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Sociological Theories Of Delinquency

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There are many theories that attempt to explain the causes of delinquency. Among these theories are choice views, sociological views and developmental views. Choice theories suggest that juvenile offenders are capable of rational choices and make the choice to engage in delinquent behavior because they believe it will be beneficial for them in some way. The benefit of engaging in delinquent behavior must be perceived to be greater than possible punishment or loss (Siegel & Welsh, pg. 59) . Basically, choice theories equate delinquency to be a matter of free will. Sociological views of delinquency assert that certain social conditions make youth turn to criminality. These social conditions include negative interpersonal interactions, poor community ecological conditions, low socioeconomic status, and racial disparity (Siegel & Welsh, pg. 97). Developmental views claim that delinquency is a result of social experiences as well as individual characteristics. A criminal career is not started by a single incident however, and the path to delinquency and subsequent criminality is a dynamic process influenced by personal, social, …show more content…
Delinquency in schools can range from drug use to violent victimization. School shootings are on the rise and target both students and teachers. Most school shooters were victimized or bullied themselves which led them to such a violent outburst. Bullying can also decrease school attendance and cause psychological problems for it's victims. School failure has been shown to increase the risk of delinquency (Siegel & Welsh, pg. 249). High school drop-outs often do not have the skills needed to succeed by conventional means, and they may begin to associate with other dropouts who engage in antisocial behavior. School failure in itself can be caused by a number of factors including personal problems, social problems, tracking and alienation (Siegel & Welsh, pp.

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