The last of the major subcultural theories of crime was developed by Marvin Wolfgang and Franco Ferracuti in 1967, termed ‘the subculture of violence thesis’. This subcultural theory of crime was relatively different that the ones discussed thus far, and this was due to it being developed almost a decade later when new concerns had developed within the subcultural study of crime. The authors’ primary concern was not to establish that there is a subculture of violence, but to outline what the subculture holds for their members (Wolfgang and Ferracuti, 1967). Wolfgang’s (1958) study of homicide along with numerous other theories were used to develop their thesis on subculture of violence. Within the sociological field; cultural conflict, differential
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First, the social learning theory of crime by Ronald Akers is studied. Social learning theory of crime is an extension of differential association theory by Sutherland (1939). According to the (1966) article by Burgess and Akers, the purpose of the paper is to provide a restatement of the differential association theory, not an alternative, but novel ideas and concepts not inherent to differential association will be introduced. It was within the 1966 research article, Akers and Burgess came up with the idea of social learning theory of crime, though it was not referred to as such. In the following years: 1985, 1998 and 2000 Akers develops and improves the general theory of crime and deviance. With the progression of the social learning theory of crime, its consistent validity and positive findings were aided by ongoing research conducted by Akers and colleagues. The research methods include; self-report questionnaire survey about adolescence substance abuse, longitudinal study of smoking amongst students, longitudinal study of drinking among elderly population, and doctorate research conducted on rape and sexual assault with dependent variable in each study ranging from minor deviance to serious criminal behavior (Akers, 1999, p. …show more content…
Akers (1966, 1999), in his research, summarizes that individuals learn to engage in crime through contact to and the approval of meanings encouraging of crime. Social learning theory proposes an explanation of crime and deviance which embraces variables that operate both to motivate and control criminal behavior, to endorse and challenge conformity. The concepts of differential association, definitions, differential reinforcement and imitation are crucial to the understanding of social learning theory, differential association refers to the process whereby one is exposed to normative definitions favourable or unfavourable to illegal or law-abiding behaviour (Akers, 1999, p. 64). Definitions are understood to be the subjective meaning and attitudes attached to a given behavior (p. 65). Differential reinforcement refers to the balance of expected or real benefits and punishment that follow or simply the consequences of one’s behaviour (p. 66). Finally, imitation is understood to be engaging in similar behaviour patterns after the observation of similar behaviour in others (p. 67). According to Akers (1999), the above mentioned variables are all active in the underlying
First, the social learning theory of crime by Ronald Akers is studied. Social learning theory of crime is an extension of differential association theory by Sutherland (1939). According to the (1966) article by Burgess and Akers, the purpose of the paper is to provide a restatement of the differential association theory, not an alternative, but novel ideas and concepts not inherent to differential association will be introduced. It was within the 1966 research article, Akers and Burgess came up with the idea of social learning theory of crime, though it was not referred to as such. In the following years: 1985, 1998 and 2000 Akers develops and improves the general theory of crime and deviance. With the progression of the social learning theory of crime, its consistent validity and positive findings were aided by ongoing research conducted by Akers and colleagues. The research methods include; self-report questionnaire survey about adolescence substance abuse, longitudinal study of smoking amongst students, longitudinal study of drinking among elderly population, and doctorate research conducted on rape and sexual assault with dependent variable in each study ranging from minor deviance to serious criminal behavior (Akers, 1999, p. …show more content…
Akers (1966, 1999), in his research, summarizes that individuals learn to engage in crime through contact to and the approval of meanings encouraging of crime. Social learning theory proposes an explanation of crime and deviance which embraces variables that operate both to motivate and control criminal behavior, to endorse and challenge conformity. The concepts of differential association, definitions, differential reinforcement and imitation are crucial to the understanding of social learning theory, differential association refers to the process whereby one is exposed to normative definitions favourable or unfavourable to illegal or law-abiding behaviour (Akers, 1999, p. 64). Definitions are understood to be the subjective meaning and attitudes attached to a given behavior (p. 65). Differential reinforcement refers to the balance of expected or real benefits and punishment that follow or simply the consequences of one’s behaviour (p. 66). Finally, imitation is understood to be engaging in similar behaviour patterns after the observation of similar behaviour in others (p. 67). According to Akers (1999), the above mentioned variables are all active in the underlying