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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