A student responded to this discussion question:
Define and explain the concept of Integrated Theories. Identify and discuss an Integrated Theory of Criminal Behavior. What is Early-Onset Delinquency. How can we stop it?
Students Response:
(Barak, 1998, Messner, Krohn, &
Liska, 1998), explained integrated theory as a crime that attempts to merge the insights from two or more
theories in a single framework.
Cloward and Ohlin, (1960) intent
were to merge insights from Merton’s strain theory and from the Chicago school writers who illuminated how criminal behavior is learned through
cultural transmission. Integrated theories tend to combine elements from differential
association/social learning theory, strain theory and control/social bond
theory as these perspectives have long been the center of criminology. Agnew (2001b) contended that these theories are the dominant theories of
delinquency (p.117). Two perspectives that represent systematic attempts to combine elements from among these
theoretical traditions, Elliott, Ageton, and Canter’s (1979) integrated strain-control paradigm, Thornberry’s (1987)
interactional theory of delinquency, and Hawkins and Catalano’s social development model. Integrated theorizing has at least two shortcomings Hirschi, (1989), it assumes that criminological knowledge will grow most quickly by trying to bring theories together rather
than by having competing perspectives battle out for explanatory supremacy which force scholars to sharpen their arguments and to search
for innovative ways of showing that their models are more able to account for criminal involvement, and integration can lead to sloppy theorizing in which scholars pick a variable they like from another theory.
Identify and discuss an Integrated Theory of Criminal Behavior.Delbert, et.al. (1979) draw on Social Learning Theory, particularly on the importance that integrated strain-control paradigm placed on adolescence, peer groups, in
sustaining criminal involvement.
Elliott and his colleagues gave two significant perspectives. Their first theory suggests that factors from certain theories might be more important at a particular stage in life, the example they gave is childhood
vs. adolescence. Their second theory assumes that there may be more than one pathway to delinquency. I agree with Elliott et.al (1978) theory, that
there may be more than one pathway to delinquency and believe that delinquency can begin at an early stage of one’s life. For example, in an interview with Jeffrey Dahmer’s parents on Larry King Live (March 2018, His parents indicated that their
son was collecting dead animals,
“roadkill “as he describes it between the age of 12-14, they were not aware of these warning signs, and they
admonished the parent to be more aware of their children and do not take warning signs for granted. From adolescents to adulthood, Jeffery Dahmer grew up to become one of
Americans’ more notorious serial killers. What is “Early-Onset Delinquency.”How can we stop it.? Thornberry & Krohn, 2005 sought to explain the reason why the onset of misconduct occurs at three different stages of the life course. O First, there are those
who manifest problems in childhood as a result of exposure to family disorganization and ineffective
parenting, school failure, and
associations with delinquent
peers and is exacerbated by
living in a community marked
by “structural adversity which
places stress on the family and
provides easy access to deviant
peer groups. Second, most youths start to offend in mid-adolescence from age 12 to 16. (again, the example of Jeffrey Dahmer, whose deviant behavior began at age 12). Thornberry & Krohn, 2005 (p.192). These juveniles tend to
react to features of adolescence that are “developmentally
specific? these youths are in the process of establishing age-appropriate autonomy from
“adult authorities, especially
their parents (p.193) resulting in the weakening of parents’
control and conflict with and alienating parents may arise. Unsupervised association with peers may arise which
reinforces deviant behavior such
as smoking, drinking, drug
experimentations, and van
Third is the late
bloomers “who wait until adulthood to begin offending
Thornberry Krohn (20015). 17.2 percent of non-delinquents
begin offending in adulthood (p.195).The hypothesis behind this is while growing up these adults had personal deficits such as low IQs and poor academic performance
that were “buffeted by supportive parents as they begin to leave the protective
environment of family and school.? How can we stop it.?
(Hawking et.al.) Developed
the Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP) in the 1980s. This was an intervention to foster healthy youths in Seattle, this was a school-based program that was aimed at reducing
risk factors and increasing protective factures,
The response to the student is to be supported with at least one scholarly source (other than the assigned course text). The response should demonstrate the application of theory, law, policy, practice, and/or scholarly literature.
Related Completed Projects
Reflect on the different approaches and write a brief description of what you think is the most effective multicultural approach for young children.
Write a paper design a coaching module based on the steps in Whitworth for creating a balanced life.
Discuss the Script for end of unit conversation.
Do you support the federal government’s current labeling system for foods containing genetically modified ingredients?