1013CCJ Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice Assessment Answer

Scenario 1 Response

It is important to understand the link between aggressive media and violent behavior in people to understand the trend in crime. In the year 2012, a tragedy occurred in Aurora, Colorado that rekindled a debate on the possible connection between violent media that included video games in its purview, anti-social attitudes, and offending. As per Akers’ Social Learning Theory, individuals learn through social interactions with others. This includes the observance and imitation of behaviors, attitudes, and values of people (Akers, 2002). In this regard, according to Windell (2021), any exposure to violent media like movies and shows, for example, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, and so on, including aggressive video games like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty can adversely mold the behavior and attitude of a person and steer them toward violence. The link between violent media and anti-social attitudes and offending invites extensive debate on the matter. On one hand, while a wide range of studies suggest a direct correlation between violent media and violence, others showcase no significant relationship between the two.

According to Huesmann (2007), the impact of aggressive media is best depicted as one of many factors that induce violence and aggression. Anderson and Bushman (2002) conducted a meta-analysis, wherein, established a positive link between exposure to violent mass media and violent behavior. Along similar lines, Ferguson et al. (2013), in their study, found that exposure to violent video games can be associated with the increasing rate of crime. However, certain studies suggest otherwise. Here is an exception to the previous conjecture, in the analysis conducted by Savage (2018), it was revealed that the primary factors that motivate anti-social and aggressive behavior constitute mental health, family background, and peer influence rather than media aggression or violent video games thus, proving that there is no significant connection between aggressive behavior and violent media.

To quickly restate it, establishing a nexus between aggressive media and anti-social attitudes is complicated and needs consideration of various aspects. Even though Akers’ social learning theory supports the idea that exposure to aggressive media can directly affect the attitude and behavior of an individual, the present evidence provides for a mix of perspectives on the same. Consequently, there are no cemented grounds that can ascertain whether there exists a correlation between the two concepts, namely, violent media that includes video games and aggressive behavior, attitude, and offending among people that ultimately induce criminal behavior.

Word Count: 402

Scenario 1 Reference List:

Akers, R. L. (2002). A social learning theory of crime. Criminological theories: Bridging the past to the future , 135-143.

Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2001). Effects of violent video games on aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, physiological arousal, and prosocial behavior: A meta-analytic review of the scientific literature. Sage Journals, 12 (5), 353–359. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9280.00366?journalCode=pssa

Ferguson, C. J., San Miguel, C., Garza, A., & Jerabeck, J. M. (2012). A longitudinal test of video game violence influences on dating and aggression: A 3-year longitudinal study of adolescents. Journal of psychiatric research , 46 (2), 141-146. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395611002627

Huesmann, L. R. (2007). The impact of electronic media violence: Scientific theory and research. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41 (6), S6-S13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X07003916

Savage, J. (2018). A Meta-Analytic Examination of the Relationship between Violent Video Games and Aggression. PLoS ONE, 13(12), e0208399. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208399

Windell, J. (2021). Does Playing Grand Theft Auto Mean You Will Go Out and Kill Somebody?. Michigan Psychological Association. https://www.michiganpsychologicalassociation.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&category=children-a-youth&id=143:does-playing-grand-theft-auto-mean-you-will-go-out-and-kill-somebody-

Scenario 2 Response

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic holds significant importance in impacting society on a global level and influencing crime rates across countries. As per Felson, Jiang, and Xu (2020), the routine activity theory also known as the routine activity approach can be utilized to understand the fluctuation in the rate of violence with respect to property crimes that took place during the lockdown in the pandemic. Further, the theory suggests that can be interpreted in terms of exposure to risk. They further, mentioned that the present theory lays an emphasis on the importance of three primary elements namely, a motivated offender, a suitable target, and an absence of a capable guardian.

There has been a variety of research conducted in many jurisdictions globally including Queensland and Australia that show differing results with respect to the interplay of the COVID-19 lockdowns and fluctuations in the rate of crime. If we take an example of a study conducted by Usher et al. (2020) in the United States of America, wherein it was found that there has been a significant fall in the rate of violent crimes during the period of COVID lockdown. However, another study conducted by Karrington et al. (2021) suggests otherwise, wherein, an increase in the rate of domestic violence was found in New South Wales, Australia.

As suggested by Lersch and Hart (2022), a possible explanation behind the dissimilitude could be that the effectiveness of measures during lockdown was dependent on certain contexts and the presence of capable guardians. For instance, even though the shutting down of schools might reduce the instances of youth crimes and delinquencies, it might fuel the risk of victimization by increasing the number of unsupervised children.

In conclusion of the above, the present routine activity approach can help gain a better understanding of the change in the crime rate during the COVID-19 lockdown period by drawing special attention to the importance of the three elements of motivated offenders, suitable targets, and the absence of capable guardians. The effectiveness of the lockdown measures with reference to reducing crime, however, depends on various contextual factors, which include the presence of capable guardianship.

Word Count: 356

Scenario 2 Reference List:

Felson, M., Jiang, S., & Xu, Y. (2020). Routine activity effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on burglary in Detroit, March 2020. Crime science , 9 (1), 1-7. https://crimesciencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40163-020-00120-x

Karrington et al. (2021). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australian domestic and family violence services and their clients. Wiley Online Library, 56( 4). 539-558. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajs4.183

Lersch, K., & Hart, T.C., (2022). COVID-19, Violent Crime, and Domestic Violence: An Exploratory Analysis. National Library of Medicine, 2 (1). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8896971/

Usher, K., Bhullar, N., Durkin, J., Gyamfi, N., & Jackson, D. (2020). Family violence and COVID‐19: Increased vulnerability and reduced options for support. International Journal of mental health nursing, 29 (4), 549. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7264607/

Scenario 3 Response

One of the well-known sociological perspectives that explain how societal pressure and restrictions can influence a person to commit criminal acts is Merton’s strain theory. The strain theory argues that individuals may resort to criminal activities as a means to achieve their goals and ambitions when they face a disconnection between their aspirations and their capacity to achieve those aspirations using legitimate means (Merton, 1938). Eventually, this creates a “strain” between the goals of a person and the means and modes to achieve those goals (Giddens & Sutton, 2017). Paul Morrisons’s case can be examined in this context to gain a better understanding of the same.

