The Outsider: Exploring Social Influences on Criminal Behavior

Abstract

[Name] Social Causes of Criminal Behaviors/Labeling Theory- Analysis of “[Author] Film 1983” Introduction Different authors use different styles/approaches to pass their message to their target audiences. Documentaries and films are among the most effective means of communicating a pressing message to the target audiences due to the combination of vocal and visual elements incorporated therein. Francis Ford directed "[Author]," an adaptation of S.E. Hinton's novel "Outsiders" of 1967. It is a great film that criminal analysis behaviors from the individual and group perspective offer the target audiences a better understanding of the social causes that expose many to criminal acts. To this effect, this essay will offer a detailed analysis of "[Author] Film" to dig deeper into its main theme of self-identity vs. group identity. Could the Outsiders, who in this case are the greasers, feel they are part of the outside world, making them behave in a bad manner as compared to those who feel attached and accepted into society? According to the labeling theory, self-identity becomes severely affected by terms that the society uses to describe or classify individuals, which rhymes with the Outsider theme as many greasers remained associated with deviant elements leading them to become more deviant. Merton's strain theory, on the other hand, argues that there are discrepancies between societal goals and means individuals must have to achieve them, which prove a clear path to crime origin. Merton's strain theory argues that people do not just engage in crime. On the contrary, crime proves the most potential outcome when people become socialized into expecting success but fail to achieve it due to limited opportunities. In such a case, one can confirm that social structures pressures people to commit crimes attributed to misalignment between social-cultural goals and opportunities that people must have to obtain the set goals. America's dream is a great example of a social goal that leads many Americans to engage in crimes due to limitations to achieve the said dream. Paying close attention to "[Author]s," one can argue that the greasers always consider the side of life that would favor their stay within America. To achieve the societal goals set within a nation that views them as insignificant proves a challenge as the chances to enjoy such privilege remains limited as attributed to their greased hair, culture, and color that defines them as poor and not deserving. In such a situation, the greasers live their lives and make their ends meet through engagements in crime not because they are willing to remain as gangs but because society views them that way regardless of their attitude towards crime. Ponyboy's narration of fear attributed to the stereotype that the society uses to define them as greasers clearly describe the applicability of labeling theory in defining individual and group identity. The fact that Ponyboy and his siblings are orphans and embrace a gang “small group of people who stick together” as a family does not justify that they engage in deviant behavior. However, as labeling their posit it, societal titles used to define or classify a group or individual based on their unique qualities like the greased hair leading the individuals to be considered outsiders may hurt such a population's identity. Though the greasers may mean no harm to society, the stereotype that society uses to define them may adversely affect how the greasers react towards the same society. Ponyboy is afraid of getting back home from a movie, not because it was so late but because the rich kids from the west side and jest sets from the upper-middle-class families would cause him harm. Such harm remains attributed to the assumption that he is a gang "criminal from the societal perception" regardless of his clear motives towards the society and its populace. Unfortunately, just as Ponyboy hypothesized, he encounters an attack from the Socs "social group of the wealthy kids" thanks to his gang friend that rescues him. According to Ponyboy's attack, one can confirm that the gang group has no choice but to behave like real outsiders and defend their lives. Society views them as outsiders attributed to their grease hair quality, and being from humble backgrounds completely shapes their criminal behavior gradually. Unfortunately, the deviant soc group that society embraces and appreciates based on their family status turns out to be the main force that would change the perception of the gang’s attitude towards crime and deviant acts. For instance,...