Penn State Case: Differential Theory

Penn State Case
In order to get the clear understanding of the Case which is known as the Penn State and was related to the sexual abuse, the Differential theory can be very adequate in understanding and dealing with such issues. In the case Gerald Sandusky, who was the former assistant coach of the Pennsylvania State University, was found guilty for the sexual abuse. Forty five counts were convicted out of the total forty eight counts. This ensured that he was accused of sexual abusing. Such incident involves the factor of psycho which means that such personalities are not normal. This can be because of the lacking in the grooming or it can be some mental flaws that lead to such an action from the person. The Differential
theory deals with the attitudes of the personality and motives for criminal behavior. The differential theory can be applied in this sexual abuse case, because it can investigate the reason for the particular behavior of the officials which were related to this case (Parati, et,al, 2002). Paterno who was the official of the Pennsylvania State University and the president of the university Graham Spanier did not take any action on this act because of the fear of bad publicity. This sort of behavior from the officials was the result of the behavior that they learned over time. For the sake of hiding this particular action, and from the fear of bad publicity, they took this unethical and illegal action. It is the society that has made them that selfish that protecting the brand name was considered more important rather than the sexual abuse that happened to the boys. This is what differential theory explains that how an individual learn to attempt criminal acts (Penn State, 2012).
Penn State director related to the athletics, Timothy Curley and the school 's senior VP for finance and business Gary Schultz were accused in the month of November 2011 of prevarication and disappointment to report suspected tyke misuse in connection to sex-ill-use accusations indexed against Sandusky.
They uphold their guiltlessness. This behavior was not according to the ethical and moral values of the culture. Because of such a disgusting act, this becomes very unethical for the social standards. Anomie theory, also known as choice theory which is referred to many of those situations where the cultural norms are not followed, and are break down because of the change. This rapid change can be related to the economic condition to the satisfaction and achievements related to the people. Understanding the social and economic behavior which is most of the time related to the formal modeling. In the Penn State case, the most important concern was related to the personality of the Jerry Sandusky. During the hearing of the case, Sandusky continued to state that he was innocent and presented with the evidence that he was married and he along with his wife named Dotty, had adopted six children. But this did not added any value to the defense of the case because the eye witnesses declared their statements about the sexual abuse that he Sandusky was found showering with some of the boys. Anomie theory is totally applicable on this scenario as the act was against the social norms and
the behavior was not according to the cultural or ethical values.
These are the reason which is why the case is related to Durkheim’s anomie theory in which crime is the result of a breakdown in the rules of society. Due to anomie, Sandusky gets the idea of meeting his sexual desires from the boys which is completely unethical and counted as the abuse. As he sees that he is no longer become the father, and started losing his interest to his family, he opted for the other criminal options to satisfy his desire (Rehmann et.al, 2006).
As the case was run by the court and the subsequent amounts of allegations were proved right, it not only reduced the level of trust for the parents to send their children at Pennsylvania State University but the case also impacted the brand name of the Penn State.
Control theory is addressed in this scenario as the court took legal action against Sandusky and sentenced him and charged him a heavy penalty. This initiated the concept of control, as the unstable social conditions can be stabilized by such actions from the government and legislative authorities.
The trustees of the Penn State fired the sports officials Joe Paterno and the other one known as the Graham Spanier, the president. Other than this, two of the officials of the school also stepped down because of the failure to take an immediate action on the child abuse. Later on Paterno was regarded as not the target by the State Admin.
Such abusing action has not only reduced the level of trust regarding the administration of the university but has also raised the question on the social and cultural aspects of the society. In order to reduce such criminal acts, it is very important that the officials should play their role regardless of the bad impression because ethical and moral concerns are of vital
importance.

References
Penn State Abuse Scandal (2012) A Guide and Timeline, pp.n.d, Data retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2011/11/08/142111804/penn-state-abuse-scandal-a-guide-and-timeline Parati, G., & West, R. J. (2002). Italian feminist theory and practice: Equality and sexual difference. Data retrieved from http://www.worldcat.org/title/italian-feminist-theory-and-practice-equality and-sexual-difference/oclc/260108512
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Rehmann-Sutter, C., Düwell, M., & Mieth, D. (2006). Bioethics in cultural contexts: Reflections on methods and finitude. Dordrecht: Springer, Data retrieved from http://www.worldcat.org/title/bioethics-in-cultural-contexts-reflections-on-methods-and-finitude/oclc/209932484 Bottom of Form