Studies relating to juveniles systems are dynamic and this is why various theorists have come up with various theories to explain the behavior of individuals. Even though these theories have different views, none of them can be said to be more correct that another. All these theories are equally important and are helpful in understanding the cause of unwanted behaviors in the society. The study of causes of these behaviors is important in helping to come up with ways of preventing these behaviors. These theories are also important in coming up with methods of punishing the involved parties. This research paper intends to find out the differences between social strain and cultural transmission theory.
Looking at strain theory, the social structures in a society influence the behavior of people. It is the social structures in a community that determines the needs of the people. Each member of the society strives to achieve these needs. Some of them are able to achieve these needs easily whereas others find it extremely difficult. However, the society presses them such that they find no other option rather than strive to achieve these needs. In this case, the needs become so important such that people find the methods of acquiring the needs less important as compared to acquiring these needs. This is why people end up doing things that are wrong as long as they are able to achieve certain goals set by the society. People end up stealing just to achieve their needs (Thompson, 2010).
The cultural transmission theory on the other hand holds a different view about the cause of deviant behavior. According to the theory, people usually learn bad behaviors from the others. As people learn good behavior from other members of the society, they have also the capability of learning the negative behavior they see around. Therefore the environment that an individual lives in influences his/her behavior. People learn bad behaviors from schools and even from their families. When people are more close two people who have criminal behaviors, there the chances that such people will adopt the deviant behaviors are very high (Thompson, 2010).
Strain theory asserts that the society has norms that it requires all people to observe. Anybody who does not follow these norms is the ones who can be accused of practicing criminal activities. However, cultural transmission theory does not have any norms set by the society. Therefore is no guide as to what can be said to be a criminal offence or a good act.
Several conditions may make one to engage in deviant behavior. First, when individuals fail to achieve goals set by the society, they are motivated to engage in criminal activities. Second, when people are stressed for example by death of a relative, then there are chances that such individuals will engage in criminal activities. Another strain occurs when people feel that they are not treated as required. For example, people who fail to meet the minimum requirements in exams feel that they have done the best even though the society has failed to recognize them. This makes such people develop emotions such that they can engage in criminal activities. These are the arguments by strain theory. On the other hand, cultural transmission theory identifies closeness of individuals to people with deviant behaviors as the only cause of deviant behavior. According to the theory, children who observe deviant behaviors from their early childhood have greater chances of engaging in deviant behaviors (Winfree, 2009).
According to strain theory, the major cause of deviant behavior is the search for material wealth. Therefore, people engage in criminal activities to gain in a way. However, this theory fails to recognize that there are other crimes that cannot be associated with material gains. This is one of the major reasons why this theory is criticized. On the other hand, cultural transmission theory does not associate crime with material gains. People learn behaviors whether they benefit materially from the behaviors or not. This theory makes it possible to explain other crimes that are not associated with material gains.
Cultural transmission implies that it is difficult to change the behavior of an individual. People have learnt the behaviors from the society hence there is no way of making people change from what they have engaged in since their birth. On the other hand, strain theory argues that behaviors of individuals can be changed. This could be through advice. This is because the deviant behaviors are just meant to satisfy the needs of these criminals. Therefore, if there are alternative strategies to meet these needs, these people are likely to adopt these acceptable strategies. Therefore, advice and assistance on better means of achieving needs can reduce crime rates according to strain theory. Om the other hand, cultural transmission theory argues that the behavior of individuals can be shaped through punishments and imprisonment (Miller, 2009).
There are however similarities between the two theories. In the both theories, the society plays a big role in shaping the behavior of individuals. For the cultural transmission theory, the people in the society are the ones who determine whether an individual will be a criminal or not. In the strain theory, the society is responsible for setting the goals of individuals, which induce people to commit crimes. In both cases, the society plays a big role in shaping behaviors of people (Siegel, 2009).
In both theories, it is recognized that people engage in criminal activities upon their own decisions. This is considering the fact that not all people living in the same environment engage in criminal behaviors. Two people may be close to a criminal but one of them learns the criminal behavior and the other one becomes a good person. On the other hand, people may be seeking to meet same needs but one of them engages in a criminal activity to meet the need but the other one uses legal methods to meet the needs. This shows that nature also plays a role in shaping the behavior of individuals according to the two theories (Siegel, 2009).
References.
Thompson, W. E., & Bynum, J. E. (2010). Juvenile delinquency: A sociological approach. Boston: Pearson.
Winfree, L. T., & Abadinsky, H. (2010). Understanding crime: Essentials of criminological theory. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Miller, J. M. (2009). 21st century criminology: A reference handbook. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage.
Siegel, L. J. (2009). Criminology. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
