Monster: The Autobiography Of An L. A.

Scholars have conducted many research to determine what causes juvenile delinquency. Some argue that delinquency occurs through association or from labels society have placed on the individual. Regardless of the results, parent (s) play a major role in the occurrence of juveniles engaging in deviant behavior. If a child lacks the love, affection, stability, and security from his/her parent (s), than the child will seek these such things from their peers. Juveniles often times seek love, affection, stability, and security from other youths that are experiencing the same problem. Once these youths get together, they start to reject society’s expectations and create their own rules. Due to the lack of parental supervision, these youths start to …show more content…
Gang Member, is Differential Association Theory. Differential Association Theory also known as Learning Theory is a criminological theory developed by Edwin H. Sutherland. In this theory he argues that deviant behavior is learned. The juvenile learns the motives and drives of deviant behavior through social interaction or association with other individuals who engage in delinquent behavior. According to Nancy J. Herman’s book, Deviance: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach, Sutherland came up with nine statements that refers to why an individual engage is criminal behavior. “The first statement states, criminal behavior is learned. Negatively, this means that criminal behavior is not inherited, as such. Also, the person who is not already trained in mechanics does not make mechanical inventions. The second statement states, criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication. This communication is verbal in many respects, but it also includes “the communication of gestures.” The third statement states, the principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups. Negatively, this means that the interpersonal agencies of communication, such as movies and newspapers, play a relatively unimportant part in the genesis of criminal behavior. The fourth statement states, when criminal behavior is learned, the learning, the …show more content…
Gang Member, there are several examples of Monster Kody Scott learning the motives and drives from the interaction with others to engage in criminal behavior. Monster Kody Scott didn’t have a close relationship with his mother. Growing up, he didn’t receive the necessary love and affection from his mom. She only nagged him. One can see this when Monster Kody Scott returned home from the juvenile tank he wanted to be loved and missed. However, his mom accused him of breaking out of jail because he was released early. After he greeted his mom, she nagged him about being high on marijuana. “I closed my bedroom door and waited, hoping she wouldn’t come into my room and continue preaching. I knew she meant well, but I wasn’t up to it tonight. I wanted to be loved, to be missed, to be wanted, not scolded” (p.173). Since his mom didn’t show him the necessary love, affection, or peace he was able to receive the connection, peace, love, and affection from his “homeboys”. Monster Kody Scott found stability within his set. One can see this when Monster Kody quotes, “the set was my clearest vision of stability. Although changes took place in the hood, the hood itself never changed. To ensure that it didn’t, we vowed to kill all who set out to eliminate it” (p.103). From the time when Monster Kody Scott found stability within his set, he became loyal to the set. He started to spend more time with his set instead of being with

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