This document discusses several social construction theories that are used in criminology to understand criminal behavior such as serial killing. It outlines social structure theory, including social disorganization theory, strain theory, and cultural deviance theory. It also discusses social class theory, social process theory, including social learning theory and neutralization theory. Additionally, it summarizes social control theory and labeling theory. For each theory, it provides examples of how the theory may be applied to understanding the behaviors of specific serial killers.
Very few of us know that 73% of the rape victims know the rapists. Moreover, 40% of rapes happen at victim’s home and 20% occur in the homes of familiar people.
It turned out that most of us have no idea about the effective precautions needed to protect ourselves from the traumatic experience, because we expect danger from a wrong source. A widespread belief is that one should expect a rapist to sit in the bushes in the park late at night, while the reality is different.
My colleague Paulina Grzelak and I were astonished while exploring this topic, as we were quite oblivious to the real situation as well. Therefore, we decided to make a small questionnaire and ask people what they think about rape.
This presentation begins with the analysis of what makes a person become a rapist, which is followed by the comparison of the results of the questionnaire with real data.
I would be grateful if you shared this presentation as many people need this knowledge.
I also want to add that most figures we present come from the States where definition of rape and social situation may differ from ours. Hence, comparing data from the U.S. with opinions from Poland and Ukraine may seem improper. For instance, being forced into sexual contact by husband may not even be recognized as rape in Ukraine, “because it’s his natural right”. And even if a wife admits this fact, social welfare system (which does not exist here, let’s face it) leaves her no option apart from remaining silent, while in the U.S. rape victims are less dependent on family members. Therefore, one has to approach the statistics carefully. Still, we believe that using American data can be justified by the fact that they explore the subject more than any other country.
Ruling out rape: understanding and ending the campus sexual assault epidemicPeachy Essay
Sexual assault is epidemic in the United States. Recent media
reports, public outrage, and activism have been focused on the
institutional settings in which these assaults occur. Colleges
and universities, as well as the military and athletic programs,
have come under increasing scrutiny as settings that not only fail to deter, but possibly foster rape.
Perceptions of the Social Consequences of Rape in EzinihitteMbaise, Imo State...AJHSSR Journal
Rape is a criminal act of obtaining sexual consent or submission forcefully or by use of threat.
In many places, the scar of rape is perceived to be permanent and the female victims are usually stigmatized.
The paper examined the perceptions of the social consequences of rape in Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.
The paper is anchored on feminist theory, Marxian theory and rational choice theory. The sample size and study
participants were 324 adult residents of the area. They were selected using multi-stage sampling procedure and
purposive sampling technique. Questionnaire and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) were the quantitative and
qualitative instruments of data collection used in the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and interpreted in tables of frequency/percentage distributions.
Transcription of the recorded electronic and field note interviews provided data for the qualitative analysis. The
result amongst others revealed that 20.3% of the respondents were of the view that stigmatization; withdrawal
from social activities (18.6%), delay in getting married (25.2%) were notable social consequences of rape.
However, the paper concluded that stigmatization or possible avoidance of marrying rape victims sustains the
trauma and would also serve as a secondary victimization. It therefore recommended amongst others that
government in partnership with NGO's should embark on adequate sensitization campaigns in rural areas to
discourage stigmatization and thereby reorientate many on the wrong notion that rape scar remains with the
victims for life. Females should avoid walking unaccompanied in the night and visiting of acquaintances at
lonely places.
Very few of us know that 73% of the rape victims know the rapists. Moreover, 40% of rapes happen at victim’s home and 20% occur in the homes of familiar people.
It turned out that most of us have no idea about the effective precautions needed to protect ourselves from the traumatic experience, because we expect danger from a wrong source. A widespread belief is that one should expect a rapist to sit in the bushes in the park late at night, while the reality is different.
My colleague Paulina Grzelak and I were astonished while exploring this topic, as we were quite oblivious to the real situation as well. Therefore, we decided to make a small questionnaire and ask people what they think about rape.
This presentation begins with the analysis of what makes a person become a rapist, which is followed by the comparison of the results of the questionnaire with real data.
I would be grateful if you shared this presentation as many people need this knowledge.
