CriminologyLesson 3Explaining Crime

Stankiewicz

What are some useful definitions for understanding crime causality?

What are the Classical and Neoclassical approaches to explaining crime?

Essential Questions - 1

What are positivist approaches to explaining crime

What are the biological theories of crime causation?

What are the Psychological theories of crime causation?

What are the sociological theories of crime causation?

Essential Questions - 2

What are Critical Approaches to Explaining Crime? What is the Labeling Theory of crime causation? What is the Conflict Theory of crime causation? What is the Radical Theory of crime causation? What is the British or Left Realism Theory of crime

causation? What is the Feminist Theory of crime causation? What is the Postmodern Theory of crime causation?

Essential Questions - 3

Theory: An assumption(s) that attempts to _____________________________________________

Criminal Theory: The __________________________ as well as the behavior of police, attorneys, prosecutors, judges, correctional personnel, victims and other actors in the criminal justice system

Definitions

Social Contract: an imaginary agreement to ___________________________________________ amount of liberty to prevent anarchy and chaos

General Deterrence: The _______________________ of people in general or society at large from engaging in crime by punishing specific individuals and making ______________________________ .

More Definitions

Classical Theory

Product of the Enlightenment (Age of reason)

Assumes people exercise “Free Will” ______________________________________________

People ______________________________________

Classical and Neoclassical Approaches to Explaining Crime - 1

Human behavior (including criminal behavior) is motivated by _________________________________

People weigh the ______________________________ aspect of their actions

Together with Neoclassical theory essentially the model on which ________________ is based on today AKA: Rational Choice Theory

Classical Theory of Crime

Free willed individuals commit crime because they ___________________________________________ will give them more pleasure than pain

Cause of Crime - Classical Theory of Crime

Establish a social contract with people Enact laws that are

___________________________ and reflect the population’s consensus

Punishments proportionate with crimes Least possible given the circumstances Not judge’s discretion _______________________________________

Classical Theory of CrimePolicy Implications - 1

Punishments are ______________________________

Educate the public on crime

Reward _________________________________

Classical Theory of CrimePolicy Implications - 2

Caesar BeccariaPrincipal Proponent of the Classical

Theory

The justified rationale for laws and punishment as the Principle of Utility

Principle of ____________ Policy should provide

____________________________________________________________________________________

Neoclassical : Modification of classical theory in which it was

conceded that ___________________________________________

______________________________________ , etc.

Classical and Neoclassical Approaches to Explaining Crime -2

Two practical effects:

(1) Provided a reason to include non-medical experts to testify as to the diminished responsibility of offender

(2) Defenders began to be sentenced to punishments that were _____________________________________

Neoclassical Theory Effects on Criminal Justice Policy

Grew out of positive philosophy and logic Focus on

______________________________________ Use __________________________________________

Several subsets of Positivist Theory Biological theories Psychological theories Sociological theories

Positivist School (theory) Of Criminology

Human Behavior ______________________ and not a matter of “Free Will”

_____________________________________________ Social scientists (including criminologists)

can be objective, or value-neutral Crime is frequently caused by

___________________ Society is based on consensus but not on a

social contract

Key assumptions in all positivist schools of thought

Over prediction and generalization _______________________________________________

Ignores the criminalization process ______________________________________________

Consensual world view Belief that most people

___________________________ Does not take into account conflict of values Blind acceptance of the status quo

Problems with Positivist Theories - 1

Belief in determinism Choice is

______________________________________________ independent of a person’s will

Assume humans only ____________________________

Belief that people can be value-neutral

Problems with Positivist Theories - 2

_____________________________________________ causes people to commit crimes

Biological Inferiority: According to biological theories, a criminal’s _________________________ produces certain _____________________________ characteristics that distinguish criminal from noncriminals

Positivist Theories of Crime- Biological Theory

_____________________________________________ For specific problems, brain surgery,

chemical treatment, improved diet, and better mother and child health care

Proponents: Caesar Lombroso (1878) and William Sheldon (1940s)

Biological Theory Policy Implications

Criminal Anthropology: The study of “Criminal” human beings

Proponent: Caesar Lombroso (1878)

Biological Theory Criminal Anthropology

________________________________________________ That type can be recognized by _____________________ or

stigmata (ex: insensitivity to pain, enormous jaws) The more characteristics the more chance a criminal Physical stigmata _________________________________;

only indicate a _________________________________ to crime. Such a person could be an atavist (Someone who reverts to savage type)

Because of personal natures, such people can not resist being criminal unless they ___________________________

Biological Theory Caesar Lombroso (1878)

Problems with Criminal Anthropology Assumptions that certain characteristics are

indicative of biological inferiority No independent research __________________________________________

Biological Theory Caesar Lombroso (1878)

Body types determine criminal behavior possibilities

Three body types (somatotypes) according to Sheldon ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Everyone has elements 0f all these types

Biological Theory William Sheldon (1940s)

_____________________________________________

____________________________, does not take into consideration social reasons for criminal behavior Gang membership example

Biological Theory William Sheldon (1940s)

Intelligence Theory: _________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy implication: Isolate or execute offenders

Reliability: Low

Positivist Theories of Crime Psychological Theory - 1

Psychoanalytic Theory: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy implication: Provide psychotherapy or psychoanalysis

Reliability: ?

