Introduction:
This term paper will be consisted on the chosen theory that is self control theory and detailed information about self control theory and its linkage with a type of cyber crime that is hacking. Definitions of self control theory and hacking will be provided to understand the general overview and the linkage between these two terms. After developing an understanding of criminology theory, that is the self control theory the reasons of computer hacking and other such kinds of cyber crimes. After reasons of computer hacking the linkage of self control theory and computer hacking will be provided. The finding of the reasons of committing crime by certain people is an important task to analyze for the management of the crimes. A lot of other theories were presented for many years back. The most important thing about all these theories is that they talk about the prevention of crimes in the society. After that the measures will be discussed that how hacking can be avoided what measurements can be adopted to take the corrective actions.
A brief description about self control theory can be given as sometimes this theory is also called as the general theory. It was originated after Gottfredson and Hirschi’s debate and research that gave a broader way of describing the crimes.The origins claim suggests the parents to critically observe the behaviors of their children so that any disturbing factor can be adjusted and rectified.
There are different kinds of cybercrime but here the explanation of computer hacking will be provided that is prevailing very much in the current time period. The thesis statement that has been developed after the analysis of the self control theory and computer hacking is, how self control theory can be used to determine the contribution in the hacking culture and what are the effects of hacking on the general public. Does the self control theory relate with the hacking and how it can be used to overcome the crimes.
Cyber Crime
There are different kinds of cyber crimes in todays world. When people start working on attaining access to other computers without the permission, then they involve in cyber crimes. It is an illegal action or activity. An increasing number of computer crimes in which hackers who are proficient in programming hack the system for the use of illegal activities like theft, terrorism, aggravation, and bullying. All kinds of crimes in which computer and internet are involved lies under cyber crime. Here the discussion will be on the topic of computer hacking.
Computer hacking
Computer hacking is the crime that is selected here for discussion with the relation of self control theory. Hacking has become very proliferated now a day.
Definition
Computer hacking can be referred as the act of varying and modifying the softwares of computers and hardwares to achieve an objective of illegal nature and the persons who hacks the computers are usually termed as hackers. Hackers have a deep knowledge of the technology that is used in the computers. They have a good and deep understanding of computer programming with a sharp mind and innovative ideas. They have very advanced capabilities and the hackers possess a specific kind of personalities.
Computer crimes like hacking, sometimes becomes difficult to state as a proper definition and sometimes it becomes an ambiguous term to define because it has some controversial views about it. Computer hacking in actually the involvement in others privacy using one’s most advanced technical skills, so, the hacker damage the property that is computer based such as softwares, web pages, secret files, and other secured data of others. It does impact very badly to both of the persons who are the hacker as well as the person who is being hacked. The hacked information is secured that may be personal and it can cause serious damage. On the other hand the hacker can suffer the legal restrictions like jail because of extracting the personal and confidential information.
Prevalence of computer hacking
It is going at its peak in the current period of time as the act of hacking all around the world. Every institution stores the all information electronically. Schools, businesses, hospitals, banks, and even governments store the data by managing different softwares. All the sensitive information needed to be very secure an increasing number of computer based world, making the information more vulnerable to be hacked by the hackers. In the year 2003, the computer viruses that were created by hackers costs the industries $55 billion that was actually the double of the damage that hackers caused in 2002.
Most significant cases of computer hacking
In Washington a couple was pleaded guilty in the accuse of recklessly hacking a computer and violating the password traffic.
On 29th of November 2011, VG law firm got an email that the servers of the company are being indulged in illegal give and take and the backup data is being deleted and copied. This intervention was really severe in nature and caused a lot of problems.
Empirical assessment of computer hacking
Daily activities of all general public can be suffered because of the cybercrime because all of the society mainly depends on the computer related technology. Globalization and development in an advanced manner are increasing the dependency on computer technology of all the businesses. An increasing number of individuals are being observed who are becoming the victims of computer hacking. Thus, very strong security essentials are required to avoid such issues and to avoid the loss of critical information in every field even in managing the personal profiles on the internet.
Criminology Theory
There are many criminology theories that depict the behaviors, attitudes, social factors, and many other things about committing cyber crimes. These theories develop an understanding of crimes as well as the criminals by defining the way of understanding the psychology of criminals. These theories devise a plan for avoidance of such actions and how the society can contribute in minimizing these criminal acts.
Self control theory
The Gottfredson and Hirschi’s concept of crime itself
On the first hand for understanding this theory, one must analyze the concept of crime the scholars view point. Crime is actually an action of breaking a law that depicts how to act and behave in a society in an ethical way. This explanation gives a way to the self control theory or general theory of crime. The act that is illegal and deviates the individual from the norms and principles of the society is termed as a crime.
What is a self control theory
This theory is based on the Gottfredson and Hirschi that have instigated a broader debate of research of further investigations about crimes. Some crimes are very easy to be committed and not require long term planning but others needs long term planning. The persons who lack of self control have a nature of adventure, short sighted, risk taker, nonverbal and very insensitive to other people.
The main reason of crime may be the use of drugs and use more alcoholic drinks. People are of two kinds one are those who have low self control and the other kind of people have a high level of self control. The actual reason of lower self control originates in the early brought up of the children. The scholars of this theory provide a view that parents should properly look after their children in early age and if they find any problem in the behavior the parents should rectify these attitudinal issues. People with low self control have should be rectified in their early age of brought up. This is called as an origins hypothesis. If self control with higher level has not urbanized by eight to ten period era of age of the children then it can not be developed properly. Thus, it must be developed and monitored by the parents in early ages. This postulate is termed as the stability postulate. This theory gives a way of critique about criminology.
