From the Brandi’s background given, it is evident that she was a well behaved student before this event. It is therefore highly likely that she learnt this defiant behavior from her school environment through interaction with peers. There are two theories on criminal behavior that can be used to explain how Brandi got socialized into this behavior. The theories are differential association theory and social learning theory. These theories and how they can explain Brandi’s behavior have been discussed hereunder.
Differential association theory is an ideology that explains people’s criminal behavior or activities. It posits that people learn values, behavioral characteristics, techniques and motives for criminal behavior from their association…
Firstly, the differential association theory has a strength in that it tells of the learner’s closest friends. It is thus beneficial in that one can be able to detect how a person’s close interactions with people of a particular known set of behavior can influence their behavior. Brandi’s mother and teachers could therefore have sensed her likelihood of engaging into criminal behavior by observing who her close friends are and maybe correct her in advance. This theory has a limitation in this context because at times people engage in certain behaviors independently by way of their own rational judgment. Therefore, there is likelihood that Brandi may not have been influenced by her…
There is a probability that Brandi’s engagement in smoking was just an isolate act she tried out of curiosity and it does not really reflect her general personal behavior. This theory therefore fits in in that it holds one can engage into a criminal act from mere observation and that the act does not really imply a deep relationship with the people who are deep into that behavior. Lastly, this theory has a limitation in that it also do not explain independence of judgment and or independent traits of a person. Brandi needed not have learnt that behavior but it could have developed…
