Control Theory - Book Report/Review Example

? Criminological Theory Chapter 6- The complexity of Control This chapter has contains important information from a great writer called Travis Hirschi. He has subjugated control theory for quite some time and has managed to command great influence to the present times and it is likely that this might continue for the years to come. This great man has displayed an undisputed capability and talent in criminology theory and there three specific but interconnected schools of thought that has come out so clearly from his great composition. Hirschi’s theories are clearly stated in this chapter making it very easy for every reader to understand with great ease what he is trying to communicate for instance his preposition on how criminal behaviors are increased by lack of societal bonding and self -control. This author is also able to raise his issues in a very combative manner and this makes him very controversial. He is supportive of theoretical perspective and highly opposes any other way of thinking that is contrary to this. The author’s methodology of integrating theories is antagonistic and this is seen from various angles of his writing. Hirschi tends to believe that good theories have certain expectations and also have an inward form of consistency that makes them hard to blend with other kinds of methodologies. Any trial that has been done to mix them together has resulted in fuzzy theoretical frameworks and prevents the development of personal theories. In addition to these, since theories formulated by Hirschi are parsimoniously mentioned and goes on to suggest that other theories are incorrect, they are actually perfect to assess empirically. One of the many known reasons that theories succeed is because they are capable of providing scholars with prospects to carry out their research and manage to publish their work. This is the accomplishment that paves way for their tenure and advancement in their career. The theorizing work of this author has therefore been a great resource that has been used by many criminologists in various publications and there is no evidence or sign that shows any end to his research ideas. However, the theorizing endeavors of Hirschi have not reached every corner of the globe. Although the frameworks of his theories are bold, many people have come out to criticize them saying that they are pretentious since they claim that his theories are very general and only explain about crime through other kinds of crimes and people. Hirschi is seen to show mere interest in race, social class and gender disparities mostly when explaining on very critical perspectives such as the fundamentals of crime. However, the critiques pointed at Hirschis’ work had done absolutely nothing to bring his influence down but instead; the controversy has led to the need for more research to be conducted. The career timeline of this author has made his way of thinking to evolve in a very substantial way. This has been seen by the two ultimate theories that he has come up with. The first theory is called the “social bond theory” which is discussed in his book “causes of Delinquency” and the other theory is the, “Self- control theory which is discussed in “A general theory of crime”. Each these two theories are discussed into great depths and this helps in showing how their perspectives contradict. However, there are other scholars who have contributed various theories that have focused on the work of crime control, despite the pervasive influence the Harschi has caused through his theories. The alternative theories that have been formulated by other theorists are have more content since they have a wider scope of how control is formed and its wide range of consequences. Chapter 7- Critical criminology (Labeling Theory) Labeling theory outlines various social reactions to crime and deviant behaviors. It basically tries to find out what happens people who commit crime after they are identifies as criminals and labeled that name tag and goes further by suggesting that, crime is heightened by criminal approvals. Therefore, when an offender is sent to prison that person is criminalized even more which makes them feel stigmatized. An instance when a young offender is arrested and put to jail makes them feel stigmatized and this might make them worse criminals in future. In a wider perspective, labeling theory proposes that too much attention has been focused on criminals by criminology which perceives as a certain group of people isolated from the rest in the society, while it gives little or no consideration to exhibition of social control reactions. This touches on the lawmakers, the police, media and the public at large who actually helps in giving crime its form. This theory also joins the sociological concepts of other theorists such as “symbolic interactionism and “conflict theory”, and also gets some concepts from the notion of “self-fulfilling prophecy” to come up with another great notion that states- “when people define situations as real they become real in their consequences”. There was a period when labeling theory became a leading sociological perspective of crime. This theory was very significant in challenging conventional positivist criminology. In this particular time, the main labeling theorists were normally perceived as people who had come from North America. One sociologist from North America focused his research work on marijuana- its use and how it can be controlled. He also mentioned the extensive problem of labeling by making this statement. ”We (should) direct our attention in research and theory building to the questions: who applied the label of deviant to whom? What consequences does the application of label have for the person so labeled? Under what circumstances is the label of a deviant successfully applied?” (Becker, 1963). The same sociologist made the following canonical declaration still focusing on labeling theory; “Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those rules to particular people and labeling them a outsiders…Deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to as “offender”. The deviant is one to whom that label has successfully been applied: deviant behavior is behavior that people so label” (Becker, 1963). Another scholar also introduced two very crucial terms- “primary and secondary deviance”. These terms were meant to capture the difference between original and operational bases of deviance. Primary deviation is caused by a numerous sources but its effects on the status and cognitive structure are only minimal. On the other hand, secondary deviation talks about the manner in which humiliation and punishment can cause crime or deviant behaviors become the fundamental existing facts to those who experience them. This alters their mental structure thus leading to the formation of specified organization of societal characters and attitudes that is self-regarding. Chapter 8- conflict theory in criminology Conflict theory is a perspective that is based on the perception that the ultimate roots of crime are the various forces that revolve around the social-economic factors which operate in the society. The system that controls criminal justice and criminal law is deemed to be functioning for the affluent and influential elites in the society. This leads to policies that are formulated purposely to control and oppress the poor. The establishment of criminal justice is aimed at imposing ideals of ethics and good conduct formed by the influential people in the entire society. Their main attention is to make sure that they separate the powerful people in the society from those who are not. They perceive the low-class people as thieves who would steal from them rich and powerful people and also cause physical harm to them. In such situations, the rights of the poor person are likely ignored since they have less or no influence in the society. The middle class people in the society are also not so good since they side with the rich and powerful to oppress the poor people with the thought of rising to the elites’ class one day. Such instances are the main reason why crimes in the streets, regardless of how minor it is, is subjected to severe punishment, while big crimes which involve huge sums of money and big properties are handled with leniency. For instance, a thief who steals a television set might get a longer sentence than a thief who steals millions of money by doing illegal businesses. Conflict theory has a certain branch referred to as radical criminology and can also be termed as “critical criminology”. This branch draws its ideas from a simple Marxist point of view. According to Karl Marx, societies based on modern capital were controlled by some few wealthy people referred to as bourgeoisie. These people were in charge of all production facilities such as factories and the technology used, while the rest of the people (proletariat) who fell under the class of poor and non-influential were made wage laborers. This system led to the rise of criminal acts where the poor stole from the rich as a way of getting even for the oppression they had been subjected to. Other defiant behaviors also crop up such as protest-related violence and revolutionary movements which were actually aimed at fighting for the poor man’s rights which had been stumbled upon by the affluent and mighty in the society. The perceptive brought forth by conflict theory helps in explaining certain actions such us civil rights activism and the reason why they were been prevented from taking place since their success would curtail the social order that had been established. This evident since the FBI and CIA are given orders to control any form of civil rights movement. There are numerous scenes where police fight the people fighting for civil rights since the law and the government at large is been led by the rich and powerful and whose objective is to make any effort made by the poor people unsuccessful. Reference Lily, Robert J., Francis T. Cullen, & Richard A. Ball. (2011). Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences. Sage Publishing: Los Angeles, C.A. Read More