Professional Documents
Culture Documents
THEORIES
OF
CRIME
CAUSATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A. Program Outcomes
B. Performance Indicators:
At the end of the course, the students are expected to:
Apply knowledge essential to the conduct of criminological research on
crimes, crime causation, victims and offenders to include deviant
behavior;
Discuss the theories of crime causation.
Classify theories according to their underlying perspective and philosophy
C. Course Guide
LECTURE GRADE
Module Evaluation 25%
Quizzes 25%
Major Exam 50%
Total: 100%
E. COURSE FACILITATOR
Name of the Facilitator: Mary Grace O. Galino., RCRIM, MSCJ
Contact Details:
Mobile Number: 09071167903
Email Address: mariagraciagalino@gmail.com
Facebook Account: Mary Grace Oro Galino
Office Address: Roxas Avenue, Roxas City
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION: CRIME ITS CONCEPT
There is a growing body of evidence about the factors that place individuals at
risk of criminal offending. The theoretical approaches discussed below attempt to explain
the relationship between those risk factors and criminal behavior. There is no consensus
on the relative merit of these theories and it may be the causal mechanisms proposed
below are more or less significant for different individuals. Most crime prevention
programs are based, sometimes implicitly, on more of the theoretical understandings of
crime. Therefore, even when focusing on practical response, there is value
focuses on criminality, a certain personality profile that causes the most alarming sorts of
crimes. The explanation why crime was committed or the causes of crime is not an easy
thing to do because there are so many factors and circumstances to consider thus making
it complex.
CAUSES OF CRIMES
CRIME PREVENTION
Ultimate aim of crime prevention is to reduce the risk of victims. Here we find the
ways to prevent crimes. Do not provide the opportunity to the thief to take advantages of
your property. Fewer opportunities may become the cause of reduction in the crime rates.
States should enhance the way of living of poor of that country. Poverty alleviation
programs on sound basis can reduce the crime rates. Law and enforcement agencies are
key role player in prevention of crimes. Delay in justice must be avoided.
ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY
Several issues arise which are serious causes to put the crimes rate not reducing.
These issues vary from the level of crime. Due to difference in the legal and criminal
justice system the crime rate is not reducing. Contrast in the police reporting and actual
crime report is another issue. Proper prosecution is not observed when a crime is
committed. Due to differences in data quality a crime rate cannot be feasible work to
reduce the rate of crime.
Differences between micro and macro level theories exist. To identify a theory
whether it is macro or micro level is to check what the theory predicts. Focus of the
MICRO-LEVEL THEORY is on the individual interaction. Individual characteristics
can be explained by the interactions of people within an environment. These are
described as EPIDEMIOLOGY. EPIDEMIOLOGY here is concerned with the overall
crime rates. Example of this kind of theory is the relationship between adult children and
their parents. MACRO-LEVEL THEORY is most extended and focuses on the social
problems, social conditions and social processes.
1. PREDICTIVE ACCURACY - A theory has merit and is useful to the extent that
it accurately predicts what is observed. That is, the theory has generated a large
number of research hypotheses that have supported it. This is the most important
criterion.
2. PREDICTIVE SCOPE - Predictive scope is the scope or range of the theory and
thus the scope or range of the hypotheses that can be derived from it. That is, how
much of the empirical world falls under the explanatory umbrella of theory A
compared to how much falls under theory
3. SIMPLICITY - If two competing theories are essentially equal in terms of the
first two criteria, then the less complicated one is considered more “elegant.”
4. FALSIFIABILITY - A theory is never proven true, but it must have the quality
of being falsifiable or disprovable. If a theory is formulated in such a way that no
amount of evidence could possibly falsify it, then the theory is of little use (Ellis,
1994, pp.202–205).
1. Theories are useful tools that help us to understand and explain the world
around us. In criminology, they help us to understand the workings of the
criminal justice system and the actors in the system.
2. Theories suggest the way things are, not the way things ought to be. They are
not inherently good or bad; however, they can be used for good or bad
purposes.
3. A theory can try to explain crime for a large social unit or area (macro), or it
can attempt to explain crime at the individual or smaller unit level (micro).
4. Because we are dealing with human behavior, the social sciences will never be
like the hard sciences. In the hard sciences, the theory of relativity will not
change. In the social sciences, however, we deal with probabilities. The social
scientist will say things such as, “A severely neglected child will probably
commit, or tend to commit, delinquent acts.”
5. To be used for maximum effectiveness, theories must make sense (logical
consistency), explain as much crime as possible (scope), and be as concise as
possible (parsimony). Most important, the theory must be true or correct
(validity). Having met these basic goals, the theory must then have some real
world applications and policy implications.
6. Many theories have common traits, but differences among them still exist.
Understanding these differences is keys to understanding the often
contradictory views of crime and deviance they purport to explain.
THEORY
4. Descriptive approaches;
5. Critical work;
6. Nihilistic thinking; and
7. Amelioration. Yet, there does appear to be a dominant paradigm.
1. THEORETICAL SCIENCE
Theoretical accounts within a scientific model are intellectual structures designed
to help explain things within given domains of interest (for more detailed descriptions of
theoretical science see Reynolds, 1971; Tittle, 1995; Turner, 2003: Chapter 1). That is,
scientific theories, and explanations try to provide answers to questions of “why” and
“how” that are deemed satisfactory by critical audiences made up of s scientists who
expect such a theory to provide intellectual satisfaction as well as the means for
predicting aspects of the phenomena of interest.
2. PROBLEM SOLVING
A substantial number of criminologists, perhaps even a majority (though
theoretical science seems to be the dominant approach, there are no hard data to establish
that judgment), aim their work toward finding solutions to crime or crime‐related p
roblems (for examples, see any issue of journal Criminology and Public Policy, or
Kleiman, 2009). Such problems range all the way from international threats of terrorism
to much focused concerns with how best to prevent littering on public streets in particular
towns or cities, and may even involve efforts to assess all manner of collateral damage
for crime‐linked activities. Problem‐solving criminology includes ad hoc explanatory
efforts as well as evaluations of existing programs designed to achieve specific purposes.
3. VERSTEHEN” ANALYSIS
This approach to criminology features efforts to “understand” the actions and
thoughts of participants. (Verstehen is the German word for “to understand”; its use as the
name for this process became popularized in sociology and criminology by the writings
of Max Weber.) The verstehen researcher usually tries to put himself psychically in the
positions of the research subjects in order to see and interpret the world as the subjects
see it and interpret it. This emphatic process is often assisted by careful ethnographic
research and sometimes it is aided by comparative analyses designed to isolate
differences between subjects exhibiting different outcomes or exposures. In recent times
there has been a strong emphasis in criminology on exploring the active part that
individuals play in their crime‐relevant behavior or in escaping from criminal pasts
(sometimes called human agency), and the verstehen approach is especially useful in
pursuing that theme (see for example: Giordano, Cernkovich, & Rudolph, 2002; Maruna,
2001).
4. DESCRIPTIVE APPROACHES
5. CRITICAL WORK
A substantial number of criminologists define their work roughly as spelling out
social conditions that they believe are responsible for human suffering, injustice, or
inequality, which, in turn, are thought by many to be linked with criminal behavior and
crime‐relevant phenomena (cf. Bonger, 1916 (1969); Daly & Chesney‐Lind, 1988; Gove,
1980; Quinney, 1970, 1974). Within this camp, any argument that logically or
meaningfully connects a social situation or condition with a negative outcome that is
assumed to be associated with crime or crime‐relevant outcomes is called “theory.” Often
the identified culprits are capitalism, mal‐distribution of economic resources, patriarchy,
racism, or other large structural arrangements. Scholars working in this vein share with
theoretical science the goals of showing why and how the particular problem‐generators
operate. However, critical work differs from theoretical science in several crucial ways.
6. NIHILISTIC THINKING
A relatively small, yet vocal, segment of criminologists embrace the notion that it
is impossible to build theories or explanations, and they are highly critical of science as a
model for crime studies (cf. Arrigo, 2003; Einstadter & Henry, 1995; Taylor, Walton, &
Young, 1973). Such scholars essentially contend that nothing can be known except that
nothing can be known. For them, theory is simply the collection of arguments, many of
which are based on obvious biases evident in mainstream criminology, purportedly
showing that humans are incapable of general understanding of human behavior or social
structure and are utterly unable to study social life objectively. So, the idea of theory as a
set of explanatory principles setting out the causes of things relevant to crime is far‐
fetched. To the nihilist, one can only d document human attempts to understand each
other or situations through n narratives, or stories, shared and reacted to by members of
local communities.
7. AMELIORATION
A final style of criminology bears much in common with critical work in that it
attempts to identify sources of human suffering or injustice, but it goes a step further and
offers a prescription for overcoming those forces (cf. Pepinsky & Quinney, 1991). Theory
for such criminologists, then, consists of the arguments specifying or asserting particular
forces leading to human distress, which are thought to be connected with the probability
of criminal behavior or the construction of legal rules artificially constraining various
segments of the population, along with the remedies to be f followed in overcoming those
forces. Such scholars often reject legal notions of crime, redefining it in terms of
behaviors or social structures producing suffering or injustice.
ANATOMY OF CRIME
Both the INTENT and INSTRUMENTALITY are harbored and wielded by the
perpetrator. The OPPORTUNITY consists of the acts of omission and/or commission by
a person (the victim) which enables another person’s or groups of persons (the criminal/s)
to perpetrate the crime. EXAMPLE FOR THIS ARE:
I. ECONOMIC MOTIVE – The reason for the act is for economic gain.
FOR EXAMPLE:
A. Kidnap for ransom F. Robbery
B. Illegal importation; F. Robbery
C. Sabotage; G. Burglary;
D. Counterfeiting H. Smuggling.
E. Corruption
II. SEXUAL MOTIVE – A direction towards sexual gratification. Or, monetary gain in
exchange of sexual gratification on the part of the client.
FOR EXAMPLE:
A. Rape
B. Prostitution;
C. Acts of lasciviousness
SUCH AS:
B. HABITUAL CRIMES – Offenses that are either habits in the literal sense of the
word, which have been made illegal or these are crimes in the common acceptance of the
term, REPEATEDLY BUT NOT SKILLFULLY PERFORMED. FOR EXAMPLE:
-Those that are committed by disorderly drunkards; drug addicts, vagrants, petty
thieves, dope peddlers, and prostitutes.
C. RECIDIVISM – It refers to the act of committing the same type of crime at a certain
period of time. FOR EXAMPLE:
- A person was arrested, convicted and served imprisonment for a crime of
robbery. After being freed from imprisonment for not more than two years, he again
committed robbery. This person is considered a recidivist.
1. Ecological Factors
It deals with systematic interactions between social groups which describe the
ways society is structured. It includes the relative distribution of the population among
groups and the flows of information, resources, and people between groups. It also
encompasses the variety and heterogeneity of racial/ethnic/cultural/productive groups,
their behaviors and beliefs and economic relations.
What is motivation?
No. Motivation alone cannot cause a crime to occur; opportunity also is required.
Opportunity itself may influence motivation.
Antique Philosophy
(4th century BC)
Aristotle offers a philosophical standpoint on crime causation who stated that the
crime is poverty related describing poverty as a mother of all revolutions and crimes.
Medieval Philosophy
(17th century)
DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. CAUSALITY - A concept more applicable to the hard sciences. Does the
appearance of X cause effect Y? In a perfect relationship, the appearance of X
would always cause the effect Y. each and every time the relationship is seen.
2. EMPIRICAL VALIDITY - This is the most important factor in evaluating a
theory, and means that the theory has been supported by research evidence.
3. IDEOLOGY - A belief system and a set of core values or philosophy. In a pure
sense, an ideology states or explains how things should be, and a theory explains
how things actually are.
4. INTERNAL LOGICAL CONSISTENCY - A theory needs to be presented in a
logical manner and to have clearly stated propositions that agree with or do not
contradict one another. Restated, does the theory make logical and consistent
sense?
5. MACRO - Macro theories of criminal behavior explain the “big picture” of crime
—crime across the world or across a society. They attempt to answer why there
are variations in group rates of crime. Other authors have used the terms
“epidemiology” or social structural theories.
6. MICRO - Micro theories of criminal behavior focus on a small group of
offenders or on an individual crime. They attempt to answer why some
individuals are more likely than others to commit crime. Other authors have used
the terms “individual conduct” or processual theories.
7. NECESSARY CONDITION - This means that X must be present to produce
effect Y. If X is not present, Y will not occur.
8. PARSIMONY - This refers to how many propositions, steps, or statements are
involved. How simple is the theory?
9. POLICY IMPLICATIONS - If the theory is empirically valid, what solutions
are suggested.
ACTIVITY 1
2. Read a news about a crime whether local, national or international and determine
the following:
a. Who are the perpetrators?
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3. In your own point of view, is the crime situation in our community becoming
worst or better? Justify your answer.
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4. Do you agree that crime has high and diverse cost? Explain your answer.
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CHAPTER II
THEORIES
Demonological Theory
This is the earliest to explain in crime and criminal behavior. It is theorized that
people believe that evil spirits or demons inside the human body to commit sins.
Terms like demons, witches and windigo were used for people who had turned
criminals. The society thought that it happened due to evil influence. Supernatural powers
were considered the best explanation behind crime and seen. It was believed that a person
did not commit crimes of his own free will but under the evil influence
Natural Explanations for crime were rooted in people's ideas about the nature of
reality in the physical world based on observation of nature but we're not specific. For
Example, the natural world was thought to include inherent good and evil, and crimes of
them were regarded as crimes against nature or the natural order rather than crimes
against the victim or against God. Seeking explanation for crime in the natural world
provided a basis for the development of legal definition and treatments of crime. Natural
explanation of crime make use of objects and events in the material world to account for
what happens.
Classical Theory
This theory posits that you man behavior as rational and assumes that people have
the ability to choose right from wrong. It explains that crime is a product of believes
that benefits of committing crimes are far greater therefore crime is a behavioral human
characteristics and a choice. This theory expresses that the humans did not act according
to God's wheel or under the influence of any other supernatural power but acted in their
own free will. They acted after having judged the rewards and punishments. It only
shows an individual has the ability to calculate the outcome of his own actions and can
consider the pleasure and pain to result from his activities this is in response to the
primitive an accrual European just a system that existed prior to the French revolution of
1789.
What is utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism is the doctrine that the purpose of all action should bring about the
greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It means that human beings are
hedonistic act only in their own self-interest.
1. Deterrence theory
Different story highlights that an individual's choice to commit or not to
commit a crime is influenced by the fear of punishment. It also includes the idea
that force retribution for a crime should reduce crime rates. This theory is
considered an extension of the classical approach focusing on the link between
punishment and behavior at both individual and group levels.
What is deterrence?
Deterrence is the act of preventing a criminal act before it occurs, through the
threat of punishment and functions.
What is retribution?
Retribution is the notion that a wrongdoer should be forced to pay back or
compensate for his or her criminal acts.
Types of Deterrence
1. Specific Deterrence- this is aimed at the wrongdoer and tries to deter him from
crime by punishing him.
2. General Deterrence - this is aimed but everyone. It deters everyone from crime
by punishing the criminal and thus establishing an example. The weakness is that
it does not clearly consider the impact of punishment on people which have not
committed but might be ready to commit crime.
3. Routine Activities Theory- history suggests that crime is a product of people's
daily activity influenced by a number of factors that can become the motivation
behind crime. Living in the company of delinquent peers or being to places
frequently rounded by others can't motivate anyone to become one of them. It is
used to explain the changing trends in a crime.
It has the idea that criminals are not impulsive or unpredictable because
they balance the cause as well as benefits of committing crimes this theory is a
product of classical approach wherein the explain crime as irrational course of
action by offenders who sick to minimize pain and maximize pleasure.
Neoclassical Theory
This to reconsider age, gender and social class of the perpetrators. The
perpetrators are people who think feel, act and criminal behavior is learned within groups
by imitation and identification. It suggests the understanding of individual differences of
the perpetrators and sought to improve the stances towards perpetrators who should have
an impact on the level of guilt and severity of punishment. Consequently not all
perpetrators should be treated in the same fashion because the evidence difference exists
among them. Crime is a result of many conditions that have ultimately influenced the
perpetrators to commit it.
Johann Lavater
Auguste Comte is known as the founder of sociology of positivism believe that both
external and internal forces are important for understanding human behavior.
Auguste Comte
Positivist Theories
Positivism emphasizes the techniques of observation the comparative method, and
experimentation in the development of knowledge concerning human behavior and nature
of society. It also stress the idea that much of behavior is a function of external social
forces beyond individual control as well as internal forces such as our mental capabilities
and biological makeup. This theory further argued that human behavior is pre-disposed
and fully determined by individual differences and biological traits meaning it is not free
well that drives people to commit crimes.
Positivism it highlights the relevance of empirical or scientific study of crime, criminals
and criminal behavior in this theory is presumed that scientific study of criminal behavior
should be the causes of such behavior believing that the causes of crime are beyond the
control of individuals. In short positivist theory shows a deterministic explanation it
played an important role in the development of modern criminology. Positivists play the
environment and hereditary factors could be important causal factors behind crime.
Effects of Positivism
1. People were beginning to be perceived and understood as organisms that are part
of the animal kingdom whose behavior is very much influenced by social,
cultural, and biological antecedents, rather than self-determined beings who are
free to do what they want.
2. There is great diversity in positivist theory on the causes of crime: some stress
external factors more, and other stress internal factors more.
1. Biological Theory
Biological explanations of crime assume that some people are 'born criminals',
who are physiologically distinct from non-criminals. According to biological
positivists the basic cause of crime is biological inferiority, which is indicated by
physical or genetic characteristics that distinguish criminals from non-criminals.
Biological theories also advocate brain surgery, chemical treatment, improved
diets and better mother and child care.
Biological theories of criminality basically support that criminal behavior
is the result of some flaw in the biological make-up of the individual. This could
be due to
a. heredity
b. neurotransmitter dysfunction
c. Brain abnormalities that were caused by either of the above,
improper development, or trauma.
Profile
born in Venice, Italy, in 1835
educated in medicine and psychiatry
become a professor of criminal anthropology at the University of Turin 1906
Published a book entitled, "Criminal Man" in 1876.
He pointed out in this book that the explanation of criminal behavior basing it on
biological characteristics and heredity therefore advocating the scientific explanation,
focused on internal biological factors, and believe that people engage in crime are
throwbacks.
The stigmata themselves did not cause criminal behavior; rather they are visible
indicators of a personality type that was in essence, a primitive atavism, a throwback on
the Darwinian scale of human evolution.
He also compare the large number of criminals and non-criminals using human
physical traits like: ear size, hair length and others. Lombroso stated that atavistic
features are more similar to savages and criminal offenders. This view was held by many
biological positivists. Lombroso was influenced by Darwinian principles of evolution and
used these ideas to support the thesis of inferiority of criminals.
Lombroso not only focused on the “born criminal,” atavism, and degeneracy; as a
positivist, he also expressed concern for factors such as the social and physical
environment of the offender. He emphasized a mutual interactive relationship between
heredity and environment and, in other written works, stressed environmental conditions
as causing or having an effect on criminality.
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Four Types of Criminals
Proponent: Rafael Garofalo
Profile:
Natural Crime. Conduct which offends the basic moral sentiments of pity
(revulsion against the voluntary infliction of suffering on others) and probity (respect for
property rights of others.
Natural crime is a behavior which violates certain basic moral sentiments. The
true criminal is the one whose altruistic sensibilities are lacking or are in a deficient
state of development and considered as abnormal. The concepts of crime and the crime
are thus integrally related.”
1. Somatotype Theory
This theory relates to the distinctive body types to personality characteristic and
relates criminal behavior to the body types. People are born with an inherited body
type based on skeletal frame and body composition.
Somatotyping is the classifying of people into types according to body build.
Proponent: William Sheldon
Research:
He observed the varieties of human bodies and came up with three types:
ectomorphs, endomorphs, and mesomorphs.
a. Ectomorphs
Thin and fragile
Flat-chested, fragile, lean, lightly muscled, small shouldered and thin
Likely to commit suicide
b. Endomorph
Soft and fat
Underdeveloped muscles and a round physique
Have difficulty losing weight
Likely to be mentally ill
c. Mesomorphs
Muscular and athletic
Hour glass-shaped when they’re female, or rectangular- shaped in males
Have excellent posture, they gain muscle easily and they have thick skin
Most prone to commit crime or other deviant behaviors
2. XY Chromosome Theory
This theory holds that criminal have an extra Y chromosomes that gives them an
XYY chromosomal makeup rather than XY makeup. This creates a strong compulsion
within them to commit crimes and being known as “super male”. According to studies the
proportion of XYY males in the prison population is higher than general male population.
3. Neuroscience
The brain is a complex and fragile organ which can damaged by traumatic injury,
tumors, neurodevelopmental disorder, neurodegenerative disorders, vascular lesions and
many other causes. Episodic or chronic substance abuse can alter both the structure and
functioning of the brain.
4. Genetics
Genetics explain the causes of crime. In a family studies focus on the criminal
history and background of families it was found out that families with criminal
backgrounds, are said to be more likely to produce children with criminal tendencies also,
almost as though crime is a gene carried through generations.
Sociological Theories
The sociological approach theorizes that crime is shaped by factors external to the
individual: their experiences within the neighborhood, the peer group, and the family. It
means that society “construct” criminality. It attempts to connect the issues of the
individual’s criminality with the broader social structures and cultural values of society,
familial, or peer group.
It suggests that crime is caused by anomie, or the dissociation of the individual
from the collective conscience; by social disorganization; by anomie resulting from a lack
of opportunity to achieve aspirations; by the learning of criminal values and behaviors;
and by the failure to properly socialize individuals.
2. Strain/Anomie Theory
This theory explains the breakdown of social norms that often accompanies rapid
social change. A concrete example is when old rules or values are no longer relevant and
new values or rules are in direct conflict with old rules and values. It is also on this
context that, criminal behavior arises when confronted with the inability to achieve
success and when faced with the strain that ensues following the realization that personal
talents, training, or desires cannot achieve that which desire. Merton states that, “Anomie
refers to psychological state of confusion caused by rapidly changing industrial evolution
and accompanying social dislocation and the effect this change has on people. This state
is popularly conceptualized as “normlessness”. It is a feeling, an attitude a psychological
perspective that causes those who experience is to feel confused, frustrated, annoyed
angry, hostile, embarrassed, and even resigned or doomed.
3. Subcultural Theory
This theory is linked to anomie and strain exemplifying concepts of status
frustration and differential opportunity, which North American subcultural theorists used
to explain the delinquent activities of disadvantaged groups. In the study of Albert Cohen
in relation with status frustration, he argued that lower-class youths could not aspire to
middle-class cultural goals and so, frustrated, they rejected them to create their own
subcultural system of values.
The more an individual commits his herself to a particular lifestyle for example
being married being a parent having a job the more he or she has to lose if he or
she becomes involved in a crime and so deviates from the lifestyle.
3. Involvement
This component comes down to time the more time the individual spends
in gauging in law abiding behavior the last time he or she has to engage in law
breaking behavior.
4. Belief
This relates to a bringing if an individual has been brought out to be law-
abiding they are less likely to become involved in crime.
This theory signifies that conformity to the prevailing cultural norms of lower
class society causes crime. Lower class subcultural has a unique set of values and beliefs,
which are invariably in conflict with conventional social norms. Criminality is an
expression of conformity to lower class subcultural values. Members of the working class
commit crimes as they respond to the cultural norms of their own class in an effort to deal
with problems of social-middle class- adjustment.
7. Social Learning Theory
This theory underscored that people learn to engage in crime, primarily through
their association with others. They are reinforced for crime, they learn beliefs that are
favorable to crime, and they are exposed to criminal models. They view crime as
something that is desirable or at least justifiable in certain situations. Juvenile learn to
engage in crime in the same way they to engage in conforming behavior: through
association with or exposure to others. Primary or intimate groups like the family and
peer groups have an especially large impact on what we learn.
Environment Criminology
Environmental Criminology is the study of crime, criminality, and victimization
as they relate, first, to particular places, and secondly, to the way that individuals and
organizations shape their activities spatially, and in so doing are in turn influenced by
placed-based or spatial factors. Further it is a positivist theory that suggests crime is
influenced, if not caused, by a person’s spatial environment which include space, time,
offender, and target or victim.
1. Psychological Theory
This theory has a general perspective that looks to the psychological functioning,
development, and adjustment of an individual in explaining criminal or deviant acts.
Under this approach, the criminal act itself is important only in that it highlights an
underlying mental issue. It focus on the association among intelligence, personality,
learning and criminal behavior. It further explain criminal behavior, in part, as factors
affecting individuals such as negative childhood experiences, or incomplete cognitive
development.
2. Psychodynamic Theory
A theory individual’s personality is controlled by unconscious mental processes
that are grounded in early childhood. Child experiences influences his or he likelihood for
committing future crimes. This theory was originated by Sigmund Freud, founder of
psychoanalysis. He thought that human behavior, including violent behavior, was the
product of “unconscious” forces operating within a person’s mind and felt that early
childhood experiences had a profound impact on adolescent and adult behavior.
2. Schizophrenia
Individuals often exhibit illogical and incoherent thought processes, and
they often lack insight into their behavior and do not understand reality. A person
with paranoid schizophrenia also experiences complex behavior delusions that
involve wrongdoing or persecution.
3. Behavioral Theory
It focuses on behavior modelling and social learning. It maintains that all human
behavior- including violence behavior- is learned through interaction with the social
environment. Behaviorist argue that people are not born with a violent disposition.
Rather, they learn to think and act violently as result of their day-to-day experiences.
4. Cognitive Theory
This theory signifies that an individual perception and how it is manifested affects
his or her potential to commit crime. It focus on how people perceive their social
environment and learn to solve problems. The moral and intellectual development
perspective is the branch of cognitive theory that is most associated with the study of
crime and violence.
Level 2: Conventional
Throughout the conventional level, a child’s sense of morality is tied to personal
and societal relationships. Children continue to accept the rules of authority figures, but
this is now due to their belief that this is necessary to ensure positive relationships and
societal order. Adherence to rules and conventions is somewhat rigid during these stages,
and a rule’s appropriateness or fairness is seldom questioned.
5. Personality Theory
This theory believes that criminal activity is the result of a defective, deviant, or
inadequate personality. In short criminal behavior is associated with defective personality
traits. Examples of deviant personality traits include hostility, impulsiveness, aggression,
and sensation-seeking. The criminal does not have the ability to feel empathy, remorse, or
guilt for his or her actions, and has not developed a sense of right and wrong.
6. Psychoanalytic Theory
A general perspective stating that the causes of criminal behavior can be found in
the mind of the individual. The criminal behavior is the result of a mental disturbance.
According to Sigmund Freud, this may have been caused by a conflict between the id,
ego, and superego, or it may be the result of an improper fixation during a stage of
emotional development.
Psychoanalysts believe that is a man cannibalistic wild creature in its beginning,
which will from in a mature and responsible person through a process of socialization
which has significant role in the formation of our conscience.
Who is a Psychopathic?
A general term referring to a variety of antisocial personality disorders.
ACTIVITY III
1. What was the effect of the traditional explanation of crimes in the treatment of
offenders?
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2. At present do you believe that the beliefs under demonological theory are still
recognized?
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a. Give the distinction between the Classical and Neo Classical Theory. In these
theories what do you appreciate most? Why?
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b. Read and understand the essay on Crimes and Punishment by Cesare Beccaria.
What are the insights you learned from it. Hoe does these ideas influence your
views on crimes as a criminology student?
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CHAPTER III
Critical theory's do not only rejects traditional theories of crime causation, but
challenge conventional understandings of crime and punishment by uncovering false
belief and perspectives. It is anchored in the paradigm of inequalities of the capitalist
society.
Critical theories also try to explain group differences in crime rates in terms of the
larger social environment; some focus on class differences, some on gender differences,
and some on societal differences in crime. Several versions of critical theory exist, but all
explain crime in terms of group differences in power.
1. Labeling theory
The theory that the formal and informal application of stigmatizing and
deviant "labels" or x applied to an individual by society will not deter, but rather
instigate future deviant or criminal acts. labeling theory is not concerned with
why people originally engaged in act that result in their being labelled but it is
with criminal career formation and not the origin of criminal acts.
It arises when deviant comes to the attention of significant others or social control
agencies who apply a negative label. The person then reorganizes his or her own
behavior and personality around the consequences of a deviant.
It involves socialization into a deviant role. The labeled person is transformed into
one who employs his behavior or a role based upon the label as a means of
defense, attack or adjustment. Secondary deviance produces a deviance
application effect this is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
2. Conflict theory
The view that society is divided into two or more groups with competing
ideas and values. The group (s) with the most power makes the laws and controls
society groups lacking the formal power to make the rules still maintain their own
group norms, and continue in their behavior, which is now viewed as criminal by
the larger society. This perspective explains both law and criminal justice (why
some are legally defined as criminal), as well as criminal and deviant behavior
(why some individuals commit acts defined as criminal).
3. Marxist theory
Marxist theories argue that those who owned the means of production
(e.g., factories, businesses) have the greatest power. This group the capitalist class
uses its power for its own advantage. Capitalist work for the passage of laws that
criminalize and severally sanction the "street" crimes of lower-class persons, but
harmful actions of business and industry (e.g., pollution, unsafe working
conditions).
4. Feminist theory
This theory focus on gender differences in power as a source of crime. it
address two issues: why are males more involved in most forms of crime than
females, and why do females engage in crime most theories of crime were
developed with males in mind feminist argue that the causes of female crime
differ somewhat from the causes of male crime.
