Criminal behaviour is acquired in the same way as any other form of behaviour and results from the way people are socialised.

The statement that, criminal behaviour is obtained by other behaviour and results are from how people are socialised, can be both correct and incorrect. Social learning theories and social action theories can provide for and against this statement and different theoretical approaches. I shall discuss in detail two main theoretical approaches to crime which will be structural and social action theories. I will show an understanding of other theories of crime and behaviour and the relationship they have between their policy implications.

One theory for criminal behaviour regarding social action theory is anomie. Anomie is when social norms conflict or do not exist at all (Baumar 2010). The perspectives of Emile Durkheim and Robert Merton have shown that deviance and crime are vital to society and used the term anomie to describe the differences between socially accepted goals and whether an individual or group had the skills to achieve those goals. An example used by Merton was that being wealthy was a major goal of American’s, but not every American was able to get rich quickly, especially among minority and disadvantaged groups. When an obstacle was given to these groups their ideal goal was now out of reach, therefore they may have reverted to deviant behaviour and crime to achieve these socially approved goals (Davies 2005).

On the negative side, anomie theory has been criticised for its vagueness. Merton does not use the word anomie specifically to answer the reasons for all crime but more as a general over sight of why crime occurs in society. Merton’s theory does not explain conformity, social interaction and group processes. It overlooks social control and crimes by the wealthy and powerful. Instead, the theory discusses the relationships between socialisation, social controls, and behaviour but the theory does not explain the reason for crime and deviance. It was other theorists such as Steven Messner, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber who then used this theory of anomie and applied extensive research into why crime is needed in society (Connor 2013).

Labelling theory is an explanation of social structure and some reasons why crime occurs. Labelling gives reasons behind why there is

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conformity, social interaction and group processes. Labelling theory is what society labels certain deviant acts or people, ‘that no act is criminal or deviant until it has been labelled as such by others. It is not the act that makes something deviant – it is social reaction to the act (the label) e.g. nudity and heroin use’ (Byrant 2014). For example being labelled ‘loud’ or ‘disruptive’ in a classroom may give the pupil low self esteem and will continue with the deviant behaviour as they would be full filling a self prophecy. Therefore not giving a chance for change and will continue to be ‘loud’ and ‘disruptive’ (Moffitt 2004). There are two stages to labelling theory, the first stage is the primary deviant stage where a crime has been committed by a person and is labelled a ‘criminal’ but has not yet accepted this label. The second stage is secondary deviance where the person has accepted themselves as a criminal (Law teacher 2013).

Unfortunately, people who accept the labelling of others have a difficult time changing their opinions of the labelled person, even when there is evidence to prove the label given to an individual group is just theory. William Chambliss in 1973 conducted a study into the effects of labelling. His two groups of white, male, high‐school students were both frequently involved in delinquent acts of theft, vandalism, drinking, and truancy. The police never arrested the members of one group, which Chambliss labelled the “Saints,” but the police did have frequent run‐ins with members of the other group, which he labelled the “Roughnecks.” The boys in the Saints came from respectable families, had good reputations and grades in school, and were careful not to get caught when breaking the law. By being polite and apologetic whenever they were suspected by the police, the Saints escaped labelling themselves as “deviants.” But on the other hand, the Roughnecks came from families of lower socioeconomic status, had poor reputations and grades in school, and were not careful about being caught when breaking the law. By being argumentative and aggressive whenever confronted by the police, the Roughnecks were easily labelled by others and themselves as “deviants.” In other words, while both groups committed crimes, the Saints were perceived to be “good” because of their polite behaviour (due to their upper‐class backgrounds) and the Roughnecks were seen as “bad” because of their aggressive behaviour (which was because of their socialisation and lower‐class backgrounds). As a result, the police

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always took action against the Roughnecks, but never against the Saints (Jackson 2004). This proves that a label and someone’s behaviour combined with social class can have dramatic effect on who we perceive are committing the crimes. This can affect the result of criminal statistics because of the biased opinion.

