Social Influences In Criminology

During my time as a police officer, I have realized that deviant or delinquent behavior is more consistent and possibly more dangerous when people are in groups. Until recently I had been assigned to the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and during that time I have had numerous encounters with the group dynamic. What I have learned from those experiences, is that for you to achieve any results with an individual involved in a particular group, you must separate them from the group. A continuous connection socializing and the behaviors that happen to a person makes up their social life. That strong influence that social life has on people is the foundation of many of the sociological theories. It is the power of those connections and relationships between groups that affect the actions that represent groups of people entirely. Researchers studying the interactions between
groups have focused the arrangements in society and their influence on crime. They have been lead to believe that the dynamics, organization, and relationships are the nucleus in which crime or criminality develops. The behaviors of a particular person are difficult to assume. However, the probability of a group being involved in delinquency is statistically greater as what scholars have come to realize. That explains the macro perspective that is utilized by sociologist when it comes to the behaviors of groups rather than individuals (Schmalleger, 2012).
Also in the past half century, there has been a rise in social movements such as civil rights, women's movements, and concerns of poverty that have sociological influences in criminology. Therefore encouraging sociologist to develop several explanations for crime. For one an individual’s position within the structure of society can lead to criminal behavior. It begins with their social and economic environment of poverty, weak social control, personal frustrations, relative deprivation and alternative means to success, which conflict with traditional values. Secondly, the social processes that result in crime. The negative interactions were coming from social learning, relationships, bonds, or group consequences that lead to crime. Lastly, the concept that highlights the power relationships, wealth distribution, that is presumed to affect social class and control within a society that has lead to crime being the result of a class struggle (Schmalleger,
2012) Reference Schmalleger, F. J. (2012). Criminology today: An integrative introduction (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.