Mischief Theory: The Causes Of Juvenile Delinquency
874 Words4 Pages
Juvenile delinquency is very prevalent is today’s society. Juvenile delinquents are minors, usually defined as being between the ages 10 and 18, who have committed some act that violates the law (Juvenile Delinquents). Juvenile delinquency is committed by children who disobey and exhibit troublesome behavior. I have created a theory known as the “full of mischief theory”. The full of mischief theory examines the causes of delinquency, explaining factors such as the quality of relationships with family and other peers as well as behaviors that delinquents learn from others which contribute to crime. The fill of mischief theory uses concepts from the control theory and social learning theory in order to explain behaviors that cause criminal activity.…show more content… The social learning theory is one of the most widely used modern theories to explain violent behavior exhibited by juveniles. According to the theory, the behavior of individuals is learned and influenced primarily through their own personal experiences and relationships (Finley, L., 2007). Theorist Edwin Sutherland created the theory of differential association, stating that criminal behavior is learned, that it was a process, and that learning occurred in primary groups (Finley, L., 2007). For example, kids that learn from peers that are involved with criminal activity, are more likely to eventually commit criminal acts in the future. Sutherland created nine propositions which explained his theory outlining socialization that delinquents experience in forms of interactions with peers. Sutherlands theory consists of nine points which include: 1. Criminal behavior is learned 2. Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in process in communication 3. The principal part of the learning of the criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups 4. When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes: a. techniques of committing the crime, which are sometimes very complicated, sometimes very simple; b. the specific direction of the motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes 5. The specific directions of motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable. In which some societies an individual is surrounded by persons who define the legal codes as rules to be observed, while other persons whose definitions are favorable to the violation of legal codes 6. A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law under definitions unfavorable to violation of law 7. Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority,