Essay II - Criminological Theory

pdf

School

University of Idaho *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

101

Subject

Sociology

Date

Nov 24, 2024

Type

pdf

Pages

Uploaded by DorkyDes14

1 Deception and Deviance: Unraveling Anna Sorokin’s Master Manipulations Destiny M. Leineweber University of Idaho CRIM 301: Criminological Theory Professor Taylor November 20, 2023

2 Deception and Deviance: Unraveling Anna Sorokin’s Master Manipulations Throughout history, many tales of manipulation and deceit have been told, serving as a cautionary tale and as a source of intrigue from the complexities of the human mind; Anna Sorokin is a compelling example of this. Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin, born on January 23rd, 1991, was a Russian-born con artist who gained her fame and fortune by pretending to be a wealthy German royal in New York (Shamsian, 2022). Throughout her unethical career, Sorokin managed to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sorokin’s elaborate schemes and lies serve as an admonition of profiteering and fraud. Despite being born in Russia, Anna Sorokin moved to Germany when she was a teenager (Berman, 2021). Since she was a young girl, Sorokin had a fascination with fashion and art. By the time she was in her twenties, she had relocated to New York City, in 2013, to start her life of crime, use the alias “Delvey”, and attend fashion week (Berman, 2021). Soon after her arrival, Sorokin developed a fascination with the elite circles and lavish lifestyles; this influenced her to create a fake life and supposed multi-million-dollar trust fund to convince wealthy people to invest in her and the “Anna Delvey Foundation” (Pressler, 2022). She used numerous tactics to trick people into buying her gifts, hotels, rides in private jets, exclusive memberships, and much more (Baker, 2021). Sorokin had not only conned specific wealthy people, but also businesses. Notably, she had stayed at 11 Howard, the Mercer, Beekman, and more (Kozma, 2022). Not only was Sorokin using the rooms, but also the additional services provided by the hotels. At 11 Howard, she had raised a bill of over $30,000 (Kozma, 2022). The Beekman was left with almost $12,000 of unpaid charges. Thousands of dollars more were also left at various luxurious hotels (Kozma, 2022). As difficult as it may seem to be able to leave without any repercussions for the large

3 debts, Sorokin managed to pull it off by creating connections to the workers and other people who could take the fall for her troubles. Another notable instance of her schemes includes the time Sorokin tried to get others to invest in her foundation, the “Anna Delvey Foundation” (Pressler, 2022). Sorokin explained to potential investors that her foundation would be exclusive and include bars, hotels, art studios, and other workspaces (Soen, 2022). She had created fake investors to fool her lawyers and the other people searching for ways to promote her business into more than just an idea (Soen, 2022). Sorokin had promised potential members and real investors that her foundation would be guaranteed to return prestigious opportunities, even more wealth, and a higher status. Unfortunately, Sorokin had no intentions of following through legitimately and had used the funds she received for personal expenses (Soen, 2022). Eventually, Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin was arrested in October of 2017 in a sting operation after stealing over $62,000 from her friend at the time, “Rachel DeLoache Williams” (Burack, 2022). Later that month, Sorokin was transferred where she would not be able to be out on bail. Sorokin would then be indicted for two counts of attempted grand larceny in the first degree, three counts of grand larceny in the second degree, one count of grand larceny in the third degree, and one count of misdemeanor theft of services (Burack, 2022). By 2019, Sorokin was found not guilty of the attempted grand larceny in the first degree and one of the larceny charges in the second degree; she was then sentenced to four to twelve years in prison as well as being forced to pay restitution and various other fines (Burack, 2022). By February of 2021, Anna Sorokin was released from prison for good behavior, but was eventually detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for overstaying her visa (Burack, 2022). About a year later, Sorokin

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 was released to house arrest and continues to live a comfortable life from the $320,000 compensation for the movie rights to her story (Marcos, 2022). The Social Learning Theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, suggests that environmental factors, such as observing or imitating people, can influence how a person learns social behaviors (Mcleod, 2022). These people are then motivated to use their social knowledge to act in a certain way. It is easy for a person to misconstrue certain observations or actions, which can affect their morals and the way they choose to go about a certain action. Firstly, the Social Learning Theory suggests that people learn how to act or how things work by observing, being reinforced, and by mimicking (Bandura, 1977). Essentially, an individual can learn skills, how to act, or how to feel by copying how others present themselves in specific situations. Based on how the observed people are rewarded or punished, the individual may decide if it is worth engaging in certain actions (Bandura, 1977). Anna Sorokin, for example, was able to infiltrate exclusive parties, observed how wealthy people dressed, interacted, and presented themselves; she was then able to present herself in the same way to convince people of a status and level of success that she did not have. Additionally, this theory emphasizes how positive and negative reinforcement can contribute to a person’s behavior (Bandura, 1977). If a person suffers from a negative consequence, they are less likely to repeat that action. Similarly, if an individual experiences a positive effect, they will be more inclined to repeat what they did. Sorokin was able to manipulate her way into desired situations which can be attributed to her awareness and observations of successful people; she was able to see how the higher-status society was able to thrive and, because of her presenting herself in a similar way, she was able to reap the same

