Understanding Criminal Behavior through the Lens of the Social Learning Theory

by | Apr 27, 2024 | criminal justice

 

Apply Theory when analyzing incidences of criminal behavior
Scenario You are a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) senior special agent assigned to the National Joint Terrorism Task Force (NJTTF) based in Washington, D.C. The State Department recently requested your assistance at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Budapest, Hungary, where the facility is hosting a training course on mitigating violent crimes. The ILEA training director has requested that you provide a lecture on either a notable serial killer or a recent act of terrorism and discuss what types of factors may have influenced the perpetrator’s deviant behavior that manifested in this significant criminal activity. The director advised that the goal is not only to provide a case study, but also to discuss the relevance and impact of various criminological theories when assessing criminal behavior as an ethical criminal justice professional. In support of this assessment, an analysis should focus on the role of cultural views and norms, as well as the correlation between criminological theory and practice. The focus of the lecture should be to mitigate future criminal activity through deterrence and intervention.
Directions Using the scenario above, create a written draft of your lecture that focuses on the application of theory when analyzing an incident of criminal behavior. Choose one of the following incidences of criminal behavior as the focus of your lecture:
• Jeffrey Dahmer profile • Ted Bundy profile • Terrorism in the US. (Beltway Snipers)

Resources that support each of these incidences are included in the ‘Supporting Materials” section below.
The following required elements should be included:

The following required elements should be included:
1. Describe the incident of criminal behavior chosen (100-150 words). Include the following in your description: a What crimes took place? b. Who committed the crimes? c. Where and when did the crimes take place? 2. Explain how cultural views and values drive the criminal behavior (150-200 words). Include the following in your explanation: a. What is the correlation between culture and the criminal behavior? b. How do certain cultures view the criminal behavior differently? c. Are there differences in culture and geographic location regarding the legality of the criminal behavior? d. Do you feel that the criminal behavior is influenced more by nature or ones environment? 3. Explain the importance of applying theory versus making broad generalizations to explain the criminal behaviors (150-200 words). Include the following in your explanation: a What are the advantages of applying theory to explain the criminal behavior? b. What are the disadvantages of making broad generalizations? 4. Explain the role of ethics when applying theory to the criminal behavior (100-150 words). Include the following in your explanation: a.Why is ethics an important facet of criminology and the criminal justice profession? b. Now does ethics p’ oivot al role in the application of criminological theory to the crime chosen? 5. Explain the correlation between criminal behavior theory and criminal justice practices (150-200 words). Include the following in your explanation: a. What theory is best applicable to the criminal behavior chosen? b. How did that theory affect policies related to the criminal behavior?

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

Lecture Draft: Understanding Criminal Behavior through the Lens of the Social Learning Theory

1. Description of the Incident:

– Jeffrey Dahmer Profile- Jeffrey Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender who committed heinous crimes, including rape, murder, dismemberment, and cannibalism.
– His crimes took place in various locations in the United States between 1978 and 1991.

2. Cultural Influence on Criminal Behavior:

– Cultural views and values can impact criminal behavior by shaping individuals’ perceptions of right and wrong.
– In the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, societal norms around masculinity, sexuality, and violence may have influenced his deviant actions.
– Different cultures may have varying attitudes towards criminal behaviors, affecting how they are perceived and addressed.
– The legality and acceptance of certain actions can differ based on cultural norms and geographic locations, impacting individuals’ behaviors.

3. Importance of Applying Theory:

– Applying criminological theories provides a structured framework for understanding the root causes of criminal behavior.
– Theoretical models, such as the Social Learning Theory, offer insights into how individuals acquire criminal behaviors through observation and reinforcement.
– Making broad generalizations can oversimplify complex behaviors and overlook crucial factors contributing to criminal acts.

4. Role of Ethics in Applying Theory:

– Ethics are essential in criminology and the criminal justice profession to ensure fair and just treatment of individuals involved in criminal activities.
– Ethical considerations guide researchers and practitioners in applying theories responsibly and without bias.
– Upholding ethical standards is critical when using theories to analyze criminal behavior to avoid stigmatization or discrimination.

5. Correlation between Theory and Practice:

– The Social Learning Theory is highly applicable to understanding the criminal behavior of individuals like Jeffrey Dahmer.
– This theory emphasizes how environmental influences, such as family dynamics and social interactions, contribute to the development of criminal tendencies.
– Policies and interventions informed by the Social Learning Theory can focus on early intervention, positive role modeling, and social support to prevent future criminal activities.

By delving into the complexities of criminal behavior through the lens of the Social Learning Theory, we can gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive individuals to commit heinous acts. Through ethical application of theory and consideration of cultural influences, we can strive towards developing more effective strategies for deterrence and intervention in criminal activities.

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