Nicholas Crisafulle
Dr. Greg Lukasik
SYG 1000 Section 011
November 15, 2016
SYG Paper Assignment #2 Throughout the last few years, there has been a concern for those who are joining gangs at a young age. There are multiple variables within society to take into consideration for this decision being made by the younger generation. Strain Theory is one explanation for this choice. Labeling Theory too explains the choice that young people are making today. Strain Theory, originally brought up by Robert Merton in 1938 suggests that criminal behavior is a “situation in which there is an apparent lack of fit between the culture’s norms about what constitutes success in life and the culture’s norms about the appropriate way to achieve those goals” …show more content…
Developed by multiple sociologists throughout history, the theory can be defined as “being labelled as a deviant leads a person to engage in deviant behavior” (Chegg Study, 2016). Such labelling can affect a person’s entire life if given the title at a young age. When a child is labelled as a deviant, this negative title can change how they socially interact with others. Peers can start to accept that the child is a “deviant” and tend to avoid them. The feeling of being an outcast leaves the child with no one to be around, making gangs feel as if they are the only way of being socially accepted by others. Once a child officially decides to join a gang, they have the belief that no matter what they do from then on, they will always be a …show more content…
Age-related crimes rise around the age of being a young-adult then decline as people age. Not necessarily because of being physically capable of committing crimes, but as Blonigen a member of the Department of Veteran Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System states during this age range people develop both a “personality and antisocial behavior” (Blonigen, 2010). As people become older, they have more experience in society and become capable of determining what follows the social norms and what does not.
Race is also correlated to crime. Throughout history, racism has been a major factor in society. Living in a white-dominant society, it is difficult for people of other descent to succeed in society. Not following the specific rules that society’s leaders create can lead to being labelled a deviant. The more common people of a certain race are arrested, the more likely the entire race will be labelled as deviants by society when this is generally
Dr. Greg Lukasik
SYG 1000 Section 011
November 15, 2016
SYG Paper Assignment #2 Throughout the last few years, there has been a concern for those who are joining gangs at a young age. There are multiple variables within society to take into consideration for this decision being made by the younger generation. Strain Theory is one explanation for this choice. Labeling Theory too explains the choice that young people are making today. Strain Theory, originally brought up by Robert Merton in 1938 suggests that criminal behavior is a “situation in which there is an apparent lack of fit between the culture’s norms about what constitutes success in life and the culture’s norms about the appropriate way to achieve those goals” …show more content…
Developed by multiple sociologists throughout history, the theory can be defined as “being labelled as a deviant leads a person to engage in deviant behavior” (Chegg Study, 2016). Such labelling can affect a person’s entire life if given the title at a young age. When a child is labelled as a deviant, this negative title can change how they socially interact with others. Peers can start to accept that the child is a “deviant” and tend to avoid them. The feeling of being an outcast leaves the child with no one to be around, making gangs feel as if they are the only way of being socially accepted by others. Once a child officially decides to join a gang, they have the belief that no matter what they do from then on, they will always be a …show more content…
Age-related crimes rise around the age of being a young-adult then decline as people age. Not necessarily because of being physically capable of committing crimes, but as Blonigen a member of the Department of Veteran Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System states during this age range people develop both a “personality and antisocial behavior” (Blonigen, 2010). As people become older, they have more experience in society and become capable of determining what follows the social norms and what does not.
Race is also correlated to crime. Throughout history, racism has been a major factor in society. Living in a white-dominant society, it is difficult for people of other descent to succeed in society. Not following the specific rules that society’s leaders create can lead to being labelled a deviant. The more common people of a certain race are arrested, the more likely the entire race will be labelled as deviants by society when this is generally