I also want to add that most figures we present come from the States where definition of rape and social situation may differ from ours. Hence, comparing data from the U.S. with opinions from Poland and Ukraine may seem improper. For instance, being forced into sexual contact by husband may not even be recognized as rape in Ukraine, “because it’s his natural right”. And even if a wife admits this fact, social welfare system (which does not exist here, let’s face it) leaves her no option apart from remaining silent, while in the U.S. rape victims are less dependent on family members. Therefore, one has to approach the statistics carefully. Still, we believe that using American data can be justified by the fact that they explore the subject more than any other country.
Ruling out rape: understanding and ending the campus sexual assault epidemicPeachy Essay
Sexual assault is epidemic in the United States. Recent media
reports, public outrage, and activism have been focused on the
institutional settings in which these assaults occur. Colleges
and universities, as well as the military and athletic programs,
have come under increasing scrutiny as settings that not only fail to deter, but possibly foster rape.
Perceptions of the Social Consequences of Rape in EzinihitteMbaise, Imo State...AJHSSR Journal
Rape is a criminal act of obtaining sexual consent or submission forcefully or by use of threat.
In many places, the scar of rape is perceived to be permanent and the female victims are usually stigmatized.
The paper examined the perceptions of the social consequences of rape in Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.
The paper is anchored on feminist theory, Marxian theory and rational choice theory. The sample size and study
participants were 324 adult residents of the area. They were selected using multi-stage sampling procedure and
purposive sampling technique. Questionnaire and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) were the quantitative and
qualitative instruments of data collection used in the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and interpreted in tables of frequency/percentage distributions.
Transcription of the recorded electronic and field note interviews provided data for the qualitative analysis. The
result amongst others revealed that 20.3% of the respondents were of the view that stigmatization; withdrawal
from social activities (18.6%), delay in getting married (25.2%) were notable social consequences of rape.
However, the paper concluded that stigmatization or possible avoidance of marrying rape victims sustains the
trauma and would also serve as a secondary victimization. It therefore recommended amongst others that
government in partnership with NGO's should embark on adequate sensitization campaigns in rural areas to
discourage stigmatization and thereby reorientate many on the wrong notion that rape scar remains with the
victims for life. Females should avoid walking unaccompanied in the night and visiting of acquaintances at
lonely places.
Hall del elizabeth del proyecto de la unidad 9 que determina la traducción es...Elizabeth Hall
Word Processor Spanish Translation- of Paper originally written in Englsih
Traducción española del procesador de textos del papel del wri originalmente
400-600 words.Read 1,2,3, 5Objective Define and utilize c.docxmeghanivkwserie
400-600 words.
Read 1,2,3, 5
Objective: Define and utilize concepts necessary to profile cases such as modus operandi, signature behavior, and crime scene reconstruction and offender typology.
Identify the meaning and nature of various crime scene indicators including pattern analysis, evidence characteristics, primary and secondary crime scenes and offender motivation.
For this assignment, you will research 1 of the suggested topics below, and post your findings on the Discussion Board.
Select 1 of the topics below, and attempt to find at least 2 references that address that topic. You may post your opinions and observations, but do your best to find an authority on the subject as well. You must correctly reference your sources using APA format.
Note:
Do not use wikis as sources.
Do school shooters have any characteristics in common with each other? Explain, and provide proof.
What reasons can you uncover to explain why America seems to produce a disproportionate number of serial killers? Provide a psychological or sociological explanation. You can also argue that this not true, assuming that you can provide proof.
·
There have been historical examples of police and firemen who have become serial offenders—serial rapists, serial arsonists, and serial killers. Are there any characteristics that define those first responders who later became serial offenders? Explain, and provide proof.
Teachers notes from powerpoint slides:
Do school shooters have any characteristics in common with each other? Explain, and provide proof
.
A school shooter is also known as an active shooter.
This is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area.
In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.
These shooting are almost always planned.
One thing that really stands out is that school shootings almost take place by males.
There are only 2 recorded female school shootings.
Isolation and/or discrimination tend to be one of the things that most of the shooters have in common. They are not anti-social but followers that are not typically accepted into the groups they would like to be a part of.
There’s no demographic profile of what an active shooter looks like.
They range in age from 16 to 62, with an average age of 28, and they come from all different races.
Now, with the school victim body count near 200, the FBI suggests that many or most school murders “leak” threats before they kill.