As per the details of this case, Morrison was an undischarged bankrupt engaged by the Lockeyer Regional Valley Council to manage and oversee the rebuilding effort after the occurrence of the flood. Subsequently, Morrison was convicted of committing fraud by allegedly providing false invoices worth $71,448.25 to the council, which resulted in a three-year imprisonment. Such behavior of Morrison can be linked to the strain faced by him due to the difficulties faced by him with respect to his financial conditions and his aspirations to maintain his lifestyle and improve his financial status.

According to Nirula (2022), Merton’s strain theory puts forwards the fact that an individual who faces a strain may react in any of the given five ways that include conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, or rebellion. In the present case of Morrison, it is evident that he turned to the innovation response by creating false invoices in order to obtain money to pay his subcontractors and fulfill his duties towards the council. In pursuance of this, Morrison was able to accommodate his aspirations and avoid potential strain with respect to finances. 

Summarising the above, it can be said that the strain theory of Merton can aid in getting a clear understanding of Morrison’s criminal behavior by underlining the impact of the pressure of society and constraints affecting his decision-making. The theory further suggests that his criminal act was in response to the strain faced by him due to adverse financial conditions and maintaining his lifestyle. Eventually, by utilizing such innovation he was able to fulfill his duties towards the council and maintain his aspirations, however, it resulted in criminal conviction and punishment.

Word Count: 381

Scenario 3 Reference List:

Giddens & Sutton. (2017). Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance. Revise Sociology. https://revisesociology.com/2016/04/16/mertons-strain-theory-deviance/#:~:text=Strain%20Theory%20argues%20that%20crime,in%20order%20to%20achieve%20success.

Merton, R.K. (1938). Social Structure and Anomie. American Sociological Review, 3 (5), 672-682.

Nirula, U. (2022). Merton's Strain Theory: Modes of Adaptation & Derived Theories. Merton’s Modes of Adaption. https://study.com/academy/lesson/mertons-strain-theory-definition-examples-quiz.html#:~:text=The%20five%20adaptations%20to%20strain%20as%20explained%20by%20Merton%20in,means%20of%20achieving%20those%20goals.

Scenario 4 Response

Certain valuable insights into the offending patterns of offenders like Fardon and Ferguson can be obtained by employing the Developmental Life Course (DLC) theory. According to Fox and Farrington (2016), the developmental life course theory sets out that the developmental trajectory of an individual can affect their behavior throughout their life. This is inclusive of criminal behavior. In Fardon’s case, his conviction happened at the age of 18 years for the very first time. According to Edgely (2009), this may have encouraged him to adopt criminal behavior, which leads to further convictions and detentions under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld.).

While considering the government’s argument concerning preventive detention in the present case, the perspectives of LeBlanc or Sampson, and Laub can be applied so as to offer an alternate solution (Wickert, 2022). As per the theory of LeBlanc, it is suggested that poverty, lack of education, lack of social support, and so on can be major contributing factors to criminal behavior that exist in society. According to Thomas (2022), it has been proved through research that patterns of behavior learned in early childhood, when left unresolved, can lead to frustration and violent responses. Thus, addressing these social issues might prove to be a better alternative to preventive detention in an effort to reduce reoffending rates.

On the other hand, the theory given by Sampson and Laub (1996) underlines the importance of turning points and life events in the developmental trajectory of an individual. They further argued that interventions that give an opportunity to experience positive life events like education and employment can alter the likelihood of criminal acts by an individual. Thus, the focus shall be laid on the rehabilitation of offenders as an effective approach rather than preventive detention.

Concluding the above stated, it can be summarized that the theory can be used to analyze the patterns of offending by offenders like Fardon and Ferguson, and the perspectives of LeBlanc or Sampson, and Laub must be applied effectively in furtherance of this. It is possible to reduce the reoffending rates in an effective manner other than preventive detention by addressing the underlying social factors and providing positive life event opportunities.

Word Count: 364

Scenario 4 Reference List:

Fox, B. H., & Farrington, D. P. (2016). Is the development of offenders related to crime scene behaviors for burglary? Including situational influences in developmental and life-course theories of crime. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 60 (16), 1897-1927. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624x15621982

Edgely, M. (2006). Preventing Crime or Punishing Propensities-A Purposive Examination of the Preventative Detention of Sex Offenders in Queensland and Western Australia. UW Austl. L. Rev. , 33 , 351. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1335047

Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld.)

Sampson, R. J., & Laub, J. H. (1996). Socioeconomic Achievement in the Life Course of Disadvantaged Men: Military Service as a Turning Point, Circa 1940-1965. American Sociological Review, 61(3), pp. 347-367.

Thomas, L. (2022). Social Disorganization Theory: Origins, Examples, And Application. Theories of Crime. https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-chicago-schools-social-disorganization-theory.html

Wickert, C. (2022). Age-Graded Theory/ Turning Points (Sampson and Laub). Soz Theo. https://soztheo.de/theories-of-crime/career-development-life-course/age-graded-theory-turning-points-sampson-and-laub/?lang=en

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