5 benefits they had. Sorokin’s actions, like her stealing money from people, were reinforced by her ability to use that money to pamper herself in luxurious clothes and treatments. Furthermore, Sorokin had hired a personal stylist to enhance her appearance and to convince others that she had adopted a certain lifestyle. Not only did Sorokin change her clothes, but she also changed the way she spoke, the way she treated staff members and other people, the places she attended, and the people she associated with. Sorokin mimicked multiple aspects of herself, based on what she observed, to trick people into funding a lavish life for her since she could not truly afford it herself. Her ability to observe and mimic others allowed her access to reinforcing factors that kept her con going on for years and is supported by the Social Learning Theory. While there are numerous other theories that can explain Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin’s actions, the Social Learning Theory is one of the strongest. In contrast to the Social Learning Theory explaining Anna Sorokin’s actions, the Labeling Theory is one that would not explain her actions. The Labeling Theory posits that people are influenced by the labels and pressure that society puts on them (Becker, 1963). The theory also states how people may have internal conflicts and feel obligated to conform to the way society wants them to be (Becker, 1963). As an example, if someone were to be constantly belittled and told they are a criminal, that person would be influenced to commit more criminal activities. People adopt behaviors based on what they are subjected to (Becker, 1963). Anna Sorokin’s case does not fit into this theory for a few reasons. For starters, she was not subjected to stigmas and labels from a higher society; she was not pressured to act wealthy. Sorokin had chosen to join a more lavish society, portray herself as a successful entrepreneur, and go out of her way to be a part of a rich society out of her own volition. Instead of feeling

6 pressured and subjecting herself to criminal activities to conform to societal expectations, Sorokin sought out her lifestyle and actively tried to appease her personal goals and gains. Additionally, one of the main concepts of the Labeling Theory is that people internalize the pressure and labels that are imposed on them (Becker, 1963). However, instead of taking social pressure, making it personal, and changing her habits based on what society wants, Sorokin cunningly presented herself in a certain way and demonstrated a prominent level of control over herself and others. Based on Sorokin’s personality and strongly oriented goals, it would have been impossible or extremely difficult for people to have labeled her and for her to conform to those labels. The idea that she either fought against or succumbed to cultural labels is contradicted by this degree of control over her own narrative. While the Labeling Theory is a strong one, Sorokin's actions do not fit within the definition of the Labeling Theory. Anna Sorokin’s actions were motivated by her own desires and goals rather than ones imposed upon her by the people surrounding her. Sorokin had too much control over herself and others for this theory to be rational. The major weakness in both theories is the fact that neither of these theories can fully explain the complexities in a criminal’s motives, actions, and thoughts. Both the Social Learning Theory and the Labeling theory are comprehensive but fail to grasp the full scope of the circumstances. The Social Learning theory is helpful in explaining some or basic behaviors that may be obtained by observing others. However, it may not fully explain why a person would choose to mimic others, commit crimes to obtain their goals, or how their society affects them on a psychological level. This theory would suggest that Sorokin learned her criminal actions from observing others being successful from the same actions; it would suggest that crime and deceit

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

7 is quite common for wealthy people to achieve their goals when that may not be the true case. The Social Learning Theory would not explain the actions Sorokin used to portray herself in the way she desired. The Labeling Theory, similarly, affects people to change based on how their society applies pressure and stigmas onto them. This explanation, however, does not fully explain Sorokin's actions because she did not commit fraud in response to being labeled a fraudster. In fact, Sorokin actively sought out opportunities to deceive and manipulate people, demonstrating that her actions were motivated by personal reasons rather than a reaction to societal labels. In contrast, someone could say that Sorokin was not a good person, and this may have influenced her to work harder in her schemes to be better in her eyes. Regardless of possible explanations for these theories, their faults, and their successes, both theories fail to acknowledge Sorokin’s experiences, life, and other non-social factors. Both theories may explain some aspects of Sorokin’s criminal activity and motives but fail to fully capture the nuances of her mind and actions. For a better explanation of Sorokin’s goals and actions, a theory that encompasses psychological, sociological, and cultural factors should be considered. Unfortunately, neither the Social Learning Theory nor the Labeling Theory are adequate. The Social Learning Theory and the Labeling Theory both have strong policy implications when regarded in the context of crime and behavior. The Social Learning Theory, for example, promotes the idea of having strong and honest role models and societies to discourage people from learning and committing criminal or deviant behaviors. If Anna Sorokin was in an environment that fostered hard work, honesty, and integrity, then there is a good chance that Anna Sorokin might have worked for her fortune and fame rather than stealing it.

