Crime and Deviance

Crime and Deviance

Introduction

A theory provides a clear elaboration on the prevailing relationships between various phenomena. Accordingly, the theoretical view towards crime will help explain the influence of certain factors towards criminal and deviant acts. For instance, some theories assert that criminality is an innate characteristic of a human organism, that the fear for the consequences of breaking the law tempers. Moreover, other theories argue that attribute the emergence of criminal behavior among individuals should be to biological, sociological, psychological, and economic factors or an amalgamation of elements arising from the above-mentioned influences. In this paper, we will examine the theoretical perspectives that can explain the development of drug addiction, which is a form of deviance.

Case

The form of deviance that we will discuss in this paper is the problem of substance and drug abuse among adolescents and juveniles. Drug addiction in contemporary society is a major issue that plagues the psychological and physiological health of the youth around the world, in addition to influencing chronic addicts to engage in criminal activity to feed their habit (Krohn et al., 2016, p.374). The theoretical perspectives that we can apply to elaborate on this problem include the labeling theory, which is critical theory, and the diffraction theory, which is a mainstream theory. Moreover, the prevalent data that will support the efforts towards proving the viability of the above theories originates from various studies such as that conducted by Becker in the year 2009, ( Szweika, 2013, p.346), whereby the experts obtained the data after interviewing various subjects and from the efforts of National Youth Survey researchers ( Rebellon, 2012, p.77). The main group that this report highlights, as the chief victims ofsubstance abuse, is the youth and particularly teenagers between the ages of fifteen to seventeen, although drug abuse is a common issue that plagues individuals across all age groups..

Rebellon, (Rebellon, 2012, p.78) identifies the contributing factors that a researcher should consider to determine the validity of a theoretical approach regarding substance abuse. Accordingly, the study should use self-reported measures of perceived peer attitudes, associate behavior, and personal behavior. Moreover, the researchers chose behavioral items that conformed to four criteria. First, they reflected the habits of the respondents and their associates. Second, they were present in three sets of data that the researcher applied in the study. Third, they were not a duplication of previous studies that shared a similar goal (Rebellon, 2012, p.77). Finally, they contained enough information. Moreover, the three behavioral items met four conditions that might include using prescription drugs, being drunk, and using marijuana. Therefore, the data possess empirical validity.

Differential association theory

Edwin Sutherland (1947) propounded the differential association theory. It is one of the most popular philosophies in contemporary criminology, and it serves as the basis of other developments of the social learning theory (Li et al., 2011, p.1030). The differential association perspective asserts that individuals acquire deviant habits such as drug and substance overindulgence by fraternizing with their deviant friends. In addition to these deviant associates functioning as the root cause of deviant habits in an individual, they also promote the development of unwanted traits by exposing the subject to attitudes that endorse the acquisition of deviant traits such as the use of addictive substances( Rebellon, 2012, p.74).

The labeling theory

The labeling theory is also known as the social stigmatization theory. According to Szweika (2013, p.342), the theory states that social groups promote deviant behavior, including substance abuse, by creating regulations and norms, which lead to deviance among individuals who habitually break these rules. Furthermore, labeling those who contravene popular social norms, with terms that indicate that they are outsiders, promotes the development of deviant behavior among those individuals (Szweika, 2013, p.343). Accordingly, deviant behavior does not result from the antisocial act a person commits but is a consequence of the sanctions that members of his or her community will subsequently impose on the individual (Burke, 2017). A study by Szweika, (2013, p.345) reveals that labeling and rejection of teenagers motivate them to band with individuals with deviant qualities, including drug dependency, to escape their loneliness.

This theoretical perspective can explain the circumstances that compel an individual to participate in a deviant subculture, which typically comprises of habitual and seasoned drug addicts, who serve as a convenient conduit to the underground drug market. Accordingly, Szweika (2013, p.346)equates peer rejection to the labeling that motivates an individual to adopt the deviant behavior that is drug addiction and to seek refuge in the deviant subculture, where one can find less judgmental peers. Szweika (2013, p.345) explains that contemporary empirical studies confirm that this phenomenon is more common among adolescents since teenagers are more inclined towards the rejection of societal norms because of their rebellious nature. However, since teenagers and adults usually abide by the same set of values in a community, they typically despise these deviant subcultures; therefore, other factors contribute to the labeling phenomenon.

Therefore, a young person will seek the embrace of a deviant subculture when he or she feels rejected by his or her age-mates who constitute his or her peers. Such rejection typically occurs when the subject of ostracism displays inappropriate social conduct that isolates the individual from his or her associates. Szweika (2013, p.346) explains that the common traits that might earn a prospective deviant ridicule include socially anxious and avoidant habits, immature behavior, disruptive traits, overt aggression, and a lack of cooperative and prosocial qualities.

Analysis

A study by Rebellion,(2012, p.86) fails to endorse the expectations of the differential association theory. Conversely, it adds credence to recent arguments and criticisms against the theory, which asserts that the theory is not applicable to the issue of substance abuse for a variety of reasons. First, the strong correlation between a peer and personal drug delinquency might be because estimates of the two parameters do not possess any discriminant validity. Furthermore, a delinquent might opt to fraternize with similar drug addicts because they are apt to tolerate his or her inadequacies. Additionally, the study by Rebellon, (2012, p.86) does not confirm that differential association at a point might trigger substance abuse at a future date.

Conversely, the outcomes of a study by Szweika, (2013, p.346) show that the stigma that accompanies the revelation that one is a drug addict will isolate the individual and worsen his or her condition by encouraging him or her to embrace a deviant society. For instance, 83.4% of respondents, comprising of heroin addicts, reported either losing the trust of their colleagues, indifference from their loved ones, or being socially ostracized once the public learned the truth concerning their state. Therefore, the labeling theory fits better if we wish to explain the development of drug addiction among the youth.

Conclusion

In summary, theoretical perspectives towards drug and substance abuse aid the comprehension of the factors that exacerbate the problem among the youth. We have identified two common perspectives that scholars commonly apply in explaining the problem, including the differential association theory and the labeling theory. Furthermore, an analysis of recent research about the applicability of the theories to the problem of drug addiction shows that the differential association theory is not applicable in this matter, while the labeling theory provides a clearer explanation of the motivating factors that urge young individuals to abuse substances.

References

Burke, R. H. (2017). An introduction to criminological theory. Routledge.

Krohn, M., Loughran, T., Thornberry, T., Jang, D., Freeman-Gallant, A., & Castro, E. (2016). Explaining Adolescent Drug Use in Adjacent Generations. Journal Of Drug Issues, 46(4), 373-395. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042616659758

Li, L., Zhang, X., Levine, B., Li, G., Zielke, H., & Fowler, D. (2011). Trends and Pattern of Drug Abuse Deaths in Maryland Teenagers. Journal Of Forensic Sciences, 56(4), 1029-1033. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01743.x

Rebellon, C. (2012). Differential association and substance use: Assessing the roles of discriminant validity, socialization, and selection in traditional empirical tests. European Journal Of Criminology, 9(1), 73-96. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370811421647

Szwejka, L. (2013). Drug addiction in the labeling theory. Journal Of Educational Review, 6(3), 340-347. Retrieved 4 March 2020, from.