucasians and Afro-Americans. The criminal law system in the societies dominated by Caucasians such as in the US tends to suppress African-Americans. For this case, a criminal law serves the majority at the expense of the minority. Consequently, crime is linked with wealth acquisition in America. The theory states that a crime can result in another crime (Vito & Maahs, 2012). This happens in jurisdiction authorities. Social control theory addresses crime better than the conflict theory in the contemporary American society. The theory works well in a dynamic society characterized by many differences. The difference in race and origins makes it difficult to apply the conflict theory in criminal cases in the US. The use of conflict theory contributes to crime in cosmopolitan societies. For example, criminal laws safeguard the interest of the majority at the expense of the minority. Positive reinforcement of conflict theory is highly effective in homogenous societies (Vito & Maahs, 2012). This means that it cannot work well in cases where the conflict theory portrays African Americans as people prone to commit crime. There is no tangible evidence that crime is associated to a particular race. Control theory has proven to be effective in evaluating criminal issues in specific circumstances. However, the theory does not confine itself to a specific mode of thinking. Instead, a combination of ideas assists in evaluating criminal issues in the society. This theory helps address the problem of crime effectively, especially when authorities clearly understand the causes of crime (Siegel, 2013). The conflict theory will be suitable in such areas of the contemporary America where there are disparities in wealth distribution. Interestingly, conflict theory has failed in capitalistic societies because crime escalates whenever dissatisfaction or marginalization persists. There have been cases in the US when investors have had their properties destroyed by persons who felt oppressed. Crime is reduced in cases when a majority of the people belongs to the same class. Crime will always take place as long as there are inequalities in the society. A class-conscious society reels from the effects of crime arising from disparities (Vito & Maahs, 2012). According to conflict theory, values do not form the basis of harmony in a society. Moreover, people agreeing on pertinent certain issues does not indicate that crime will not reduce. Social control theory tackles crime occurrences better than conflict theory in the contemporary US. This is because the theory focuses on correcting person’s behaviors during his or her childhood. Most people develop their personality during childhood. The reinforcement of this theory means that children will be raised appropriately to acquire good personalities. For example, they will love other people, shun self-centered characters, and develop good communication skills. This will enable them to develop appropriate relationships with other individuals in the society. People with such personalities are less likely to commit crimes in societies with cultural diversity such as America (Burfeind & Bartusch, 2011). Social control theory and conflict theory are both effective in eliminating crime depending on their use. However, social control theory has a significant effect on the population because individuals acquire their attributes such as engaging in crime during childhood. People learn about disparities in the society and begin engaging in crime when they become adults. Additionally, the conflict theory is less effective in societies that record disparity within the populace. References Burfeind, J. W., & Bartusch, D. J. (2011). Juvenile delinquency: An integrated approach.     Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Hirschi, T. (2001). A control theory of delinquency. Retrieved from http://courses.missouristate.edu/KarlKunkel/SOC540/hirschi.pdf Siegel, L. J. (2013). Criminology: Theories, patterns, and typologies. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Vito, G. F., & Maahs, J. R. (2012). Criminology: Theory, research, and policy. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Walklate, S. (2007). Understanding criminology: Current theoretical debates. Maidenhead:     McGraw-Hill/Open University Press. Read More