Transcript
Kyle Snyder 4 April 2010Juvenile DelinquencyProfessor PortillosMiller’s Cultural Deviance TheoryThe differences between the social and economic classes of a community can bevery vast. What is acceptable for one group may not be acceptable for another. Thiscan become even more complicated when these groups are merely blocks even feet insome cases away from each other. The drive in America is perceived to be upwardmovement and prosperity in the community. What defines what and how this upwardmovement is obtained is where this division of the classes becomes evident. In order tounderstand how and why the definition of upward movement within the class’s one mustfirst understand the reasons for the disparity in class movement. There are manydifferent theories as to why criminal behavior, especially in children, seems lucrative.These theories stem from a variety of different causes including class, race, gender,location, and prevalence of crime around the area where a person located. Thesetheories are neither right nor wrong but some have a more accurate assessment thanothers.Walter Miller derived a theory that was both controversial and quite possibly oneof the clearest definitions of why people commit crime. Miller developed the culturaldeviance theory to help rationalize how different social classes were impacted by theincentive to commit crimes. He stated that the incentive for middle class citizensincludes the desire to conform to social norms. The motivation and goals of this social Page 1 of 8 class derive from personal and societal achievement, delayed gratification, and hardwork. For the lower classes of society this is vastly different. Prior to his theory manytheorists believed that crime committed by the lower class was a product of intergenerational poverty. This means that poverty is not a short term problem but onethat is deeply rooted on the social class of an individual’s ancestors and how they wereraised. Miller argued that instead of the intergenerational poverty theory that therational for criminal behavior is deeply rooted in the culture of the lower class. Thisculture encourages deviant behavior and considers it a necessity and representation of a person’s status in society.It long has been studied in academia that the upper classes strive off of rules andgoals for how a proper individual must function. These include following the laws setforth by the community, obeying ones parents and authority figures, and working for theadvancement of the society. These morals combined with a hard work ethic will surelyadvance someone in the class structure of the upper and middle classes. Theunderlying source for this comes from good mentorship by the youth’s parents andcarries with them throughout their life.For the lower classes of society these morals are not often able to be fulfilled.“Several theorists have argued that certain groups in our society—especially lower-class, young, minority males—are more likely to define violence as an acceptableresponse to a wide range of provocations and insults.” 1 When times get tough manylower class citizens find themselves resorting to the fight or flight methodology. Withnowhere to run the battle for acceptance and status in the community often resorts to 1 Law Library, “ Crime Causation: Psychological Theories - More Comprehensive Theories, ”http://law.jrank.org/pages/810/Crime-Causation-Psychological-Theories-More-comprehensive-theories.html (accessed 1 April, 2010). Page 2 of 8 violence and crime. This is where Millers theory on cultural deviance is found. As thequest for the truth on Millers theory continues, “Data in this area are somewhat mixed,but recent studies suggest that males, young people, and possibly lower-class peopleare more likely to hold beliefs favorable to violence.” 2 When dealing with citizens who are living and surviving in the lower classes itstarts to become apparent that the crime rate in the area is higher than in other parts of the community. This is obvious from the moment one enters the area where the lower class citizens are dwelling. The area is often filled with older buildings often in disrepair,the streets are dirty and seem to be unrepaired for years, individuals are walking aroundin cheap/old clothing or in some cases there is no one on the streets and the homes arecovered in bars and thick metal doors. There is spray paint marking the “turf” of certaingroups or gangs on buildings and fences. Any of these are the markings of a lower class society. Sometimes these labels are found in the middle class part of town and anindividual of the lower class managed to acquire residence there. The tell tale signsremain showing that they are not able to afford the luxuries that their neighbors canafford. As time continues the natural desire to advance takes over in these people andthey are left with the decision to move forward or continue on the path they are on.Often these individuals are influenced by their fellow class members.Throughout history it has been rare where a lower class and higher class have beenable to coexist without some sort of prejudice. The members of the class generally sticktogether and are more able to communicate about the issues affecting them. Thiscreates the culture of their class and their lifestyle based on what is acceptable for them 2 Law Library, “ Crime Causation: Psychological Theories - More Comprehensive Theories, ”http://law.jrank.org/pages/810/Crime-Causation-Psychological-Theories-More-comprehensive-theories.html (accessed 1 April, 2010). Page 3 of 8 and their peers. “They learn to engage in crime, primarily through their association withothers. They are reinforced for crime, they learn beliefs that are favorable to crime, andthey are exposed to criminal models. As a consequence, they come to view crime assomething that is desirable or at least justifiable in certain situations.” 3 With anatmosphere where crime is socially acceptable the barriers of rules and laws becomeobscured.Personally I have encountered this environment within my own family. Recently,in January of 2010 the socially acceptable nature of crime in the lower class impactedmy family in an unfathomable way. Despite the middle class structure of the family Iwas born into, a cousin who is just 5 months older than me was slowly falling into thecategory where crime was acceptable. His wife was pregnant with the baby of another man and was willing to accept the child as his own. He had recently lost his job due tothe crumbling economy. His vehicle was repossessed making the possibility of gettingto job interviews harder and harder. Then his wife lost her job and their house wasforeclosed upon. This drove him quickly from the lower middle class into the lower class. Despite all his attempts the culture of where he was now forced to live hadimpacted his life into believing that committing a crime to save his family wasacceptable.On January 3 rd , 2010 the pressure of his situation in the lower class and thecommunity that was a firm believer that crime was an acceptable route for his savior forced him into a corner. He was faced with a situation where the moral disparitybetween crime and social acceptance would force him to make a decision on how to 3 Law Library, “ Crime Causation: Sociological Theories - Social Learning Theory, ”http://law.jrank.org/pages/815/Crime-Causation-Sociological-Theories-Social-learning-theory.html (accessed 1 April, 2010). Page 4 of 8
