Author Question: How do social control theories differ from other theories of crime? What will be an ideal ... (Read 93 times)

luvbio · **on:** Aug 17, 2018

How do social control theories differ from other theories of crime?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

How does differential identification theory explain criminal behavior? How does this theory differ from Sutherlands differential association theory?

What will be an ideal response?

kkenney · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 17, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Answers should focus on the key question underlying social control theories. Social control theories do not stress causative factors in criminal behavior. Instead, they ask why people obey the law rather than breaking it.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Answers should explain that differential identification theory posits that people who pursue criminal behavior do so to the extent that they identify with real or imaginary people from whose perspective their criminal behavior seems acceptable. The primary differences from Sutherlands theory should be discussed, including the focus on the symbolic process of identification as the determinant of behavior (rather than the frequency or intensity of the association) as well as the possibility of identification with imaginary as well as real people.