This Is The Entire Assignmenti Have A Hard Time Writing My Introductio
This Is The Entire Assignmenti Have A Hard Time Writing My Introductio
This is the entire assignment I have a hard time writing my introduction and thesis. I would gladly pay and appreciate help just getting started. Divergent Responses to Deviant Behavior There are many theories that try to explain deviant behavior. However, some theories are outdated and were created when the field of criminal justice was still a relatively new social science. For this assignment, write a 4- to 5-page report in a Microsoft Word document on two theories of deviant behavior discussed during this week's reading that represent today's changing trends. Explain how they are fitting with some specific examples.
In addition, examine three theories that may be considered outdated—Shelton’s Theory of Body Types, Lombroso’s Theory, and Y Chromosome Theory—and explain why they have been discredited. Support your responses with examples. Cite any sources in APA format.
Paper For Above instruction
The study of deviant behavior in criminology has evolved significantly over time, reflecting advancements in scientific understanding and shifts in social perspectives. Historically, several theories attempted to explain why individuals engage in deviant acts; however, many of these theories have fallen out of favor due to lack of empirical support or outdated assumptions. Conversely, contemporary theories are grounded in modern research and increasingly incorporate biological, social, and psychological factors. This paper explores two of these current theories—Social Learning Theory and General Strain Theory—that exemplify today's evolving understanding of deviance. It also examines three outdated theories—Shelton’s Theory of Body Types, Lombroso’s Theory, and the Y Chromosome Theory—and discusses why these have been discredited in light of scientific progress.
In the exploration of current theories on deviance, Social Learning Theory, developed by Albert Bandura and based on the premise that criminal and deviant behaviors are learned through interactions with others, remains influential (Akers, 2017). This theory asserts that individuals acquire deviant behaviors by observing and imitating others, particularly when such behaviors are reinforced. For example, juveniles exposed to delinquent peer groups often adopt similar behaviors, reinforced by acceptance or peer approval (Bandura, 1977). The Social Learning Theory underscores the importance of environment and social context in shaping deviance, aligning with modern perspectives that emphasize social influences over purely biological explanations.
Similarly, General Strain Theory (Agnew, 1991) offers a contemporary understanding of deviance rooted in psychological and social stressors. It posits that individuals who experience strain or stress—such as economic hardship, failure, or disrespect—are more likely to engage in deviant acts as coping mechanisms. For instance, urban youths facing monetary struggles may turn to theft or drug use as a response to their circumstances. This theory emphasizes the importance of social inequality and emotional distress, highlighting the need for social interventions to prevent deviance.
In contrast, earlier theories of deviance often relied on biological determinism, which has since been discredited due to lack of empirical evidence. Shelton’s Theory of Body Types, also known as somatotyping, classified individuals based on body shapes—ectomorphs, mesomorphs, and endomorphs—claiming that body type influences personality and propensity for criminality (Shelton & Shelhamer, 1935). Despite initial popularity, subsequent research failed to find consistent links between body type and criminal behavior, rendering the theory obsolete. It was based on superficial physical observations rather than scientific evidence.
Lombroso’s Theory of the Born Criminal, developed in the late 19th century, argued that criminality is inherited and can be identified by physical anomalies, such as facial features, skull shape, or other physical markers (Lombroso, 1876). While pioneering at the time, Lombroso’s ideas have been thoroughly discredited due to their deterministic and racist assumptions, as well as the lack of scientific validation. Modern genetics and criminology have demonstrated that criminal behavior cannot be predicted solely by physical characteristics, and Lombroso’s focus on physical traits ignored the complex social and psychological factors involved in criminality.
The Y Chromosome Theory, which suggested that criminal tendencies could be inherited through the Y chromosome, also lacked scientific support. Early studies linked the Y chromosome to aggressive behaviors, but subsequent extensive research failed to establish a causal relationship (Gordon & Verres, 2007). This over-simplification ignored the multifaceted influences on behavior, including environmental and social variables, making the theory scientifically invalid and ethically problematic.
In conclusion, modern theories like Social Learning Theory and General Strain Theory offer nuanced and evidence-based insights into deviant behaviors, emphasizing the roles of social context, environment, and individual psychology. Meanwhile, outdated biological theories such as Shelton’s, Lombroso’s, and the Y Chromosome Theory have been discredited due to their lack of empirical support, ethical concerns, and
simplistic explanations that ignore the complex nature of deviance. The ongoing development of criminology reflects a move towards more holistic and scientifically rigorous understandings of what influences deviant behavior.
References
Agnew, R. (1991). *Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency*. Criminology, 30(1), 47-88.
Amos, S. (2013). *The evolution of criminological theory*. Routledge.
Akers, R. L. (2017). *Social Learning and Social Structure: A General Theory of Crime and Deviance*. Transaction Publishers.
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Gordon, R., & Verres, R. (2007). The genetics of criminal behavior. *Science & Society*, 14(2), 134–148.
Lombroso, C. (1876). *L'uomo criminale* [The Criminal Man]. Pisa: Nistri-Lischi.
Shelton, L., & Shelhamer, J. (1935). The body type theory of temperament and delinquency. *Journal of Abnormal Psychology*, 30(4), 486-494.