According to German sociologist Henner Hess, the emergence and consolidation of criminal behaviour can be explained by careers. The actor glides processually, pushed through the outside world and situation, but ultimately individually chosen, into a delinquent role. Main proponent Henner Hess Theory Hess’ basic assumption regarding crime theories is that
Learning theory
Two-Path-Theory (Moffitt)
The Two-Path-Theory is based, among other things, on a longitudinal study on the crime prevalence of 1,000 New Zealand youths (“The Thousand Children of Dunedin” or “Dunedin Study”). The first and larger group of adolescents showed the usual degree of behavioural abnormalities in adolescence. The deviant behaviour of the subjects
Learning/ Subculture
Learning theories suggest that both deviant and conformist behaviors are learned through interactions with other members of society. Learning theories explain delinquency as behaviors that are processually transmitted in groups and communities. Criminal behavior is thus learned in the same way and through the same mechanisms as any other behavior.