The theories under the rational choice theory (RCT) posits that a criminal
rationally chooses the crime to commit and the target of crime. Criminals evaluate
available information to decide whether a crime is attractive and worthwhile. Criminal
behavior is centered on the situational aspects because society can achieve a high degree
of crime prevention by focusing on the situational aspects that influence particular types
of criminal behavior. It emphasized that individuals as rational actors wherein they are
capable of making their own choices which includes choosing to commit crime. They
even weigh up the benefits and disadvantages they derived from their acts. This theory
implies that individuals not only decide to commit crime, but decide when and where to
commit crime.
Rational choice theory states that people freely choose their behavior and are
motivated by the avoidance of pain and the pursuit of pleasure. Individuals evaluate their
choice of actions in accordance with each action ability to produce advantage, pleasure
and happiness. It also provides a micro perspective on why individual offenders decide to
commit specific crimes; people choose to engage in crime because it can be rewarding,
easy satisfying and fun. It simply suggests that crime is a personal choice which is the
result of individual decision-making processes. Therefore individuals are responsible for
their choices and thus individual offenders are subject to blame for their criminality.
Integrated theory
One in which two or more of the major criminological theories are used together
in a new theoretical perspective.
follows a calculation whereby criminals explore the perceived cost, rewards, and risk of
alternative action.
Justice model
It stresses the idea that offenders are responsible people and therefore deserve to
be punished if they violate the law.
Just deserts
It is a justice perspective according to which those who violate others rights
deserve to be punished.
Findings:
What is self-control?
A person's ability to alter his or her own states and responses.
The answer is that they have high self-control. That is these individual are able to
delay gratification of immediate impulses and pursue long term goals. How however
individuals who lacks self-control engage risky behavior, including criminal acts, to
satisfy their immediate needs.
Self-control is directed to the fact that that individual differences in the tendency
to commit criminal acts.., remain reasonably stable with change in the social location of
individuals and change in their knowledge of the operation of sanction systems. This is
the problem of self-control, the differential tendency of people to avoid criminal acts
whatever the circumstances in which they find themselves. Since this difference people
has attracted a wide verity of names, we begin by arguing the merits of the concept of
self-control.
Displacement Theory
What is crime displacement?
Crime displacement is the relocation of crime (or criminals) result of police crime
prevention efforts. Grind displacement has been linked to problem oriented policing, but
it may occur at other labels and for other reasons. Community development effort may be
a reason why criminals moved to the other areas for their criminal activity.
The displacement theory argues that by removing the opportunity for crime or
seeking through prevent a crime by changing the situation in which it's occurs does not
actually prevent crime but merely moves it to a new environment which less obstacles.
Crime displacement is one probable explanation the criminal pattern change in a center
system. A practical and common belief about crime displacement is that perpetrators have
the ability mobility and flexibility to exploit the weakest link in the chain they will do so
to commit the crime (Ekwall & Lumsden, 2007)
5. Criminal type displacement: one kind of crime can be substituted for another
placement theory suggests crime is moved around:
1. Offenders motivation
2. Offenders familiarity
3. Crime opportunity
2. Biological criminology
It focuses on the physiological factors not such genetic factors which may
be related to antisocial behavior although this perspective is broad there are
certain types of biological criminology research that tend to appear more often
than others hormonal associations (e.g., testosterone) with antisocial behavior
resting heart - rate levels, which are thought to influence autonomic arousal levels
that can also influence sensation - seeking behaviors (Portonoy et al., 2014); and
the role of pubertal onset/ development in the etiology of delinquency in
adolescence
.
3. Neurocriminology
It links brain structure and function to behavioral outcomes and, in a
general sense, provides a "clear" causal pathway between genes, the brain, and
behavior. Genetic factors influence brain functioning/ structure, which goes on to
impact behavioral outcomes.
Knowing all the theories on crime causation it is very significant to study about
the situational crime prevention strategies which could serve as a coping mechanism to
prevent and control crimes. This ensures the safety of everybody as a result sustainable
peace and order situation is enjoyed at all times. The situational crime prevention (SCP)
is a primary crime prevention which refers to the art and science of reducing
opportunities for crimes based on new crime seeks to influence the offender’s decision or
ability to commit crimes at particular Places and times by way of particularly designed
measures.
ACTIVITY VI
Part II: Reaction Paper. Write your answer in paragraph form. (Minimum of 150
words)
1. Read a research study related to Labelling Theory. Highlight the findings and give your
reactions. Indicate your references. You can use extra sheet of paper.