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Menace Ii Society

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Social Science

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University of California Irvine

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758gevonf

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How Labeling Theory, Strain Theory, and Differential Association Theory Relate to Menace

II Society

Introduction

The Menace II Society film expounds on the negative impact experienced by the main

character, Caine, an eighteen-year-old who was raised in the projects of Los Angeles. The

film traces the early life of the character to adulthood and shows how society has led to a lack

of social control and deviance in his life (Romero, 16). The film allowed me to comprehend

the factors behind the crime lifestyle of Caine, and now I can analyze the effects the theories

can have on the emotional, physical, and mental state of mind. By analyzing the information

made available in the online lecture, film, and textbook, I will expound on labeling, strain,

and differential association theories throughout the paper.

Differential Association Theory

The differential association theory was developed by Edward Sutherland, tailored

for the criminology field. The theory states that "individuals tend to copy the deviant

behaviors from those who surround them since the people around act as models and also

provide opportunities for one to be deviant." Differential association theory is related to

social control and deviance since it is ignorance of established, cultural, social, or contextual

norms, whether colored law, folkways, or mores".

In the film, Samuel L. Jackson, who acts as Tat Lawson, shows the violence

connected with a drug peddler in Los Angeles projects. Samuel watches his dad engage in

violence and crime and later does the same, following his dad's techniques and moves. Also,

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Tat and his father come up from a sketchy area called "hood" father and son learn the ways of

violence to survive in the town. Later on, Tat is engaged in many other criminal activities,

such as robbing stores (Gamble, 7). Tat also does more than robbing stores and goes further

to be involved in killing people by shooting. In the film, cops are seen following him even

after he was released out of jail. Through the differential theory, we understand it is easier to

see how Caine copied Tat's values and habits. Also, our socialization agents such as friends,

community, family, and neighbors can cause deviant behaviors in Menace II society where

Caine followed his family and friends and got involved in shooting, homicides, and robberies

in South California show deviance from the community.

Labeling Theory

Sociologist Lemert developed the labeling theory that involves ascribing a deviant

behavior to another individual by the society members. The definition of labeling theory

agrees with social control and deviance since it confirms how a person's actions and identities

are impacted by how society chooses to categorize them.

In the film, the labeling theory is depicted when individuals who owed families vast

sums of money are shot by the families they owed. Although it is not ethical to borrow

money without the plans to return the money, the individuals could not be seen as "deviant"

or "criminal" in the scene because society had not labeled them as such (Bernburg, 8). It is

clear also the anger was justified, but it was not right to act that way. In the lecture, labeling

theory also shows how people's identities affect others and their perception. An example is

the lifestyle of Tat and Caine, who become involved because of how Watts is viewed by

members of the society, giving them no means of having a life outside violence and crime.

Also, it is evident by the engagement of Caine in crime since that is what he grew seeing his

friends and family do, and again, the society referred to him as such, making him believe the

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Surname 1 Student Name Professor's Name Course Date How Labeling Theory, Strain Theory, and Differential Association Theory Relate to Menace II Society Introduction The Menace II Society film expounds on the negative impact experienced by the main character, Caine, an eighteen-year-old who was raised in the projects of Los Angeles. The film traces the early life of the character to adulthood and shows how society has led to a lack of social control and deviance in his life (Romero, 16). The film allowed me to comprehend the factors behind the crime lifestyle of Caine, and now I can analyze the effects the theories can have on the emotional, physical, and mental state of mind. By analyzing the information made available in the online lecture, film, and textbook, I will expound on labeling, strain, and differential association theories throughout the paper. Differential Association Theory The differential association theory was developed by Edward Sutherland, tailored for the criminology field. The theory states that "individuals tend to copy the deviant behaviors from those who surround them since the people around act as models and also provide opportunities for one to be deviant." Differential association theory is related to social control and deviance since it is ignorance of established, cultural, social, or contextual norms, whether colored law, folkways, or mores". In the film, Samuel L. Jackson, who acts as Tat Lawson, shows the violence connected with a drug peddler i ...
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Tags: strain theory Differential Association Theory negative impact labeling theory Menace II Society