Many display observable pre-attack behaviors which, if recognized, can lead to the disruption of a planned attack.
One student announced that “Monday will be the day of reckoning” the week before killing 3 of his peers.
Another high school student’s essays were filled with scenes of carnage, and this began 4 years before he brought a hunting rifle to school and started shooting.
Even Virginia Tech’s shooter leaked; so much so that he was .
2. Social Construction:
A Study of Theory
Elizabeth Hall
Kaplan University
Deviance & Violence CJ266
Melissa Amaya
March 09, 2010
Social Construction: A Study of Theories
In our modern society, advances in technology and science have propelled the study of crime into
new frontiers. While the actual study of crime dates back to earlier decades, these advances have
put crime data and the study of it into the forefront of our society. Criminologists devote their
life to assessing, comprehending, restraining, and helping lawmakers to prevent criminal and
deviant acts. Not all criminal acts are deviant, and likewise all deviant acts are not criminal.
Serial killers with the nature of their crimes cross both categories due to the violence associated
with the crimes, the recidivism of the crimes, and the deviant nature of most serial killers even
though the particular deviance varies per killer. These can include but are not limited to
cannibalism, dismemberment, necrophilia, and sadism. Criminological Theories that began in
the mid 1800’s have been developed and tested over time. With each new advance in technology,
the methods of testing these theories become more exact. In this essay we will discuss the various
Social Construction Theories that today’s criminal justice system uses to control and prevent
criminals such as serial killers from committing their crimes. These consist of the social
structure, social class, social process, neutralization, social control, and labeling theories (Siegel,
2007).
Social Structure Theory
3. Social Structure Theory reasons that the socioeconomic forces drive those in underprivileged
financial situations to commit crime, and that this is the reason for crime. This group of theories
consists of three theories:
o Social Disorganization Theory- primary focus of this theory is environmental
conditions. High unemployment and school dropout rates are symptoms of this
problem in a neighborhood.
o Strain Theory suggests that discord in the goals a person has and what actual
resources one has to attain that goal is the main reason for crime (Siegel, 2007).
Richard Ramirez fits into this theory because he started his killing over
disappointment that a woman did not have anything of value to steal which was
how he supported himself. His first murder was just a burglary gone awry. He then
went on to the following year to become a serial killer claiming 12 more lives in the
span of one year.
o Cultural Deviance Theory due to burden and societal separation people in lower
class areas develop their own subcultures, which do not conform to societal rules.
For example, dad is a drunk, and hangs out with other lower class drunks who
think that it is perfectly normal to beat their wives. By association, they can
reassure themselves that their criminal behavior is normal.
Although Strain Theory might work in relation to some serial killers, overall, it does not seem
that social structure theories work well in relation to serial killers (Siegel, 2007).
Social Class (Anomie) Theory
Anomie Theory group contends that societal inequity causes awareness, which in turn causes
crime. The lower class worker feels strain because they cannot afford the things they need. They
then turn to dealing drugs to attain the means to achieve societal equity. These theories are:
• Institutional Anomie Theory states that because of our incessant need to keep up the
status quo the United States is full of anomie.
• Relative Deprivation Theory says harsh divisions between the upper and lower classes
cause feelings of jealousy and suspicion, which gives the criminal notions of disgrace by
the upper class, thereby causing the criminal to have desires to disgrace them in return.
• General Strain Theory maintains that it is not one type of strain but individuals reacting
to several individualized strains at once are more likely to commit crime.
(Siegel, 2007)
This theory best fits the serial killer in the fact that most of them seem to have several different
problems all at once. John Wayne Gacy seems to be a perfect example of this. John grew up in a
strict Irish catholic family. He had a bad relationship with his abusive father, whom he wanted to
gain approval from desperately. When he was only eleven, John injured on the head by a swing,
received a blood clot in his brain. This clot caused him severe blackouts and headaches, which
went undiagnosed until he reached the age of 16. Even though doctors remove the blood clot,
health problems continued for him, in less than a year John receives the diagnosis of an
unspecified heart condition. John was also a homosexual, which could not be revealed because of
what his father, might think. (Clark Prosecutor, n.d.)