Positivist Theories of Crime Psychological Theory - 2

Humanistic Theory: Crime is a means by which people ________________________________ (MASLOW) OR

Crime is an adaptation to helplessness caused by oppression (HALLECK)

Policy Implication: Help people satisfy their needs legally (MASLOW) or

________________________________________________. Provide legal ways of coping with feelings of helplessness caused by oppression. Psychoanalysis (HALLECK)

Positivist Theories of Crime Psychological Theory - 3

1. Psychological (food, water, etc.)2. ____________ (security; stability; freedom

from fear, anxiety, chaos, etc.)3. Belongingness and Love (Friendship, love,

affection)4. __________ (Self esteem and the esteem of

others)5. Self-actualization (Being true to one’s

nature, becoming everything one is capable of becoming)

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic Needs

Psychopath, sociopaths, or antisocial personalities

Persons characterized by _______________________

______________________________________________ Have difficulty forming relationships with

people Can not empathize with other people

Psychopath: ________________________________ Sociopath: _________________________________

Positivist Theories of Crime Psychological Definitions - 1

Positivist Theories of Crime Characteristics of a Psychopath

1. Superficial charm2. “Good” intelligence3. Absence of delusions or

other signs of irrational thinking

4. Unreliability5. Untruthfulness and

insincerity6. Lack of remorse/shame7. Inadequately motivated

antisocial behavior8. Poor judgment and failure to

learn from experience9. Incapacity for love

10. General poverty in major affective reactions11. Specific loss of insight12. Unresponsiveness in general interpersonal relations13. Uninviting behavior with or without drink14. Suicide rarely carried out15. Sex life trivial/impersonal16. Failure to follow any life plan

Durkheim Theory: ____________________________. It is a “normal” aspect of society, although different types of societies have greater or lesser degrees of crime. _______________________________________

Policy implication: Contain crime within reasonable boundaries

Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory - 1

Chicago School Theory: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy implication: Organize and empower neighborhood residents

Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory - 2

Learning Theory: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy implication: Provide law-abiding models. Regulate associations. Eliminate crime’s rewards. Reward good behavior. _____________________________________________

Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory - 3

Control Theory: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy implication: Properly socialize children so they develop self-control and a strong moral bond to society

Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory - 4

Anomie or strain theory: Crime is caused by anomie or strain, which is contradiction between the cultural goals and the social structures capacity to provide means to achieve these goals. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy implication: Reduce aspirations, increase legitimate opportunities. Do both

Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory – 5

Learning Theory: Focus is the criminalization process – the way people and actions are described as criminal. This theory emphasizes the criminalization process as the cause of some crime People ________________________________________ Does not explain initial ___________________________.

Explains only secondary deviance

Policy Implication: Do not label

Critical Theories of Crime Learning Theory

Conflict Theory: Assumes that society is based primarily on _______________________________________________

_________________________________________________ and that the criminal law and criminal justice system are used to control subordinate groups. __________________________________________________

Policy Implication: Dominant groups give up power to subordinate groups. Dominant groups become more effective rulers and subordinate groups better subjects

Critical Theories of Crime Conflict Theory

Radical Theory: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy Implication: Define crime as a violation of basic civil rights. Replace the criminal justice system with a “popular” or “socialist” justice. Create a “_______________________________” society appreciative of human diversity

Critical Theories of Crime Radical Theory

British or Left Realism Theory: Relative deprivation is a potent, but not exclusive, cause of crime

Policy Implication: Employ police power to protect people in working-class environments

Critical Theories of Crime British or Left Realism Theory

Feminist Theory: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy Implication: Abolish patriarchal system. Champion greater equality for women in all areas

Critical Theories of Crime Feminist Theory

Postmodernism Theory: ________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Policy Implication: Transform people into caring individuals. Champion social justice

Critical Theories of Crime Postmodernism Theory

References:

Bohn, Robert M. and Haley, Keith N. Introduction to Criminal Justice, (Columbus Ohio: The McGraw-Hill Companies) 2011, Chapter 3

Summary and Reference