SOC 459 Sociological Perspectives of Delinquency

This course focuses on the sociological perspective of at-risk youth in society and its core question, to what extent does society shape youth behavior? Juvenile delinquency will be explored focusing on individual theories such as choice and trait theory, bio-social theories, and psychological theories; sociological perspectives/social structure perspectives of delinquency such as social disorganization, anomie/strain theory, critical theory, and cultural deviance theory; social process theories such as family relations, school, and peers; and developmental perspectives such as life course, latent trait, and trajectory theories. Also explored will be gender differences in delinquency.