Social Process Theory
Social Process Theory claims that all people have the ability to be criminals regardless of class,
ethnicity, or gender. The theory claims that if the societal bonds that a person holds are
constructive, then the person will be law abiding if these bonds are counter constructive, the
person will not be. The theories in this group are as follows:
4. • Social Learning Theory claims that criminals learn from other criminals, and that crime
in itself is learned behavior instead of ingrained. This theory applies well to team serial
killers because of the propensity for them to learn techniques from each other.
• Neutralization falls under social process group as well. This theory states that, criminals
do not act like criminals all of the time. When they are not committing crime they attend
picnics social gatherings, and regular community functions. When they are at these
gatherings, however, it is common to find that the attendees are also comprised of
criminal and deviant members. (Siegel, 2007)
Social Control Theory
Social control theory maintains that every person is born capable of committing crime and that
the society we live in today lends itself more to crime than ever. Just about everywhere, you
look; the opportunity to commit crime exists. People who obey the law do so either out of
personal belief in religion or morals, or due to a need to conform in order to keep their standing
in society and their reputation in check. When these bonds are not present, a person feels free to
break the law. (Siegel, 2007)
Ted Bundy as a good example of social control theory and serial killers, because of the fact that
he resented finding out that who he thought was his older sister was actually his mother. He had
negative attachment to family because of this scenario, and became one of the United States most
notorious serial killers we have ever seen. (Bell, n.d.)
Labeling Theory
Labeling Theory This theory looks at the careers of criminals as being a product of disparaging
societal relations and disgracing social encounters and the subjective nature of the law. The key
tenets of the theory are as follows:
• Those who currently are making the laws bias the criminal natures of certain behaviors.
This means that what is considered to be a crime is only such because people label the
behavior as a crime.
• People are labeled as well as acts.
• Whether the behavior is positive or negative, prejudiced explanation of behavior is
required.
The theory also works off the assumption that once one is labeled, as for example, a pothead,
meaning a person who smokes marijuana, the rest of their life will follow suit as a pothead with
all of the social stigmatization that follows that association. It also suggests that lawmakers can
change what deems an act to be illegal, to suit their own needs, as was the case with marijuana
(Siegel, 2007).
Labeling theory seems to work best with serial killers, because of the nature of the crimes.
Almost all serial killers have some deviant desires with maybe the exception of German serial
killers who kill more for money and items rather than sexual gratification, or perversion.
According to the theory once, you are labeled, you are always considered to be labeled as such.
(Siegel, 2007)
5. Works Cited
Bell, R. (n.d.). Ted Bundy: The Early Years. Retrieved March 08, 2010, from Tru TV Crime
Library: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/bundy/2.html
Clark Prosecutor. (n.d.). John Wayne Gacy. Retrieved March 04, 2010, from John Wayne Gacy:
Executed May 10, 1994 at 12:58 a.m. by Lethal Injection in Illinois: www.clarkprosecutor.org
Frontline. (1997-1998, Winter). Busted: America's War on Marijuana. Retrieved February 23,
2010, from Dr. David F. Musto Interview:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/
NBC/MSNBC. (n.d.). Seung-Hui Cho. Retrieved February 08, 2010, from
http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/Virginia_Tech_massacre?
fwd=1&qpvt=va+tech+massacre&src=abop&q=va+tech+massacre
Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2006, July 19). ONDCP Drug Policy Information
Clearinghouse Fact Sheet. Retrieved February 23, 2010, from Drug Use Trends October 2002:
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/druguse/
Panel, V. T. (2009, November 15). Mass Shootings at Virginia Tech Addendum to the report of
the review panel,presented to Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Commonwealth of Virginia.
Retrieved February 11, 2010
Pumroy, D. K. (2007). What Caused the Tragedy at Virginia Tech? (J. Wyatt, Ed.) Behavior
Analysis Digest International , 19 (2), pp. 5-7.
Reagan, T. (2009, March). Marijuana Incorporated: Inside America's Pot Industry. Retrieved
February 23, 2010, from Marijuana Incorporated: Inside America's Pot Industry:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/28281668
Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. (n.d.). Library Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2010, from
Schaffer Library of Drug Policy: http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/index.HTM
Siegel, L. (2007). Criminology: The Core (Third ed.). Belmont, CA, United States: Cenegage
Learning.