Application of Criminological Theory Essay

This paper will concentrate on the applying of criminological idea within the following situation: Because the vice principal accountable for self-discipline at a prestigious college, I would like to find out what actions to absorb coping with a deviant eighth grade male scholar. This scholar comes from a deprived socioeconomic background and has now been caught in a bodily altercation with one other scholar. My direct supervisor, the principal, believes it’s within the scholar’s greatest curiosity to stay at our faculty.

As I’m accountable for self-discipline, I’ll recommend a number of potential programs of motion, incorporating criminological theories, for use both singly or in tandem. The primary plan of action can be to talk to each of the scholars concerned within the altercation and in flip, their mother and father. Though it isn’t an excuse, it’s potential that there was some instigation previous the altercation. Talking with each college students might paint an image as to the character of what transpired and the way it may have been averted.

In any case, each college students will likely be reprimanded as now we have a zero tolerance coverage for such acts right here on the college.

To correctly perceive the deviant scholar, let’s name him David, will probably be essential to seek out out extra about his background, social and household ties, peer influences, common demeanor, and any targets or hopes he has. I can not merely classify David as a juvenile delinquent or a future felony. To label him might do extra hurt than good. Labeling Idea The labeling idea asserts that after a person has deviated from the social norms of society, they’re labeled as a delinquent or a felony, and start to behave as such (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011).

In different phrases, if David is constantly labeled by the college, his friends, and society on the whole as a juvenile delinquent then he’ll start to imagine it himself. His shallowness and self-worth will go down and he’ll start viewing himself as a juvenile delinquent. As soon as David has accepted his label, he’ll start to have interaction in increasingly more deviant acts. So it is crucial right here that I’m delicate to his state of affairs and keep away from placing a label on him for one discretionary act. Social Disorganization Idea We all know that David comes from a deprived socioeconomic background.

It’s probably that he lives in an atmosphere the place social ties are poor and delinquent peer teams are considerable. Such communities have a better crime price and a better price of delinquency, as defined by their weak social bonds. Socially organized and tight-knit communities usually tend to supervise and management teenage peer teams the place socially disorganized communities usually are not (McCord, 1992). Exterior components corresponding to lack of supervision and a weak social bond could also be contributing to David’s delinquency. Sadly, the college can do little in the best way of serving to him and his household out of their neighborhood.

Nevertheless, making a social bond of kinds right here on the college might assist David transfer from a maybe delinquent peer group to 1 extra conscientious of social norms and societal legal guidelines. I’d recommend attempting to get David concerned in a sport or one other social membership on the college. Once more, discovering out what he’s fascinated by is a vital a part of serving to him. We would like David to really feel socially accepted and enhance his shallowness. Studying Theories Studying theories recommend that delinquent, deviant, and felony conduct will not be instilled in a person, however realized via interactions with their atmosphere and friends. Due to their particular person circumstances, some folks study and observe behaviors that the bigger society condemns. Not surprisingly, kids rising up in neighborhoods rife with crime typically find yourself committing crime themselves” (Barkan, 2009). It’s important that David affiliate with friends that comply with and respect societies guidelines. The idea of differential affiliation attributes a person’s attitudes and views of crime and deviance to that of their quick social teams.

In different phrases, if David’s peer group is deviant, he will likely be deviant as effectively. One other clarification for that follows the idea of differential identification; David might really feel the necessity to “slot in” and be accepted as a member of a bunch. By appearing just like the group he has chosen to slot in to; dressing like they do, talking the best way they communicate, and fascinating in the identical deviant actions they have interaction in, he features their approval and is accepted as a part of the group. In the identical method, David is studying deviant conduct as a result of he’s uncovered to it regularly.

He might even see violence and deviance as a social norm (and due to this fact acceptable) as a result of in his quick atmosphere it’s a regular incidence. Lastly, via differential reinforcement, this realized conduct is strengthened via reward or reward from his peer group. Maybe he see’s frequent violence through which the particular person committing the violence isn’t reprimanded. If David believes he can commit these acts with little worry of reprimand or with the encouragement of his peer group, he’s extra probably to take action and never even really feel like he has carried out something improper.

