Theorists from this perspective look at the environment and sub-culture in which a juvenile resides. This perspective sees delinquency as a function of the surroundings or environment in which a juvenile lives. The saying, "society made me do it," could help to better understand this perspective.
Delinquency rates were, and are, consistently higher in inner city, impoverished neighborhoods. Looking at delinquency rates over time researchers found a very interesting thing. The delinquency rates for neighborhoods remained remarkably constant over time even though the population of the neighborhood often completely changed. A neighborhood might be Italian for a number of years, then change to mainly Irish, and then gradually change until it was almost completely African American, yet the delinquency rate stayed constant.
The cultural deviance theory would state that juvenile delinquency is a function of the environment. So what are the environmental conditions that are conducive to creating a delinquent environment? The social conditions that make up these areas are "deterioration; economic segregation; racial and ethnic segregation; a high incidence of social ills, such as infant mortality, mental illness, unemployment, divorce and desertion; and a high rate of dropping out of school.
A juvenile growing up in a culturally deviant area will be subjected to criminal lifestyles, and could learn deviant practices, patterns of behavior, and norms.
What are your thoughts about the cultural deviance theory of delinquency?
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I agree with the theory. Growing up in poverty stricken neighborhoods will have you experience and witness much more crime first hand, then someone living in a fancy neighborhood. I believe the biggest contributors to juvenile deliquency is your economic status, dropping out of school, and broken families. Juvenile's living in a single parent home will have much less adult supervision.
ReplyDelete-Jordan Tipton
The statistics show all. It is proven that impoversihed areas have higher crime rates that affluent areas. Cultural deviance just simply tries to explain this by coming up with reaosn as to why this is true.
ReplyDeleteIn poorer areas, more children are typically (although not in every case) exposed to drug use, violence, and other illegal activities at younger ages than normal. This can cause children, as juveniles, to mimmick the actions of there adult figures.
Although this is not true in every case, it is shown by statistics to be a common occurence.
I agree with this theory of cultral deviance. If you grow up in a tough neighborhood and exposed to nothing but violence, drugs, and alchol how is one suppose to know any better? Obviously, these kids are just going to model what they see. However, don't ge me wrong, there are a few who overcome the odds, but a majority find themselves in the juvenile correction system in some way.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Martinez
what i think is that children learn from their parents and how they do things. they get into with the wrong friends and then they do delinquent things. IT is a matter of choice and what they choose to do.
ReplyDeleteAndrew List
The statistics say that poorer areas have higher crime numbers than other areas. This may be very true. However, saying that the reason that you did what you did was because you grew up in a bad part of town is not a fair accusation. I feel it's an excuse for criminals to not take responsibility for their actions. There are many success stories from people that grew up in impoverished areas or the bad part of town. Blaming everything you do on where you live is a cop-out.
ReplyDelete~Kaylyn Barclay
My thoughts about this theory is that it's right, if a kid grows up with their parents doing drugs that kid is more likely to do drugs than a kid whoes parents are not doing drugs, in most cases. Jonathan Davis
ReplyDeleteI believe this theory is a valid theory. Children who grow up in these impoverished neighborhoods are more likely to be exposed to crimes and negative influences. It is certainly hard to act in positive ways if the majority of inluences within your life are acting in the opposite manner, so yes I believe there is truth to this theory.
ReplyDelete-Jack Wedemeier
I agree with the theory because children are sometimes too young to know that there is hope for them and a fair chance for them to have a successful life. But, when they aren't pushed enough to better there situations they fall back on what they have grown to get adapted to because it is all that they know. Some people simply feel like they don't have a chance to be anything else but a delinquent so they get comfortable with the lifestyle and settle for less.
ReplyDeleteTIFFANY BELGER
The theory is agreeable and disagreeable people can be prouducts of their enviorment. However that is not the case with all people who come from a rough neighboorhood, it is the sole responsibility of the individual to step outside the box and live beyond that stereotype. Just because you were dealt with a bad hand i.e the enviorment you live in does not mean that you have to play with those cards. The enviorment does play a huge role in children upbringing however not for all and should not be an excuse for why there is juvenile deliquency.
