PART A.

Please read the case study carefully and then answer the questions by incorporating differential association theory.

Trent had a troubled family life and difficulties in school. He did not easily establish and maintain close relationships with his family or friends. When Trent was 12 years old, he was befriended by a couple of boys in his neighborhood. Trent would spend a great deal of time with these boys, who were a part of a local gang. In this gang, Trent learned how to shoplift, burglarize homes and businesses, and sell drugs. He also learned how to use a gun. Soon be began to incorporate such beliefs as, one has to "take what one wants" rather than "work hard and wait for the rewards." When Trent was 16 years old, he and some of his friends spotted a man driving a very expensive car. They decided to carjack the automobile at any cost. Trent jumped into the passenger side and told the man to get out the car. The man refused. Trent shot him once in the head, dragged the man out of the car, and then slid into the driver's seat and drove away. Please answer the following questions by incorporating differential association theory.

a. What influenced Trent to engage in criminal activity? b. Was he more likely to be exposed to definitions favorable, or unfavorable, to crime? c. What could have deterred Trent to engaged in criminal activity?

Part B.

Please use Sykes and Matza's techniques of neutralization to answer the following questions. Explain your answers.

(Answers should be in complete sentences.)

a. You work for Walmart and steal $50.00 from the register. What technique are you likely to use to justify your behavior?

b. You're a high school student and you don't do homework. What technique are you likely to use to justify your behavior?

c. A police officer pulls you over for speeding in a school zone. You ask the officer, "Should you be out catching 'real' criminals?" What technique of neutralization are you using to justify your behavior?

d. You are in a gang and you get caught spray painting a building. The other gang members aren't caught. The police want you to give up their names. What technique are you likely to use to justify your behavior?