Right realism is a functionalist approach to crime and how they can tackle the problem. It has a perspective of the conservative views and came about in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when Thatcher was prime minister. Right winged politicians believed in the labelling theory. At this time there was major cuts on economy which left the public services vulnerable (Walklate 2007). This impacted on crime control strategies and how crime would be collated. But crime seemed to still be rising therefore right realists were saying crime was an act of free will and that the individual offenders would need to have harsher punishments for the crime they committed in an attempt to bring down the crime rates (class notes 2015). Right realists stated that crime was a problem but they did not look at the implications of crime but instead how to tackle the problem, introducing harsher punishments and discontinuing the rehabilitation centres for reoffending (Walklate 2007).

Left realism was found in the late 1980’s and is focused more on the victims of crime. Left realists also saw crime as a problem but they rejected the idea of the labelling theory and ‘began to present ideologies which took a more realistic approach to crime control, and challenged right realists by arguing that the causation of crime comes from a mixture of relative deprivation and individualism which, consequently, created widespread aggression and anti-social behaviour leading to criminal activity’ (Jones 2009). Left realists relied on the results of crime statistics by using victim’s surveys’ as they were focusing on the victims of crime. But criticisms of this were that not all crime would be documented due to the nature of some of the victim’s situations. For example domestic violence as the victim will not be willing to testify against the person causing harm to them. Which would mean the victim survey may not be reliable. Left realists argued that not all crime would be reported to the police either but people are more likely to tell the truth in a victim survey than talk to the police about a crime. The ideologies of both left and right agree that crime is a problem and that it needs to be dealt with, but they

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both focus on different aspects of crime and who it is aimed at. Left realists believe that crimes are committed because of lack or resources and social skills, which come from socialisation and background. Right realists believe that crime occurs because of the individuals want to commit a crime and more for biological reasons and labelling.

Overall criminal behaviour is connected to socialisation because it can be taught (Social structures and socialisation) and can be learned. It can also be because of social class and the demand for a certain goal in life. Therefore it is not necessarily the need but a want to be something better but has to commit a crime to become reality (anomie). All the above reasoning is a result of social control, social groups, socialisation and theories that contribute to society and the roles we play in them. Whether that can be criminal behaviour or going to work and earning money, we are all socialised in a way and will have committed an act of deviance or possibly crime, but will not be seen as a crime unless society labels it as one.

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References:

Baumer.E. (2010). Anomie. Available: http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396607/obo-9780195396607-0006.xml. Last accessed 13th April 2015.

Bryant.L. (2014). Labelling. Available: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/labelling.htm. Last accessed 15th April 2015.

Class notes. Citybit Southampton College. The crime problem. April 2015.

Connor.t. (2013). STRAIN THEORIES OF CRIME. Available: http://www.drtomoconnor.com/1060/1060lect06.htm. Last accessed 15th April 2015.

Davies.K. (2005). The Durkheim and Merton Page. Available: http://www.studymore.org.uk/ydurmer.htm. Last accessed 13th April 2015

Jackson.M. (2012). Labelling. Available: hhtp//www.studytime/sociology.com/oxfordbrookes-website.htm. Last accessed 23rd April 2015.

Jones, S. (2009), Criminology (4th ed). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Last accessed 27th April 2015.

Law teacher, UK. (2013). Labelling Theory Its Strengths And Weaknesses. Available: http://www.lawteacher.net/free-law-essays/criminal-law/labelling-theory-its-strengths-and-weaknesses.php. Last accessed 23rd April 2015.

Moffitt.K. (2004). Labeling Theory of Deviance: Definition, Examples & Quiz. Available: http://study.com/academy/lesson/labeling-theory-of-deviance-definition-examples-quiz.html. Last accessed 21st April 2015.

Walklate.s. (2014). Differences Between Left Realism And Right Realism Criminology Essay Read more: http://www.ukessays.com/essays/criminology/differences-between-left-realism-and-right-realism-criminology-essay.php#ixz. Available:

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http://www.ukessays.com/essays/criminology/differences-between-left-realism-and-right-realism-criminology-essay.php. Last accessed 23rd April 2015.

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