Criminal vs. Deviant Behavior

• Criminal behavior involves actions violating established laws, leading to legal penalties, while deviant behavior goes against social norms without necessarily being illegal.

Social Construction of Crime

• Crime definition is shaped by cultural norms and values, which change over time and vary across societies.
• Labeling theory suggests that individuals labeled as criminals may internalize this label, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Role of Media and Historical Context

• Media portrayals can shape public perceptions of what is considered criminal behavior.
• Laws evolve with societal values, such as the decriminalization of homosexuality.

Social Norms vs. Legal Definitions

• Societal expectations form the basis for legal definitions of crime, which depend on the social context.

Biological Theories and Policy Development

• The death penalty is argued by some to deter crime but raises ethical concerns.
• Chemical castration aims to reduce sexual offenses by lowering testosterone in male offenders.
• Ethical implications and effectiveness of policies in reducing recidivism should be considered.

Overview of Biological Theories

• Biological theories focus on genetic and physiological traits influencing criminal behavior.

Key Theorists

• Cesare Lombroso proposed the Atavistic Theory, suggesting criminals are evolutionary throwbacks identifiable by physical traits.
• William Sheldon's Somatotype Theory categorizes body types as:
  • Endomorphic: Soft and round, typically sociable.
  • Ectomorphic: Thin and fragile, often introverted.
  • Mesomorphic: Muscular, linked to aggression and criminality.

Neurochemical Influences

• High testosterone levels are linked to aggression.
• Low serotonin levels are associated with impulsivity and aggression.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Biological Theories

• Strengths include a scientific approach and empirical support, such as Raine et al.'s brain functioning research
• Weaknesses include being overly deterministic and ignoring environmental and social factors.

Focus on Personality and Behavior

• Individualistic theories focus on personality and behavior.

Eysenck's and Freudian Theory

• Eysenck's Personality Theory identifies personality types that lead to different behaviors.
• Freudian Theory includes:
  • ID: Instinctual and impulsive drives.
  • Superego: Moral standards and social rules.
  • Ego: Balances the demands of the ID and Superego.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Individualistic Theories

• Strengths include consideration of psychological factors in behavior.
• Weaknesses include a lack of empirical support for many Freudian concepts and difficulty in measurement.

Labeling Theory

• Societal labels influence individuals' self-identification as criminals, leading to further deviance.

Realism

• Right Realism emphasizes individual responsibility and punitive measures.
• Left Realism focuses on social inequality, addressing root causes, prevention, and rehabilitation.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Realism

• Strengths:
  • Right realism has practical crime control policies.
  • Left realism effectively explores social context.
• Weaknesses:
  • Right realism overlooks societal factors.
  • Left realism can be idealistic.

Application of Theories

• Biological, personality, and sociological theories inform crime prevention strategies and criminal justice policies.
• Community policing is inspired by left realism.

Discussion Points

• Over-reliance on biological explanations can ignore social influences.
• Sociological theories may be too broad or lack specificity in certain contexts.

Critical Analysis

• Some theories may overlook practical implications for lawmaking and effective crime reduction strategies.
• Some theories lack consideration for rehabilitative policies.

Key Examples of Social Change

• Demographic Changes: Immigration and multiculturalism lead to new crime definitions, like hate crimes.
• Cultural Changes: Societal shifts toward LGBTQ+ rights result in decriminalization of homosexual acts.

Impacts on Policy

• Legislation reflects changing societal norms and values.
• The introduction of hate crime laws in response to discrimination showcases this.

Successful Campaigns

• Campaigns that resulted in significant legal reforms demonstrate public influence on policy.
• Anti-racism initiatives are a key example.

Analysis

• Public perception and activism shape legislation through organized campaigns.

Key Terms

• Values: Accepted standards guiding behavior.
• Norms: Socially expected behaviors.
• Mores: Norms vital to social order.