Sociology

Delinquent behavior means a criminal behavior among the youth. Not a single day can pass without news of a youth who has committed a crime somewhere. The statistics on the rates of criminal offenses committed by youths vary every year, but rates of delinquency in America were reported to be higher in the late 1980s and early 1990s than they were before. Delinquency is still a societal concern and the rates are expected to rise with economic and social problems affecting the youths.

Theories of delinquency
Sociologists have suggested several theories which are trying to explain the behavior among youths termed as juvenile delinquency. The suggested theories vary in ways in which they explain delinquent behavior. Some have been said to be adequate than others. The theories are trying to find the source of the forces developing delinquent behavior, whether the source is the individual, social structure, social process, or even social reaction. There are various types of crimes which have become more common among youths and they include shoplifting and drug abuse. Among the theories which are used to explain delinquent behavior are theories of differential association and strain theory (Simons, R., Simons, L.  Wallace, 2004).

Strain theory
In the field of criminology, this theory states that social structures found in a society may encourage people to engage in criminal activities. The structures within a society can be defined as the processes found in the society which filter down and has an influence on how someone view his or her needs. Inadequate regulations in the society may result into opportunities for engaging in criminal activities. This theory was put forward by Robert Dubin in the year 1959. In his views, he considered deviance as a function of the society, denying the assumption that being deviant to situations which are considered normal has negative impacts on the society. The only time where deviance is exercised is when one decides to leave one or more of its culturally agreed goals (Shoemaker, 1996).

Whenever our needs supersede what we can afford, or a substitute, we will be put under persistent friction which will turn out to be painful. Whenever one achieves what heshe was aiming at, more demands arise which will result in continued urge to gain more. Since these physical needs have regulatory mechanisms, there is need for such a mechanism to play the same role for the moral needs. It is the society which is capable of controlling our moral needs. Any disturbance in the functions of the society will interfere with this role and as a result deviant behaviors arise like suicide. There is no clear definition between what is considered possible and impossible, just and unjust, legal hopes and claims. With the imbalance in societal forces, ambitions are not restrained appetites are let loose and distorted, and more intolerable of control. All these events results in anomie since there is no disciplinary mechanism (Agnew, 2007).

Differential association theory
Differential theory was a contribution made by Sutherland to the discipline of criminology. The theory attempts to explain deviant behavior in relation to a persons social relations. In this theory, the cause of crime is linked to the social context of the individual. This theory does not front evident threats to the humane handling of suspected criminals. It states that a person becomes delinquent as a result of many descriptions which favor breach of laws over descriptions which do not favor breach of law. In simple terms, criminal behavior results when one is exposed to more information about criminal acts than those that are favoring good behavior (Simons, R., Simons, L.  Wallace, 2004).

According to social strain theory, the societal structures have a greater influence in the development of deviant behavior. It also states that the societal forces help in regulating peoples behavior and any interruption of such forces results in anomie. In differential association theory, development of deviant behavior is attributed to the individuals social contexts and relations. It further explains that a person become deviant as a result of the information he receives. When an individual is exposed to excess information which favors breach of law, such people start developing deviant behavior since they do not receive any good information concerning the society (Simons, R., Simons, L.  Wallace, 2004).

Major theorists
Edwin H. Sutherland is one of the theorists who have made major contributions to the field of criminology. He was born in August 13, 1883 in Gibbon, Nebraska and later died in the year 1950. He was a historian but later changed to sociology. Much of his study in sociology got a lot of influence from an approach which was employed by Chicago school in the study of criminology. This approached placed a lot of emphasis on human behavior being influenced by social and physical environmental factors. His major contribution is differential association theory. There are theorists who have coined other theories about delinquent behavior and they include Durkheim, Merton (1938), Cohen (1955). They participated in strain theory (Agnew, 2007).

Conclusion
I am of the opinion that differential association theory is the best in explaining the origin of deviant behavior. It relates development of delinquent behavior to a persons social relation. This is true because the kind of people one relates to have a greater influence in their behavior. If you relate with criminals, they will always tell you stories regarding crime..