Faculty is a spot with many guidelines and plenty of sorts of interactions with completely different folks. Clearly what is suitable in David’s residence atmosphere and peer group will not be acceptable right here. It is vital that he perceive what is true and improper on this setting and moreover, in society. I’ll probably recommend that David communicate with the college’s psychologist to find out how a lot realized deviant conduct he has skilled. This can even give him a chance to bond with somebody who respects social norms and legal guidelines. Management Theories

In contrast to different criminological theories, management theories got down to study not why people commit crime, however why they don’t commit crime (Akers & Sellers, 2004). David’s assembly with the college psychologist can even shed some gentle on the place he measures utilizing a number of the management theories. The containment idea introduces the likelihood that there are inside and exterior influences that information a person away from committing crime. Internally, that particular person’s optimistic self-image and tolerance for frustration assist sway them from turning into deviant.

On the opposite aspect, exterior influences like optimistic function fashions and a detailed household bond will do the identical (Barkan, 2009). Travis Hirshi’s social bonding idea had a number of explanations for the conduct of juveniles. These explanations included supported analysis that discovered that “youth’s who had been strongly connected to their mother and father had been much less more likely to commit felony acts” and “youths who maintained weak and distant relationships with folks tended towards delinquency” (Evans, n. d. ) One ultimate addition to manage theories, though there are a number of extra, is the coercive management and social assist idea.

This idea, briefly, states that a person is coerced into crime both via worry or via different means, corresponding to poverty. Whether or not that particular person has robust social assist from household, their neighborhood, and social establishments corresponding to college, has a big affect on the chance that the person with commit crime. Whereas every of those management theories introduce a number of concepts about why particular person’s might or might not commit crime, one similarity is current all through. The presence of a robust social bond with mates, household, and neighborhood encourages a criminal offense free existence.

To encourage David to go down the suitable path, so to talk, we have to fortify his social bonds. Life-Course Theories Life-course theories concentrate on what components happen throughout completely different phases of 1’s life which will promote delinquency or crime. These components embody: socioeconomic standing, poor and inconsistent parenting, weak social bonds, poor college efficiency, and delinquent friends. (Barkan, 2009). The recurring theme throughout the life-course theories is that it’s weak social bonds, poor parenting, and the affect of delinquent friends that decide a person’s susceptibility to deviant conduct.

Pressure, or stress, outcome from a person’s perceived inadequacies making them much more prone. Such pressure might be attributable to any variety of the causal components of delinquency listed above. A younger and impressionable particular person corresponding to David might expertise pressure due to his socioeconomic standing, his problem on the college, or many different causes. The extra pressure one experiences, the extra probably they’re to show deviant conduct. Conclusion I totally assist the principal’s choice to maintain David on the college because it actually is in his greatest curiosity.

My ultimate disciplinary choice relating to the bodily altercation between David and the opposite scholar will embody a number of days of in-school suspension the place each boys will be capable of serve out their punishment whereas nonetheless finishing college assignments, separated from the remainder of the scholars after all. I’m compelled to succeed in out to David and provides him each alternative to reform. I will likely be talking with the trainer who made the preliminary criticism relating to David to elucidate to them that he’s in want of a optimistic function mannequin and optimistic reinforcement.

A go to with the college’s psychologist can even be made. Not solely will this give David an outlet to maybe focus on his issues, it’s going to additionally expose him to a different optimistic affect and somebody who might help him address any anger points he might have. Introducing David to optimistic and shut social bonds is already reducing the prospect that he’ll have interaction in additional deviant conduct. Solutions will likely be made that he have interaction in a sport or different social golf equipment on the college. This may encourage David to work together with a much less deviant peer group.

There can even be a gathering between David and myself. I’ll clarify to David that his present behaviors are unacceptable right here in school and any additional infractions will likely be handled swift and extra extreme punishments. As soon as that has been mentioned, I want to discover out extra about what targets David has. In doing so, I might help inspire him to acquire these targets. My intention is to make it clear to him that I’m there to assist with any points he has and that he can really feel comfy coming to me, or every other college workers, if he must.

In closing, the principle objective right here is to assist David by introducing optimistic function fashions, making him really feel socially accepted to extend his shallowness, strengthen his social bonds, and encourage him to work together with folks in a extra optimistic method. If nowhere else, a faculty ought to foster these values to cut back a toddler’s chance of delinquency. ? References Akers, R. , & Sellers, C. (2004). Scholar Research Information for Criminological Theories: Introduction, Analysis, and Software (4th ed. ). Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Firm.