FREE ESSAY ON CRIMINOLOGY

CRIMINOLOGY

Hai Pham 
6/16/99
Criminology
One child grows up to be somebody
who just loves to learn.
And the other child grows up to be
somebody who just loves to burn 
(198)
An excerpt of this poem paints a picture of two brothers, John and Robert Wideman,
leading different lives. Robert Wideman, embraced a path common for black men during that
era; a life of crime, glamour, and drugs. Quietly sitting in jail, he reminisces deeply
about his troubled past and the consequences of the future that now haunts him. John, on
the other hand, chose the path less taken by those living in the same world as he did and
in due time become a successful professor at a University. How did two people from the
same origin, living in similar environments, and raised by a caring family choose such
different paths? Some might explain the cause to be risk factors, learned behavior, or
missed opportunities. When explaining criminal behavior, it is inevitable to identify
sociological, behavioral, and psychological problems as causes of crime. 
John and Robert always dreamed about running away from the poverty embracing their
community. Even though they shared the same dream, each considered different means of
achieving this dream. John determined early on that " to get ahead, to make something of
myself, college had seemed a logical, necessary step; my exile, my flight from home began
with good grades, with good English" (27). In order for John to climb the social status,
he realized that his only ticket out of poverty and his community is through a good
education. Status must be earned through hard work and determination. Robert is just the
opposite of John. Early on, Robert acknowledged that school and sports could not satisfy
the glamour that Robert so much desired? Unlike John who disliked blackness, Robert "got
a thing about black. See black was like the forbidden fruit" (84). Robert embraced the
people living in Homewood, Pittsburgh. He felt connected to them especially when he
discovered Garfield "cause that's where the niggers was. Garfield was black" (85). By
embracing what other people valued and thought, Robert incorporated the same criminal
values as his own. Robert has accepted his fate, a life of glamour through deviant
behavior. 
Delinquency at an early age may have contributed to Robert's behavior. According to
Cohen, deviant behavior derives from an inversion of values. Robert's values can be best
summed up by the statement "[t]he thing was to make your own rules, do your own thing,
but make sure it's contrary to what society says or is" (58) . Inversion of values is
practically portraying what society views as socially acceptable, unacceptable. A great
example explaining this inversion of values is captured during a school strike. Robert
recaptures the greatest moment of his life when he took over the school. Through his
eyes, "[i]t was the white man's world and wasn't no way round it or over it or under it
... so I kept on cutting classes and *censored*ing up and doing my militant thing every
chance I got." (114). It seems that Robert felt frustrated living in such an oppressed
environment. He once believed that prosperity can be achievable but somehow his belief in
what society has taught him relating to success is wrong. Through this belief, Robert
maintains a violent life. 
Other variables such as family, the community, and opportunities for success play a
critical role in shaping the behavior of adolescence according to Cloward and Ohlin.
There were lost opportunities when Robert's family decided to move back to Homewood from
Shadyside. A good education in a community that cared for the student was stripped from
Robert's grasp. Robert was never able to attend the school that his older brother had
previous graduated from. Now living within the boundaries of the poor community, Robert
is exposed to violence and the substandard values of the neighborhood. Homewood is a
community that scared Robert's Mother. Her prediction of trouble and Robert's wild side
connecting turned into reality " [a]nd she was right. Me and trouble hooked up" (85). 
As a child Robert constantly needed the attention of his family members especially his
mother. From a different point of view, we can say that Robert was a neglected child,
emotionally. During a time when Robert needed the people he loved most, they were not
there for comfort or guidance. Sometimes Robert felt the "least important. Always last.
Always bringing up the rear. You learn to do stuff on your own because the older kids are
always busy, off doing their thing" (88). To strive for the attention Robert needed, he
turned to his troubled community for instant gratification 
We cannot just blame Robert's family or the community for his behavior. Part of the
problem explains Sutherland is that crime is a learned behavior. Essentially, Robby's
criminal behavior is a result of being directly in contact with criminals. Robby is a
like a virgin in the drug business. He didn't know how to use drugs until he meet friends
that were into drugs and getting high. Robby describes the first time he gets hooked on
drugs. Squirrel and Bugs Johnson are "like my teachers," teaching me the tricks of the
trade (104-5). Interestingly enough, Bugs Johnson had previously learned how to use drugs
from an infamous Uncle Carl also known as the "King of the Junkies" (105). . There seems
to be an admiration for these types of guys through Robby's eyes. Robby's relationship
with drugs and the values that have been passed on gets him into real trouble not only
with his family but also with the law. Many times have Robby have been arrested and
jailed for his drug habit. 
A friend, a teacher you could say, taught the Robert the business of swindling. Smokey
was an old fellow set in the old ways to which Robby found admiration. He would take
Robby " under his wing and show him the ropes...He the one that taught me the TV Hustle".
It is obvious that to us why Robert behaves the way he does. It's simply because of
something he learned and we now know that Robby is now committed to life because a deal
had gone bad. 
Robby never reveals the reason why he chooses to use drugs. However, Robert shows signs
of personal frustration, alienation, and a negative sense of self. It is amazing how
Robert interpreted his birthday as a bad omen. The month of December is a truly difficult
time for Robby. It was a season of sadness to hear that on his birthday, his grandmother
died and his sister had a miscarriage. There was always an overwhelming sense of sadness.
Robby explains it quite simply, "[a]lmost like not having a birthday. Or even worse, like
sharing it with your brothers and sister instead of having the private oasis of your very
own special day" (92). Among Robert's family member, he felt the most alienated crying
most of the time. Somehow, drugs must have resolved this alienation.
Robert's personal frustration with failed dreams also drove him to use drugs. There was a
time in Robert's life when his only wish was to become successful. He would dream about
expensive car, pretty clothes, and making it to the top. Robert's dream was as vivid like
the bright blue sky. Despite all these visions, there was no means of achievement, just
failures. Therefore, his only companion that would take his mind off of these fail dreams
was drugs. 
Robert's aspiration is to achieve prosperity but rejected the method to accomplish this
dream. Merton would define this type of behavioral adaptation as innovation, which
explains why Robert stole the television from his family. Robby was obviously hooked on
drugs. The urge to use drugs (goal) was overwhelming. To satisfy the drug habit, Robert
burglarized his family (the means), to pacify his cravings. It is difficult for someone
to view this type of behavior as wrong. Robby admits that "[h]aving lived in the "life",
it becomes very hard-almost impossible-to find any contentment in joining the status quo"
(57). Conformity is not a behavior that Robert found gratifying. In his community " the
emphasis was, get the most you can get with the least amount of work" (241). This
statement has profound effects. It is an attitude that frames the minds of criminals.
Practically, it is stating that crimes are acceptable and that prosperity through
education is wrong. 
There is no one answer to why Robert Wideman led a life of crime. However, Robert is a
person with many identifiable risk factors. He was born into a poor community where
violence and crimes are rampant. His role models were often criminals. If there were
opportunities for Robert to succeed, he would have certainly taken that chance.
Unfortunately, the only opportunities present in his neighborhood were criminal
opportunities. Robert's greatest failure was to perceive his fate as something that can't
be changed. Only through times of isolation did Robert realize his mistake. We can change
our attitudes by first looking within ourselves for that commitment. 
Bibliography
Works cited
Wideman, John E. Brothers and Keepers. New York : First Vintage 
Books, 1984