Bronfenbrenner’s Social Ecological Theory

Bronfenbrenner’s Social Ecological Theory

MicroInner & Outer

Forces

MezzoSocial Groups

MacroSystems &

Groups

Biological Family Institutions

Psychological Work Organizations

Social Structures Friends Government

Community

MicroNature and Nurture

Genetic factors may include:

•Alcoholism •Temperament•Criminality•Depression•Mental illnesses

MicroNutrition

•Abnormalities•Deformities•Brain damage•Malnutrition•Lack Physically•Lack Mentally•May Be Violent

Abraham Maslow’s Theory Human Motivation

Abraham Maslow’s TheoryHuman Motivation

Healthy Family Unhealthy Family

Maslow’s Theory•When injustice, unfairness, or inconsistency in the parents occur the child feels anxious and unsafe.•They no longer feel protected•The child now feels stress, anxiety, and even fear as a new norm. •This causes a negative homeostasis. •The child’s stimuli is changed to a negative stimuli.•This leads to a number of psychological disorders that may follow into the cycle of crime.

Neglect and Abuse

Result of abuse and neglect• Brain development• Cognitive delays • Emotional problems

May lead to these risk factors• Sexual promiscuity• Drug use• Sexually transmitted

diseases• Cancer• Obesity• Social difficulties• Borderline personality

disorder• Antisocial disorder• Violence

Foster CareFactors that may result from Foster Care usually have long-term, permanent consequences.

•Cognitive Scars•Psychological Scars•Emotional Scars•Physical Scars

Individual Characteristics may be depleted

• Coping Mechanisms• Optimism• Self Esteem• Intelligence• Creativity• Humor• Independence• Peer Acceptance• Positive Individual Influences such as teachers,

mentors, and role models

Rational Choice Theory

“An offender will intellectually and rationally weigh out the consequences and risks prior to committing a crime,”(Cornish and Clarke).

Rational Choice Theory Factors:

Individual Factors• Intelligence• Upbringing• Personality

Situational Factors• Peer Pressure• Drug Dependency • Vulnerability of the

target

MezzoEnvironmental Factors

•Family Members•Friends•Social Groups•Gangs•Peers

Modeling Theory

• Children follow in their parents footsteps.

• Parents are children’s role models.

• Parents offer their children guidance through life.

Sante Kames and her son Kenneth Kames murdered banker Syed Bilal Ahamed for refusing them a loan.

Mother and son also murdered Irene Silverman for being suspicious of the pair.

Diagnostic Systematic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMIV)

•States that Oppositional Defiant Disorder during childhood is a developmental antecedent to conduct disorder during adolescence.

MezzoDeviant behavior & antisocial behavior can be identified through parent/child relationship & family processes.

Shelden & Eleanor GlueckUnraveling Juvenile Delinquency

Three major Discoveries:

1. Age of onset was a key factor in understanding criminal careers.

2. Antisocial behavior is stable throughout life.

3. Family environment.

Family Environment

• Child parent attachment• Parental supervision• Disciplinary practices

The absence of any of these three factors encourages delinquency in adult behavior.

GangsWhy do they join?•The average age to join a gang is from the age of 13-21 years old.•Family structure is broken.•Sense of family structure.•Closeness.•Excitement.•Belonging.•Family tradition.•Pride.•No realization of the danger involved.•Peer pressure•No real knowledge of the consequences.•Financial gain.

It Starts at Home

Gang InitiationGang initiation comes in a variety of forms:•Jumped in•Sexed in•Robberies•Vehicle theft•Drive by shootings •Etc…

“During adolescence, teens spend more time with their peers and without adult supervision.”

BullyingContributing Factors

Environmental Factors•Lack of warmth or attention at home.•Modeling aggressive behavior at home.•Poor supervision.

Individual Factors•Active, impulsive personality.•Lack of empathy for others.•Someone who craves attention & approval from others.

Macro•Environment•Social Economic Class•Race & Culture•Poverty•Institutions•Schools•Community•Government•Religion

Media FactorsSocial Learning Theory

•Video Games•Television•News •Internet•Music/Videos•Movies

Strain TheoryThe American Dream

“The belief that all members of society can work hard and make it on their own adds strain and pressure to those who do not have the means to achieve these goals.” This creates social tensions between the upper class and the lower class. The lower class feels the strain to achieve the same goals and status of the upper class.

Lack of education, Poverty, and High Unemployment are obstacles in climbing the American Dream.

Cultural Conflict Theory“Melting Pot of the world”

1. Each culture has its own set of morals and standards which may clash with other cultures.

2. The behavior of a group influenced by cultural beliefs can provoke a negative reaction form another group and can be seen as deviant or criminal.

•Belief systems •Religions/non religion•Customs•Culture•Laws

“Get Tough on Crime Laws”

Institutional Influences of Crime

• No rehabilitation• Gangs Control Prisons• No incentives for inmates

to better themselves• Corruption• Bad legislatures• Failed Public Safety

System• Harsh penalties• Allowing violent

offenders out • “Get tough on crime”

CorruptionDepartment of California Correctional Officer D.J. VodickaTestified in a California Senate Hearing in 2004 that unveiled the corrupt Correctional Officers notorious Prison Gang known as “The Green Wall,”

Corruption• Officer Vodicka

continues to live in fear for his life.

• His life as well as his son’s life were threatened.

• He continues to wear a bullet proof vest every day.

• All he did was tell the truth and live by the sworn oath he took as an honorable officer.

Social Control TheoryThe warden, Correctional Officers, Washington and CCPOA failed to use their power to change the system.

When inmates leave prison:

• Have had no Rehabilitation

• Are in a gang• Have nothing to lose

or gain• More violent• Resentful

Social Control Theory

The prison system is encouraging bad behavior instead of working to produce productive citizens when released back into society. Instead they cycle in and out of prison.

Social Control Theory

California prisons are nicknamed,“Criminal University,” because when criminals go to prison, they come out smarter criminals. Inmates educate and train each other on criminal behaviors because there is nothing else for them to do while serving their time.

Labeling Theory

Once a person is given a label, they are seen as deviant and rejected by society.

Labeling Theory

When an offender arrives at a California State Prison, he or she is automatically classified by race or gang affiliation even if they are not a gang member.

Example:If a Hispanic male from Fresno is sent to prison, he is automatically classified as a “Fresno Bull Dog," even if he was never affiliated. This actually contributes to gangs for recruitment purposes.

Inside Prison Systems

Prison Gangs Prison Violence

Broken Window System

Run down neighborhoods that no one cares about and the windows become more broken as time goes on.

The community stops caring, and crime levels go up.

The Crime Cycle Must Stop

Family

Friends

Society

Institutions

Individual

Solutions• Child Welfare Services need to focus

more on family reunification and healing families.

• Prisoners should not be in charge of the prisons, guards need be in charge of the prisons.

• Integrate inmates, and do not classify them as belonging to a gang, based on race and demographics.

• Prisoners should be mandated to participate and complete mandatory rehabilitation programs prior to their release.

• The state needs to provide the rehabilitation programs so that offenders can be released back into the community as productive members of society.

• More safe houses for those who do not wish to be gang affiliated any longer.

• Parenting classes should be mandated, along with a parenting certificate prior to birth.

• Drug test welfare recipients.• Longer substance abuse treatment

programs.• Substance abuse counselors need to

have college degrees in behavioral science.

• Middle schools and high schools need to have a mandatory classon gang and drug issues.

• More community outreach programs that involve law enforcement.

• Community needs to break the silence when crime occurs.

• Earlier interventions.