In What Ways Does Merton's Theory Explain The Transmission Of Criminal Behavior
CJ 4250
COMMUNITY BASED CORRECTIONS
Lesson Seven
(Student)
Chapter 7 – Treatment Theory and Practice
Student Instructions: Read Chapter 7 pages 163– 191, answer the following questions and submit them to your instructor. 1. What is theory? A theory is part of an explanation- a statement about the relationship between two classes of phenomena that permits us to better understand our environment, that helps to explain events by organizing them in the world so that they can be placed in perspective. 2. What are the psychic phenomena that develop during the stages of psychosexual development? Freud postulated …show more content…
unconscious processes in the stages of psychological development that, although not directly observable, where inferred from case studies with patients. He divided mental phenomena into three groups. Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious, 3. According to psychoanalytic theory, how is crime related to the superego? Criminal behavior is related to the superego function a result of which is actors relationship to parents during the development years. 4.
What are the advantages of group work over the more traditional one-to-one treatment methods? Group work enables individuals to helps others. This may also show others that there is hope and also shows that person has progressed. 5. What is cognitive skills training? Emphasizes the importance of problem solving skills that can be applied to a variety of problem situations. 6. How does Merton’s theory of anomie explain criminal behavior? Crime viewed as a basically utilitarian adaption to the anomic situation. 7. How does Sutherland’s theory of differential association explain the transmission of criminal behavior? According to Sutherland, criminal behavior is learned, and the principal part of learning criminal behavior occurs within intimate groups based on the degree of intensity, frequency, and duration. 8. What do Sykes and Matza mean by techniques of neutralization? Gresham Sykes and David Matza (1957) refer to a social psychological mechanism-- neutralization- that permits a delinquent to accept the social norms of the wider society and, at the same time, violate these
norms. 9. List and describe the five types of neutralization. Sykes and Matza present five types of neutralization. Denial of responsibility. Rationalization that delinquency was not their fault. Denial of injury. Premise that nobody got hurt. Denial of the victim. Belief that the victim deserved to be hurt. Condemnation of the condemners. Focus on the weakness and motives of those in authority or judgment. Appeal to higher loyalties. Conviction of the necessity of their action for friends, family, neighborhood, and so on. 10. What does David Matza mean by “Drift.” Matza suggests that most delinquents tend to drift in and out of delinquent behavior.
Critical Thinking Exercise:
1. Does a juvenile delinquent move on to become an adult criminal, or does the youngster mature and become a law-abiding member of society? This process of gradually maturing and becoming low-abiding is referred to as drift.
Do you believe this to be a valid theory? Why or why not? Submit your answer to your instructor. I think juveniles could become law-abiding members of society if they are presented with help and theory. Otherwise I believe a person who commit crimes follow in the pattern. This is seen in those who commit crimes such as burglary.
COMMUNITY BASED CORRECTIONS
Lesson Seven
(Student)
Chapter 7 – Treatment Theory and Practice
Student Instructions: Read Chapter 7 pages 163– 191, answer the following questions and submit them to your instructor. 1. What is theory? A theory is part of an explanation- a statement about the relationship between two classes of phenomena that permits us to better understand our environment, that helps to explain events by organizing them in the world so that they can be placed in perspective. 2. What are the psychic phenomena that develop during the stages of psychosexual development? Freud postulated …show more content…
unconscious processes in the stages of psychological development that, although not directly observable, where inferred from case studies with patients. He divided mental phenomena into three groups. Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious, 3. According to psychoanalytic theory, how is crime related to the superego? Criminal behavior is related to the superego function a result of which is actors relationship to parents during the development years. 4.
What are the advantages of group work over the more traditional one-to-one treatment methods? Group work enables individuals to helps others. This may also show others that there is hope and also shows that person has progressed. 5. What is cognitive skills training? Emphasizes the importance of problem solving skills that can be applied to a variety of problem situations. 6. How does Merton’s theory of anomie explain criminal behavior? Crime viewed as a basically utilitarian adaption to the anomic situation. 7. How does Sutherland’s theory of differential association explain the transmission of criminal behavior? According to Sutherland, criminal behavior is learned, and the principal part of learning criminal behavior occurs within intimate groups based on the degree of intensity, frequency, and duration. 8. What do Sykes and Matza mean by techniques of neutralization? Gresham Sykes and David Matza (1957) refer to a social psychological mechanism-- neutralization- that permits a delinquent to accept the social norms of the wider society and, at the same time, violate these
norms. 9. List and describe the five types of neutralization. Sykes and Matza present five types of neutralization. Denial of responsibility. Rationalization that delinquency was not their fault. Denial of injury. Premise that nobody got hurt. Denial of the victim. Belief that the victim deserved to be hurt. Condemnation of the condemners. Focus on the weakness and motives of those in authority or judgment. Appeal to higher loyalties. Conviction of the necessity of their action for friends, family, neighborhood, and so on. 10. What does David Matza mean by “Drift.” Matza suggests that most delinquents tend to drift in and out of delinquent behavior.
Critical Thinking Exercise:
1. Does a juvenile delinquent move on to become an adult criminal, or does the youngster mature and become a law-abiding member of society? This process of gradually maturing and becoming low-abiding is referred to as drift.
Do you believe this to be a valid theory? Why or why not? Submit your answer to your instructor. I think juveniles could become law-abiding members of society if they are presented with help and theory. Otherwise I believe a person who commit crimes follow in the pattern. This is seen in those who commit crimes such as burglary.