Empirical support of the theory
Self control theory can be divided into two views that weather the self control theory of crime is sustainable and on the other hand, there is an emerging evidence of few of the forecasts. An increasing figure of studies that are empirical in nature that also includes a meta analysis that describes about the individuals who have a self control. Self control is the strong forecaster of crime when these are the contrast to the range of features at different levels of analysis.
Weaknesses of this theory
The main drawbacks in this theory by Gottfredson and Hirschi was that, they did not explain separately the both concepts of criminal behavior and self control. On the other hand, this theory is internally consistent that was proved after replying to the Akers arguments. Thus, now this theory needs some revision.
The Application of self control theory toward computer hacking
The increased number of automated gadgets in current period of time and an exposure to a varied kinds of information that also includes procedures and guidelines by online resources make the youth able to access and learn the tools of hacking. A person with Low self control can be determined as a risky aspect that involves the youth in deviant behaviors that takes them toward adventurous crimes like computer hacking.
Self control and opportunities of hacking
The chances to learn the techniques of hacking and its linkage with lower levels of self control can engage the young males in such crimes. People with low self control likes curiosity and they can do anything they find curious. This theory explains about the structure of computer hacking with the system of criminal justice system.
What are the causal factors of computer hacking under the theory
The main reasons of computer hacking with the relation of self control can be identified as, now a day Hollywood movies portray appositive and an adventurous image of hackers. This image can be a base of increasing levels of computer hacking. A proper planning is required for hacking and the youth with low self control search for most difficult tasks to do thus they they can utilize their planning capabilities. People who have more advanced technical knowledge with low self control indulge in computer hacking as compared to other street misdeeds. This theory gives a way for scholars with a bulk of debatable and thinkable propositions.
In a first step the understanding of crime is explained that what is actually the crime is and what kind of people does commit the crime. The people with lower levels of self control or who lack self control are found to be daring, risk acceptors, like adventures, spontaneous, and they are not sensitive to others. Some scholars think that lack of self control is not the only reason of crime, but a lot of other reasons also affect the criminal behavior of people, for example a dire need can instigate people to commit a crime. The main reason of lacking self control in youngsters are the behaviors of their parents, problems in relationships, such as marriage, and an extra use of alcoholic drinks.
Analyzing the self control theory critically as an rationalization of computer hacking
The advancement in technology of computers has impacted the life of people in positive as well as in negative manners. As technology has benefited the people on the other it also gives benefits to criminal to access other important information in an advanced manner. Computer crimes such as computer hacking is increasing day by day and there is no specific research that can determine how exactly the low self control level can be used to recognize the behavior and attitudes of the people who can commit crimes and especially software piracy.
On the other hand the Gofftman and Hirchi’s thought about self control has instigated a link between low self control and computer hacking or computer piracy. A new research is done to investigate the link between computer piracy and low self control with the consideration of attitudes of software pirating, ethical beliefs, and behaviors that predict such crimes depicts that there is a viewable link between these two terms. The self control theory and software piracy linkage give a further way of investigation in determining criminal behaviors.
There are two main components of self control theory that are the opportunity and the proper understanding of low self control that mainly pertinent to computer crimes. As it is observed that most of the hackers are among the youth because they have a few numbers of earning opportunities and computer hacking motivate them to earn more in a deviant way. On the other hand their level of low self control may be satisfied with the adventurous task such as software hacking. The most important thing is, actually brought up of the children that is the responsibility of the parents to examine the children’s deviant behaviors and to correct such attitudes in time to save them legally breached in the future.
While analyzing critically the literature about the theory, it can be stated that people who have a greater cognitive ability with an advanced level of technical knowledge coupled with the lower self control commits computer hacking and the theory of self control does strongly explain low self control level and its linkage with computer hacking. Self control theory can be used to avoid hacking because it determines the deviant behaviors for crimes .
Conclusion
Computer hacking is a white collar crime that is an advanced type of crime that needs some detailed planning, advanced skills, and higher cognitive skills. Thus, low self control describes about the preliminary involvement in the computer hacking. Self control theory provides a way for further investigation in the field of criminology. Mostly this theory describes about the low level of self control that is most prevalent in the youth. People with low level of self control are prove to be more probable of committing computer hacking like crimes. Only low self control cannot be the sole predictor of software or computer piracy.
There are many other factors that can also be the reason of hacking. Specifically, in this theory low level of self control and its linkage with the computer hacking can be understandable, but on the other hand it is not clearly stated in it. That can a base for further research and investigation to examine the clear linkage. The hackers who have advanced technical skills and its relation to the level of self control can also be a foundation for further research. The other important aspect for further research in this field may be the topic of linkage between social learning theory and low level of self control to determine the deviant behavior of the youth who have friends that are involved in computer hacking and other related cyber crimes.
After critically analyzing the literature about the theory, it can be stated that people who have a greater cognitive ability with an advanced level of technical knowledge coupled with the lower self control commits computer hacking and the theory of self control does strongly explain low self control level and its linkage with computer hacking. It can be believed that the general theory of crime has unfasten the new directions toward varied potentials for further research and for constructing the guidelines for parents to avoid their children from committing the crimes such as computer hacking. Parents should critically observe the activities of their children and they should also rectify their mistakes on time with proper counseling to save their future.
References
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