The Mustang Ranch and Its Women - Research Paper Example

Deviance refers to any behavior from an individual that defies the social norms of the society; this includes written and unwritten rules of the society. Sociologists concern themselves with how these norms came into existence, who enforces them, and what are the consequences of violating such norms (Kubrin, 2009). Social expectations are different between communities. By using the learning perspective theory, this paper will demonstrate through examples from the book that The learning theory states that people learn from their surrounding community. The main mode of learning is through observation. The main proponent of this theory is Albert Bandura, and he state that learning can occur through three models, namely, live, verbal and symbolic instructions. The live model involves actual demonstration of the model, while verbal demonstration involves an individual receives instructions on the expected norms. Symbolic learning occurs through the media or other means of communication (Kubrin, 2009). For this theory to be used there must be some elements of attention, and retention. Attention refer’s to concentration on the features of the object under study, while retention involves the ability to take in the details of the behavior, and therefore learn in the process. An individual can reproduce the behavior, if it is acceptable within the society. To do this, there must be incentives to the individual, to encourage him to do the same. In reproducing the behavior, the learner must organize his response, according to the observation he made on the model object. The book is centered in Nevada, a state in United States of America. This is the only state at the time to legalize prostitution (Albert, 2001). Other states in America outlawed the vice. In explaining deviance, sociologists state that it is a behavior that goes against the expected norms of the society. In other states of America, prostitution is against their norms, and therefore a crime. In Nevada, prostitution is not a crime, and is a normal day to day event. Edwin Sutherland, in his analysis of the learning theory, was of the view that the theory concerns itself with who introduces the rules, and how are they implemented. According to Sutherland, deviancy occurs through a combination of variables that promote delinquency, and variable that discourages delinquency. From the book of Alexia Albert, the women of the Mustang ranch practiced prostitution because of social pressures, emanating from their boyfriends, families and the society (Albert, 2001). These women had to balance their moral standings in the society, and the factors which were pushing them to practice the vice. The state government also made it easier for them to practice the vice. On this note, Sutherland explanation of the learning theory, in relation to the development of a deviant behavior comes to note. Alexa Albert observes that the Mustang women used pimps to enhance their performance. A pimp act as an agent for commercial sex workers, and his role is to advertise the services, and offer protection to the various prostitutes at their service (Albert, 2001). The prostitutes pay for these services. On most occasions, the relationship between a pimp and a prostitute is manipulative. The services of these people are illegal in other states of America, apart from Nevada. The behavior of the pimps is shapes through a learning process. They observe the characteristics of the prostitutes, and their clients; in return, they obtain skills on how they can advertise the services of the prostitute concerned, and offer protection to him. According to the learning theory, the elements of attention and retention must be present for this theory to apply (Kubrin, 2009). In the case of the pimp, they observe the behaviors of the prostitutes and their clients. In return, they are knowledgeable on how to advertise these services. Retention involves the ability to respond to the learning process. The response of the pimps, in this situation is that of manipulative. They emotionally and psychologically manipulate the minds of the prostitutes, for the aim of getting intimate with these women. Alberta also states that the prostitutes lived in isolation, and confinement. They were not allowed to move outside the ranch during their entire shift, and a shift could run for weeks. Alberta argues that the owner of the Brothel, and the police colluded to suppress the rights of these women. This was against the expected norms of the state of Nevada (Albert, 2001). It is the responsibility of the police to ensure that all the rights of their citizens are adhered to. Colluding with criminals, to suppress the rights of people, amounts to deviance, and a crime. According to Albert Bandura, a proponent of the learning theory, he asserts that the social environment plays a role into shaping the behavior of individuals (Kubrin, 2009). By using these assertions, the police officers of Nevada colluded with the management of the ranch because the legal environment allowed prostitution to thrive. The laws recognized prostitution as a trade, and the police took advantage of these laws, to collude with the owners of the ranch, with the aim of getting some financial benefits. Vygosty and Lave combine the environmental condition and the psychological aspect of an individual to explain the learning theory (Kubrin, 2009). They observe that, psychological elements play a key role in influencing the behavior of an individual. The brothel owners were motivated by the profits the prostitutes brought, while the police officer motivation was the financial kickbacks they got from the proprietors of the Mustang Ranch. On this note, the owners of the ranch were psychologically prepared to get profits, and they had to use whichever means to achieve their objectives. This includes bribing the police. According to the two authors, for learning theory to apply in the mentioned scenario, there must be three elements, namely, attention, retention and motivation. This theory helps in the understanding of the occurrences of social deviance. It effectively defines deviance, and it gives a break down on how deviance is construed by various scholars. For instance, this theory highlights the views of Albert Bandura in relation to explaining the concept of deviance in an individual. The explanation of Bandura helps in providing a basic understanding of deviance, and how it occurs in a society. He manages to give three elements that must be present for the application of this theory. They are attention, retention and motivation (Kubrin, 2009). Through this three steps, I am able to understand why people behave the way they do. For instance, for a person to acquire a particular trait, he must know of it, and he acquires the knowledge through observation, an element of attention. Bandura highlights the next process as retention, and this is the ability to apply the acquired knowledge (Kubrin, 2009). Finally, in a social context, there must be a motivating factor that makes an individual to behave in a manner that he does. Following this analysis, I am able to understand, why criminals behave the way they do. For instance, a person will observe an act of a crime, after sometime, based on a certain motivating factor, such as financial gain, or an urge to revenge, the person might engage in a socially deviant behavior. From the text, I have learnt that human beings are motivated by financial gains in the process of committing a deviant act. The main motivating factor of the prostitutes at the Mustang ranch was financial gain. This was also the main motivating factor for the owners of the ranch. Another lesson learnt is that human beings are social creatures, and they learn from the environment. Most of the women who practiced prostitution at the ranch either observed what others were doing, or joined the trade out of influence from their friends, and families. In conclusion, I choose this theory, because it is an example of the symbolic interaction theories of deviance. Symbolic interaction theories incorporate the elements of communication, in interpreting the behavior of individuals. It is my greatest desires to seek knowledge and understanding of the various symbolic interaction theories, and their application in understanding the elements of deviance. It is also my desire to understand further the teachings of Sutherlands, and his views on the learning theory. References Albert, A. (2001). Brothel: Mustang Ranch and its women. New York: Random House. Kubrin, C. E., Stucky, T. D., & Krohn, M. D. (2009). Researching theories of crime and deviance. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Top of Form Bottom of Form Read More