ReplyDeleteCandice Reynolds
Where you grow up and who surrounds you can definitely make and impact on your life. You look up to certain people and peers and often follow in their footsteps. I agree that cultural deviance can lead to a criminal lifestyle by juveniles. If you see your parents, friends, brothers or sisters, participating in a delinquent lifestyle you may think it is acceptable and soon life that way. Statistics show that the juvenile rate of delinquency is not changing even in a neighborhood that changes so clearly it is a cultural deviance.
ReplyDeleteMeredith Coleman
I agree with this theory. Growing up in the inner i witness this first hand. I almost went down the wrong path because my community was expecting me to. There were barely any opportunities for young black males so many of them turn to the streets for help. lucky I had people around me that care about me to keep me on the right track.
ReplyDeleteJavier L-K
I would have to agree with the theory of cultural deviance. Where you grow up plays a significant role in the number of opportunities one may have in life. I believe that money plays the biggest role. Both personal wealth and the wealth of a city. Impoverished places are going to experience higher rates of crime. Without the necessary funds opportunities are minimal, for example children do not receive the necessary schooling which results in many children pursuing a life of crime.
ReplyDelete-Blake Larkin
I agree with this theory. Witnessing these types things and be around them gives a person the temptation to join in and do the same bad things. They think if everyone around them is doing it, then it must not be that bad. When in all reality they're stuck in a revolving door of bad behavior.
ReplyDeleteCody Allen
As they say, if the shoe fits... The data supports this theory so I suppose I do as well. I've always been a strong believer in environmental influence but I've never thought about this cultural theory. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteAbe Dirnberger
I also agree with this theory. By living in these environments people learn and pick up on things from other people. They try and fit in by doing what is the social norm. So if the norm is to drop out of high school, get pregnant at 15, or just go around being a hot head and fighting whomever looks at you the wrong way, that is what they are going to do.
ReplyDeleteBut on the other hand, sometimes things do change. Look at East St. Louis for example. That used to be a rich and classy area to live in. Now people are even scared to take the Metro Link through it because of how bad it has gotten. I think it just depends on the people in the area and how much they fall under being peer pressured just to fit in.
.:Christina Cathcart:.
I think this theory is correct. Youths who are raised in environments where a variety of risk factors exist will be subject to increased likelihood of delinquent behavior.
ReplyDeleteJ. Huddleston
In some cases this theory is acceptable: poverty and growing up in a gang-infested neighborhood can push kids towards crime. However, people are still responsible for bettering themselves. You can't blame your circumstances for every mistake you make. You have a choice to take the path towards delinquency or a choice to make the best out of what you're given.
ReplyDeleteAs for the single parent households, it's just another excuse for getting away with whatever you want. One parent can do just as well as two, and if that child chooses to take it in a negative way, then that's on the child. Sometimes people just need to take responsibility for the choices that they make.
-Allison Dooley
My personal beliefs on juvenile deliquency is that, it's what the person makes it. I grew up in a tough nieghborhood and most of my friends took the wrong route and became influenced by the surrondings in which we grew up in, but it was my own personal decision to take myself out of the situation, to make myself better than my peers. Just because a person lives in the environment, doesn't mean that they have to adapt to it. Yes, it may be more dificult to pull yourself away from the situation, but it will make you stronger.
ReplyDelete--Martisha Bush
i believe that the environment of a child does shape the way they act or behave, to a certain extent. Its all about will power and a persons values. Just because you live in a bad neighborhood does not mean that you have to fall to the same things such as gang banging. I grew up in a relatively bad neighborhood and a school full of gangs, yet i still managed to look past all of that and make it to college. Many people can do the same thing, it just all comes down to support from their familiy and their values and morals; that can really make or break a person.
ReplyDelete** Danielle Flores
I agree with this idea because as a rule, children tend to mimic the things they see. This is how we learn from early childhood and in to adolescence. When a child is surrounded by crime, drugs, and violence, these things become what they learn form and what they know. It’s a viscous cycle and although it can be broken statistics show that it’s not very likely. It’s unfortunate but true.
ReplyDelete-Rebecca Arns
I agree with this theory. If a child sees things, they are more than likely going to mimic what they saw. If a child is surrounded by environmental ills, he or she is most likely to partake in them themselves.
ReplyDeleteMatt Gorges