The Causative Agents of Criminal Behavior and Crime in General (Essay Sample)

Criminal Justice
Candidate's Name:
Institution's Name:
Course title:
Instructor:
Date:
Introduction
Criminologists and other social theorists have over the years come up with theories that seek to explain a phenomenon in society. In the field of criminology, notable theorists and scholars include; Edwin Sutherland, Donald Cressey, Robert Merton and Travis Hirschi. The preceding scholars and theorists in the field of criminology seek to explain the causative agents of criminal behaviour and crime in general (Akers, 2012). The theory advanced by Sutherland, and Donald attempts to explain how the associations that on involves themselves in help define their good habits or criminal behaviours. Secondly, Travis propounds in his theory of Social Bond how the level of bonding with society will or will not influence criminal behaviour. Thirdly, Robert Merton's theory of crime inclines itself toward biological factors and social structures; how they contribute to the criminal behaviour (Akers, 2012). In trying to understand the principles mentioned above further, a look at the case of Aaron Hernandez will help put the averments in the mentioned theories into perspective.Aaron Hernandez was a former American football player born in 1989. Aaron was convicted of murder. On the August of 2013 Aaron was indicted by a grand jury for the murder of Odin Lloyd. In another trial in May 2014, Aaron was indicted for a double homicide that happened in 2002 of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. Aaron was found guilty of murdering Odin Lloyd and was sentenced to life on a first-degree murder charge.
Sutherland's Differential Association theory as it applies to the case of Aaron Hernandez
Edwin Sutherland propounds in his theory that, crime occurs more in areas that lack social organisation and institutions of control. Crime according to Sutherland is explained by factors such as social class, age, race, and urban or rural location. According to Sutherland, once high rates of crime have been established in an area, new generations of inhabitants in that area sustained the pattern.In the theory of differential theory by Sutherland, the propositions brought forth are. Firstly, criminal behaviour is learnt. Just as one learns any art in society, Sutherland suggests that crime too is learnt. According to Sutherland such learnt behaviour, however, can't be inherited. This is an essential differentiation from Merton's theory of crime as to be discussed below. Sutherland states, the skills and techniques necessary for crime commission are not innovations and not inherited through birth, or through interaction with criminals; they are acquired through a process of learning (Sutherland & Cressey, 1992). From the case study of Aaron Hernandez, it can be blamed on his father and uncle in introducing Aaron to crime; according to Sutherland since Sutherland propounds that through trust one can learn criminal dealings. Such trust is that between relatives, an example of father and son.The second proposition by Sutherland refutes the possibility of criminals witnessing criminal behaviour in order to learn it. There exists a general observation by Sutherland, which is, individuals become delinquent only when, definitions favourable to violation of law exceed definitions unfavourable to violation of the law (Sutherland & Cressey, 1992). As such, it is not the amount of exposure to criminal activities that make one a criminal but his/her attitude to the vice.
Hirschi's social bond theory
Hirschi is much concern in his theory why people obey rules and why others break the same rules. The social control theory proposes that people's interactions, values, commitment, norms and beliefs influences their nature of not breaking the laws (Wood & Alleyne, 2010). Hirschi focuses on the social relationship as a source of criminality rather than the individual personality of the offender. The control theory assumes that delinquent acts exist if, one's connection to society is weak or broken. Hirschi discussed four (attachment, belief, commitment and involvement) variables that may influence one's conforming to society or deviating from its norms.Firstly, attachment with parents, peers, religious leaders and other members of the community makes a person less crime-prone (Wood & Alleyne, 2010). Lack of attachment makes a person not care since he/she has no one in their life to caring for. The criminal acts of Aaron Hernandez can be attributed to the fact that he was an orphan at an earlier age thus lost the feeling of attachment. The fact of Aaron being a sports personality, and his father too was; this means Aaron lost much from the death of his father as he borrowed much from him.Commitment according to Hirsch's social bond theory helps one stay away from criminal activities, or less gets involved in less serious crimes (Wood & Alleyne, 2010). The presence of white collar and blue collar crimes although doesn't seem to go by this theory. White and blue collar crimes exist due to a person's involvement in an activity thus this can't be contributed to idleness.The last social bond as put forth by Hirsch is belief. According to this segment of the social bond theory, those who do not hold strong beliefs in conventional values are likely to be deviant and crime-prone (Wood & Alleyne, 2010). One has to have belief that the law is good for him/her to abide by it when this fails the result is the commission of a crime.
The social structure and Anomie theory
Robert Merton attributes the malfunctioning of societal construction to man's domineering genetic drivers who are not adequately restrained by social control. According to Robert, the social structure exists to guide human behaviour. That human response that goes past and deviates from the social structure is too biological as that which insists on staying within the confines of the societal structure (Merton, 2002). Some social structure may lead to the commission of crimes as Robert suggests remotely. Failure by one's biological attributes to fit into a prescribed societal structure will lead to him/her finding a structure that fits him/her. The absence of a fitting structure leads to the deviation from societal norms