When people do not have the fundamental means of achieving success, they will look for other ways to do so. The two theories, however contrast with what causes increase in the level of crime. The anomie theory states that crime will increase when people have strain. This means that they have no opportunities or the institutional means of achieving societal goals. Social learning theory states that people are prone to commit crime when they associate with criminals. The social learning theory is best suited to describe the nature of black communities as opposed to affluent white communities. There is a higher level of criminal groups in black communities as opposed to white communities. When law-abiding citizens associate with criminals, there is a higher possibility that they will join the criminal gangs to commit the act. This shows that there will always be an increase in criminals in black communities as opposed to affluent white communities. M5D2: Comparing social and self-control theories

U.K. Prime Minister, David Cameron blamed the crimes, in part, on defective parenting when several cities in London, England experienced widespread rioting, looting, and arson. Social control theory states that a person will commit criminal behaviors if he does not have an intellect of right or wrong (Pratt 2004). A person will deviate from social norms if his sense of right and wrong decreases. Bad parenting can bring...

Parents need to explain to their children the right and wrong behaviors. They need to instill discipline, which will make their children not to commit wrong behaviors.
Self-control theory states that individuals who did not receive effective parenting before the age of ten will develop less self-control than those whose parents raised them well. Bad parenting can explain the cases of rioting and looting in London. A lack of self-control can make a person be easily influenced and swayed by their peers in committing criminal behaviors (Pratt 2004). The self-control theory explains the case of London better than social control theory. This is because the theory clearly states that if a person receives inadequate parenting, he will lack the values and principles that can make him not to commit criminal behaviors. If, for example, a parent does not teach his child that stealing from his friends is wrong, a child will steal things from his peers.

References

Cernkovich, S., Giodano, P., & Rudolph, J. (2000).Race, Crime and the American Dream. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 37,131-170.

Pratt, Travis C., Michael G. Turner, and Alex R. Piquero. (2004). Parental Socialization and Community Context: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Structural Sources of Low Self-Control. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 41: 219-243.