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Questions and Answers
What theory maintains that individuals who are highly bonded to conventional people or institutions are less likely to engage in crime?
What are the four elements of a social bond according to the Social Bond Theory?
Attachment, commitment, involvement, belief
Which scholar is prominently associated with Social Conflict Theory?
What are the two different schools of thought in criminological theory?
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Expressive crimes serve a purpose to the offender.
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According to Cohen and Flynn's Routine Activities Theory, what are the three necessary elements for a crime to occur?
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Who is considered the father of classical criminology?
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What significant work did Cesar Bechara write in 1764?
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What is the primary focus of deterrence theory?
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The two types of antisocial persons identified by Moffitt are adolescent limited and __________.
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What concept did Jeremy Bentham introduce regarding behavior?
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What did the Buck v. Bell Supreme Court case involve?
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What is atavism according to César Ambrosio?
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What did the NAACP report correlate with high prison admissions?
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What did Sean Mackay's social disorganization theory propose?
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What does Robert Merton's anomie/strain theory focus on?
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Opportunity to attend school is the same as opportunity to attend a good school.
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Who theorized that criminal behavior is learned through personal interactions?
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What is the focus of labeling theory proposed by Edwin Lampert?
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What factors did Sean Mackay identify as influential in social disorganization?
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What do Sykes and Matza's techniques of neutralization involve?
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Study Notes
Theories of Criminal Behavior
- Criminological theories fall under two schools of thought: classical school and positive school.
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Classical School: Individuals weigh potential benefits and costs of their actions.
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Cesare Beccaria, father of classical criminology, advocated for a more humanized and rationalized approach to punishment.
- Punishment should reflect public safety, not revenge.
- Punishment should be commensurate to the crime.
- Formal written codes should be used to eliminate judicial discretion.
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Jeremy Bentham emphasized the concept of utility, maximizing benefits and minimizing harms, both for individuals and society.
- Pleasure and pain are the main motivators for human behavior.
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Cesare Beccaria, father of classical criminology, advocated for a more humanized and rationalized approach to punishment.
- Positive School: Criminal behavior is driven by internal or external forces, outside the individual's control.
Biological and Social Structural Theories
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Cesare Lombroso proposed atavism, the idea that criminals are evolutionary throwbacks, characterized by physical features like a large head, protruding forehead, and large ears.
- His work has been discredited.
- "Criminal Man" (1876) is considered the first text devoted solely to criminality.
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Social Disorganization Theory by Shaw & McKay: Crime is concentrated in specific areas, not rooted in the individuals themselves.
- Factors contributing to social disorganization:
- Social Mobility: Constant movement of residents.
- Poverty: High prevalence of poverty.
- Population Heterogeneity: Racial, ethnic, and cultural differences among residents.
- Urbanism: High population density, lack of autonomy, and lack of privacy.
- Factors contributing to social disorganization:
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Anomie/Strain Theory by Robert Merton: The gap between aspirations and legitimate opportunities leads to strain, which can lead to crime.
- American Dream: The promise of success is not attainable for everyone.
- Innovators are most likely to turn to crime as an adaptation.
Social Process Theories
- Differential Association Theory by Edwin Sutherland: Criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others, particularly intimate relationships.
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Social Reaction (Labeling) Theory by Edwin Lemert: Society’s reaction to deviance can perpetuate criminal behavior.
- Primary Deviance: Initial acts of deviance.
- Secondary Deviance: Criminal behavior that results from society's labeling and punishment.
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Neutralization Theory by Sykes & Matza: Criminals know right from wrong but learn to neutralize guilt through techniques like:
- Denying responsibility, harm caused or the existence of a victim.
- Condemning condemnors.
- Appealing to a higher loyalty.
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Social Bond (Social Control) Theory by Travis Hirschi: Strong bonds to conventional individuals and institutions discourage crime.
- Four elements of a social bond: Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, and Belief.
Social Conflict Theory
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Karl Marx argued that capitalism creates conflict.
- Elite ownership: Capitalists control the means of production and exploit the working class.
- Technological displacement: Capitalists use technology to replace human labor, keeping wages low while profits increase. ### Types of Crime
- Expressive crimes are committed to express dissatisfaction with treatment.
- Instrumental crimes serve a purpose for the offender.
- Examples of expressive crimes include gang violence.
- Examples of instrumental crimes include stealing food or money for survival.
Conflict
- Most conflict is not motivated by financial issues.
- All conflicts challenging the status quo could lead to class conflict.
- The civil rights movement and the anti-Vietnam War movement are examples of conflicts that led to social unrest and violence.
Contemporary Choice Theories
- Crime is a choice made in response to opportunity.
- Opportunity shapes choices.
- Clark and Cornish's "Modeling Offender's Decisions" describes a two-stage decision-making process for crime.
- The first stage involves deciding to engage in crime,
- The second stage involves choosing the specific crime to commit.
- Rationality in decision making depends on knowledge, information processing, and surrounding factors.
Deterrence Theory
- Crime is prevented by the threat or use of punishment.
- Specific deterrence targets a specific individual, group, or crime type.
- General deterrence targets all potential criminals.
Routine Activities Theory
- Introduced by Cohen and Flynn in 1979.
- Crime is a result of structural changes and routine activities, creating more opportunities.
- Factors contributing to increased crime include women entering the workforce, leaving homes unattended, and more people moving about in public.
- Three elements are necessary for a crime: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of capable guardianship.
Life Course Theories
- Examine the impact of life experiences on an individual's behavior from birth or shortly after.
- Terry Moffitt distinguishes between two types of antisocial persons: adolescent-limited (AL) and life-course persistent (LCP).
- AL individuals engage in antisocial behavior during adolescence but become prosocial in adulthood.
- LCP individuals exhibit antisocial behavior throughout their lives.
- Social environment and genetic composition interact to influence developmental outcomes.
Buck vs. Bell
- A 1927 US Supreme Court case that upheld a Virginia law allowing for the sterilization of individuals deemed unfit.
- The court argued that sterilization was necessary to prevent the birth of "degenerate offspring" and protect the "health of the patient and welfare of society."
- This case highlights the dangers of relying on genetics to explain criminal behavior.
Opportunity and Education
- Education is a powerful tool for preventing crime and poverty.
- Low-performing schools are concentrated in areas with high prison admission rates.
- This correlation suggests that failing to provide quality education leads to increased incarceration rates.
- School systems vary in their effectiveness, allowing for unequal opportunities despite universal access to education.
- Data shows that a significant proportion of students in Detroit Public Schools tested below basic in reading and math in recent years.
- This pattern raises concerns about the limited opportunities available to students who are not served by adequate education.
- The private prison industry profits from the high incarceration rates associated with underperforming schools.
- Prison beds are projected based on the expected failure rates of students, particularly Black and Brown students.
- This system reinforces a cycle of poverty, disadvantage, and criminalization.
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Description
Explore the foundational theories of criminal behavior, specifically the classical and positive schools. Learn about key figures like Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, and their insights into rationality and punishment. This quiz covers the principles guiding criminological thought and the factors influencing criminal actions.
