Determine and discuss 1 strength and 1 weakness of Differential Association theory (Chapter 8) OR Control theory
JAROD
Explain how Hirshi’s Control Theory (Chapter 9) applies to the controversy and debate over Mississippi’s State Flag?
According to Hirshi, “control theories assume that delinquent acts result when an individual’s bond to society is weak or broken” (Adler p.89). With this idea being applied to the debate over the Mississippi state flag, one could consider the weak or broken bod to society from both sides. From both sides southern pride is referenced, but viewed entirely differently. The supporters of the flag see it as a symbol of their roots to the south and the southern way of living, as well as their heritage of the south. From that perspective, those that reject this symbolism could be seen as having broken bond with the society which is the south. One could see this allegiance to the south as deviant behavior in and of itself, since the principles that supporters reference tend to be those that fueled, at least in part, the movement for the southern states to separate from the United States.
From the perspective of those that oppose the Mississippi state flag, the symbolism is the same as that of the supporters, but viewed entirely differently. The southern pride and heritage that is seen through the eyes of those that oppose the symbol is that of oppression, hate, slavery, Jim Crow laws, KKK raids, etc. While those that oppose the flag also express their own southern pride, it is vastly different. The southern pride referenced from this side is that of respect for the land, and southern hospitality. From this angle, those that support the flag have a broken bond with society because they insist on holding on to symbols that are representative of the darkest chapter in American history.
Determine and discuss 1 strength and 1 weakness of Differential Association theory (Chapter 8) OR Control theory (Chapter 9).
The Differential Association theory makes the assessment that deviant behavior is learned behaviors from close relationships or family. A strength from this theory is that it does in fact stress the importance of relationships in how they contribute to forming a persons’ sense of what is acceptable behaviors or actions. Conversely, a weakness of the Differential Association theory is the degree to which these relationships are assumed to imprint on an individual. Sutherland and Cressey state “When a person becomes a criminal, they do so because of contacts with criminal patterns and also because of isolation from anticriminal patterns.” (Adler p. 86) This perspective not only puts too much weight on the relationship’s influence on an individual’s direction, it also lays the perception that people live in isolated bubbles. While an individual may be exposed to criminal patterns, they are also exposed to those who do not have those patterns. Additionally, it does not take into account that those in that community that do not have the criminal or deviant behavior. Those individuals are also exposed to criminal behaviors, but have not taken on the deviant persona.
Hirshi’s control theory suggests that delinquent acts are a result of an individual’s bond to society is weak or broken (Adler, Adler, 2018). While its not perfect, it helps to explain why individuals would rather deviate than follow societies rules. The groups and individuals deviating from societies set of rules would not have a commitment to them nor would they have a belief in them. Instead having a belief in a different set rule’s, they feel committed towards, their value system is different. The fear of getting in trouble does not affect them as it would a member following societies rules since their value set is not the same. The KKK is a group of people that use the confederate flag as one of their representations, this makes it difficult for the rule abiding people of Mississippi to defend their flag and move on into the future with their state flag. The people of Mississippi feel committed to their flag, which represents them as a people, poor, undereducated, but hardened and committed to their land and people. The Civil war hardships that they suffered and though the war was lost to them, they still defend its place in their heritage. Though many surrounding southern states changed their flags, Mississippian’s haven’t budged yet. The Mississippi flag represents many things to the people living there and in the Southern states surrounding them. To some the flag represents oppression, slavery, hate and hate groups. To others the flag represents togetherness, strength, endurance and heritage of old. The flag does represent all these things. Per Hirshi’s Control Theory, the groups of people that use this flag as a representation of their deviant behavior are attempting to keep alive their ownership of a heritage past. The Mississippi heritage has aged and changed with the times. It isn’t forgotten but the people polled in the video claim they all just want to get along. In the good times and bad the people want to come together, and they feel picked on anytime an extreme group uses their state flag as a weapon of identification. This being said, maybe the time has come for them to lay rest a conflicted flag and pick up a new one in unity to represent what they have become.
3.According to Adler (Chapter 14), what were some of the main problems and issues with their research on drug dealers and smugglers?
Some of the main problems and issues researching the drug dealers and smugglers is the constant work on getting their informants to trust them and keep trust them. While interviewing, many were intoxicated and while some intoxicants helped the interview process, others inhibited it making it difficult to gather information. There was fear of the people they were interviewing and involved with as drug use could make them very volatile and turn on each other in a moments notice if they felt they were wronged (Adler, Adler, 2018). The research tapes that were painstakingly put together were threatened from time to time and they had to alternate hiding locations to keep them safe from individuals that although had consented to an interview, changed their minds after. There was also fear that the law enforcement would learn of their study and confiscate their research (Adler, Adler, 2018).
Peer posts -response to 2 classmates ( 100 words each)
Answer preview to determine and discuss 1 strength and 1 weakness of Differential Association theory (Chapter 8) OR Control theory
