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Social Control Theory: Subculture Analysis

Decent Essays

In this essay, I will discuss the subcultures to which I am a member. I will also discuss what norms and values of each subculture might conflict with the norms and values of the larger culture. Finally, I will identify four groups that I am a member of and identify and explain the relationship could any of these clashes lead to crime, delinquency, or deviance.
Keywords:
Social learning theory (also called learning theory) says that all behavior is learned in much the same way and that crime is also learned. The theory places primary emphasis on the roles of communication and socialization in the acquisition of learned patterns of criminal behavior and the values supporting that behavior. (Schmalleger, (2014) pg.109) Social Control Theory: …show more content…

However, individuals have their own norms and values that may or may not necessarily be the same rituals as society. In this essay, I will discuss the subcultures to which I am a member. I will also discuss what norms and values of each subculture might conflict with the norms and values of the larger culture. Finally, I will identify five groups that I am a member and identify and explain the relationship could any of these clashes lead to crime, delinquency, or deviance.
Social Learning Theory.
In social learning theory, author Frank Schmalleger states, “People learn to commit crime from others by learning the norms, values, and patterns of behaviors conducive to crime. Hence, according to the learning theory, criminal behavior is a product of the social environment and not an innate characteristic.” (Schmalleger, (2014) ¶ 2 pg. 104) However, I believe individuals turn to crime because they decide to learn criminal behavior. I feel we all have the freedom to learn good behaviors or bad behaviors. As a mother, I feel it is necessary to find out who my children socialize with. The rules and morals in our family may be different from the individuals of whom my children socialize with. For example, my daughters are aware that stealing is wrong because I have taught them the act of stealing is a criminal behavior. However, stealing may be an acceptable learned behavior to some of their peers. My daughters’ friends may have been taught that it is okay to take things that do not belong to them from their parents, siblings or others. Therefore, I think it is detrimental to interfere in my children’s relationships to avoid bad learning behavior that is conducive to

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