8 Similarly, the Labeling Theory suggests that society influences a person’s actions and thoughts by labeling criminals as criminals or deviants. The criminal then internalizes this and reflects that on their criminal's actions; these people are more likely to commit more crimes instead of being deterred from them like they would be with positive reinforcement. For this theory to have successful implementations and implications, society should promote ethical behaviors and provide better opportunities. For example, if Anna Sorokin were presented with legitimate ways to create a business and make her fortune as well as being positively reinforced and complimented, she would have been more likely to use more legal methods to obtain her success. However, the issue with these implications is that Anna Sorokin did not seem to be affected by other’s opinions or actions unless it came to improving her schemes. While it is unlikely these actions or policies would have worked for her, it would be better than reinforcing negative actions or allowing her to get away with certain things. Each case, like Anna Sorokin’s, is unique and requires a different action; this makes it difficult in determining which policies would be effective in deterring criminal activities. Anna Sorokin’s case unveils an intriguing and strong story about a con artist who successfully masterminded her way into elite social statuses and robbed people/businesses of their offerings. Sorokin’s actions not only harmed people and businesses directly, but also exposed weak points within systems and made it more vulnerable to other criminal actions. While the Social Learning Theory provides good points for potential reasons Sorokin committed her crimes, other theories like the Labeling Theory do not. Both theories, however, fail to fully capture the complexities of Sorokin’s thought process and criminal activities. Society should seek to procure more theories that encompass multiple aspects of the complexities of crime.

9 Additionally, if society were to integrate more effective deterrence mechanisms and more ethical ways to achieve goals, there would be a more functional and safer environment for everyone to thrive in.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

10 References Baker, V. (2021, March 10). Fake heiress Anna Sorokin: “Crime pays, in a way.” BBC News . https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56339463 Bandura, A. (1977). The Social Learning Theory of Aggression. In Google Books . https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=rGMPEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA141 &ots=SuESHj2Rcv&sig=e5Bg5Extq6YutjpOJIgavCgG0YY#v=onepage&q&f=false (Original work published 1977) Becker, H. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. In https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1965-08393-000 . https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1965-08393-000 Berman, T. (2021, September 30). “Fake heiress” Anna Sorokin: “I’m not this dumb, greedy person.” ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/fake-heiress-anna-sorokin-im-dumb-greedy-person/story?id= 80278091 Burack, E. (2022, February 13). So, Where Is Anna Delvey Now? Town & Country. https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a38962970/where-is-anna- delvey-today/ Kozma, L. (2022, February 10). Anna Delvey Stayed at These New York Hotels Before Getting Busted for Larceny and Service Theft . Distractify. https://www.distractify.com/p/anna-delvey-hotels Marcos, G. (2022, February 21). What Did Anna Sorokin Do With The Netflix Money For The Rights To “Inventing Anna”? TheThings. https://www.thethings.com/anna-sorokin-netflix-money-inventing-anna-purchases/

11 Mcleod, S. (2022, November 3). Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory in Psychology . Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/bandura.html#What-is-Social-Learning-Theory Pressler, J. (2022, February 8). How an Aspiring “It” Girl Tricked New York’s Party People — and Its Banks . The Cut. https://www.thecut.com/article/how-anna-delvey-tricked-new-york.html Shamsian, J. (2022, February 11). “My parents did not really know what to do with me”: Real-life scammer Anna Sorokin explains the tense family relationship in “Inventing Anna.” Insider. https://www.insider.com/inventing-anna-netflix-real-life-delvey-sorokin-family-relations hip-2022-2 Soen, H. (2022, February 18). Inventing Anna: What happened to the Anna Delvey Foundation and how much was real? The Tab. https://thetab.com/uk/2022/02/18/inventing-anna-what-happened-to-the-anna-delvey-fou ndation-real-life-netflix-241093

Essay II - Criminological Theory

Related Documents