1. Theories of Delinquency
All the Major Theories
All in One Night
All For Free (Assuming you pay tuition)

2. What to look for in a theory
What are the central concepts (causes)
Is the theory empirically supported?
Survey research, experimental research
Does the theory make an assumption about human nature?
What are the policy implications?
Every theory has a policy implication
Every policy implication is derived from a theory

3. Individual Level Sociological Theories:
The Big 3
Social Learning Theory
Social Control Theory
Strain/Anomie Theory
Others:
Deterrence Theory
Labeling Theory

4. Social Learning Theory
Edwin Sutherland
Differential Association Theory
Crime learned in intimate personal groups
Communication, “definitions” and techniques
Ronald Akers’ Social Learning Theory
Differential Associations, Definitions, Imitation, Differential Reinforcement (Process)

5. Evaluating Social Learning
Empirical Support
Delinquent Values, Delinquent Peers
Assumptions about human nature?
Policy implications?
Use learning to shape behavior away from crime and towards prosocial activity

6. Strain Theory Robert K. Merton Heavily Criticized:
Social Structure and Anomie
The “American Dream” is criminogenic
Modes of Adaptation
Rebellion
Innovation
Retreatism
Heavily Criticized:
Why do people adapt do strain differently?
Only explain lower class, economic crime
Poor empirical support

7. Evaluating Strain Agnew’s General Strain Theory
Strain = stress, some people better equipped to handle stress
More empirical support
Policy implication of strain theories?
Assumption about human nature?

8. Informal Social Control Theory “Control” theories
Three Types of Informal Social Control
Direct
Indirect
Internal
Hirschi’s social bond theory
Gottfredson and Hirschi’s “Low Self-Control”
Gerald Patterson’s Social Interactional Theory

9. Evaluating Control Theory
Direct Control Supported Most (parenting)
Some support for “bonds”
Assumption about human nature?
Policy Implications?

10. Review of the “Big 3” Social Learning Theory Social Control Theory
Strain Theory

11. Deterrence Theory Like “control” theory, but emphasize formal control
Swift Certain Severe punishment reduces crime
Specific vs. General Deterrence
“Marginal Deterrence”

12. Evaluating Deterrence
General Deterrence
Death penalty, clearance rates (certainty), etc
Specific Deterrence
Regular probation vs. ISP
The effect of “arrest” or “imprisonment”
Sherman’s D.V. studies
Policy Implications?
Assumption about human nature?

13. Rational Choice Theory
Flipside of Deterrence:
How “rational” are delinquents?
The “criminal event” and “criminal involvement”
Policy Implication of the Criminal Event
“Situational Crime Prevention”

14. Labeling Theory Context of the 1960s/1970s Theory with “ironic twist”
Government intervention designed to help kids actually makes matters worse
Arrest change in self concept change in behavior (secondary deviance)

15. Evaluating Labeling Empirical tests difficult
Effect of arrest? (See p. 90 of book)
Assumption about human nature?
Policy Implications
OJJDP 1974
The “Four D’s”

16. Recent Revisions of Labeling
“Informal” labeling
John Braithewaite
Crime Shame and Reintegration
“Reintegrative Shaming”
Deterrence and labeling theory both wrong…and both right

17. Macro Level Explanations
Focus on differences in group rates across some “aggregate”
State, city, neighborhood, country
Example: Social Disorganization Theory

18. History of Social D. Chicago School of Crime
Theories of the “city” and the “immigrant”
Concentric Zones and city growth
Shaw and McKay
Methodology
Findings

19. The Decline and Resurgence
Decline in Popularity
Number of Criticisms (official data, classist/racist)
Resurgence (1980s-present)
Recast as “social control”
Consistent empirical support
Ecological  Social Control  Crime
(Collective Efficacy)
Policy Implications?
The “Truly Disadvantaged” and Concentration of Poverty

20. What to Make of Poverty, Unemployment, or SES
Book: Delinquency spread evenly across classes: Is this true?
Self-report data (limitations)
Individual vs. Aggregate (neighborhoods)
New role of poverty in theory
Old theory rather simplistic (blocked opportunity)
Newer: effects on family, neighborhood, catch up with children

21. Psychological Theories
Behaviorism (Overlap with learning and control theories in sociology)
Personality IQ
Cognitive (again, overlap with sociological theory)

22. Biological Explanations
Genetics
Neurological Deficits
Biological Harms
Pre/Perinatal risk
Toxins (Lead)
Theories? “Biosocial”
Moffitt’s Dual Taxonomy

23. Feminist Theory Feminist theory and the JJS
Feminism and Theories of Delinquency
The Gender Ratio
The Gender Gap

24. Debates
Doing Research—Specific Web sites, what is a “good” source