Political/Social Conflict Theories of Crime

• Theories of Crime Causation (Crim2)

Political/Social Conflict Theories of Crime

• Chapter 9 identifies theories related to political and social conflict in relation to crime.

Left Realism Theory

• John Lea and Jock Young devised the Left Realism Theory.
• Crime victims in all classes need and deserve protection, according to this theory.
• Crime occurs when a person experiences economic deprivation, and the governing body in the community cannot provide solutions.
• Relative deprivation equals discontent; discontent plus a lack of political solutions equals crime
• A thief will likely repeat criminal behavior if they succeed in their first theft.

Institutive-Constitutive Theory

• Barack and Stuart Henry devised this theory.
• People defined as committing criminal acts are being made unequal or "disrespected" and are rendered powerless to maintain or express their humanity
• There are 2 aspects of crime:
• Crime of repression occurs when members of a group are prevented from achieving their fullest potential because of racism, sexism, etc.
• Crime of reduction occurs when the offended party experiences a loss of some quality relative to their present standing.

Identity Fusion Theory

• William B. Swann Jr. and Michael D. Burhmester created Identity Fusion Theory.
• It is defined as a visceral feeling of oneness with the group that is associated with increasedpermeability of the boundary between the personal and social self.

Developmental Theories of Crime Causation

• Chapter 10 discusses the theories related to the development of crime.

Life Course Theory

• Criminality cannot be attributed to a single cause and doesn't represent a single underlying tendency because of the influence of nature
• Multiple factors like maladaptive personality traits, family relations, and educational failure all contribute.

Latent Trait Theory

• Latent Trait theory is the complete opposite of the life course theory.
• People change over the life course, but latent trait claims that people don't change.
• Criminal opportunities change, and maturity brings fewer opportunities; social control like proper parenting can reduce crime.

Age-Graded Theory

• In Age-Graded Theory, the type of crime committed by a certain individual aligns with their age.
• John Laub and Robert Samson call marriage and a career as the turning points.

Difference Coercion Theory

• Mark Colvin believed that coercion starts early in life, when children endure punitive discipline, encompassing both physical and psychological coercion.
• The 2 sources of coercion:
• Interpersonal Coercion: direct use of threat and intimidation from parents, peers, and law enforcement officers.
• Impersonal Coercion: pressure beyond individual control, like economic and social pressures (unemployment, poverty, or competition).

Theories of Women Offenders

• Chapter 11 is about understanding theories related to female crime.

Marginalization Theory

• According to Lind and Daly, women are motivated to commit crime as a rational response to perceived poverty and economic uncertainty.
• Pink-collar crime is professional crime committed by upper ruling and business circles, who use their influence and connections in society to perform crimes that bring tremendous material benefit

Chivalry or Paternalism Theory

• Otto Pollak argued in this theory that in a patriarchal society, women are treated more leniently than men.
• This is because women are believed to be born inferior and in need of protection from men.
• Women are viewed as physically weak and inherently sexual and are frequently victimized through rape and domestic violence.

Ecology or Environmental Theories of Crime Causation

• Chapter 12 discusses Ecology and Environmental theories about the reason for crime to exist.

Ecological Systems Theory

• Urie Bronfenbrenner formulated this theory to explain how the inherent qualities of a child and their environment interact to influence how they will grow and develop
• Stresses the importance of studying a child in the context of multiple environments.

Levels of External Influence

• Microsystem: the smallest and most immediate environment in which the child lives, like daily home, school, or daycare.
• Mesosystem: encompasses the interaction of different microsystems the developing child finds themself in, linkages between home and school, family, and church.
• Exosystem: linkages to two or more settings, one of which may not contain the developing child but affects them indirectly nonetheless.
• Marcrosystem: the largest and most distant collection of people and places to the child that still exercises significant influence (cultural patterns and values).
• Chronosystem: adds the dimension of time, demonstrating the influences of change and constancy in the child's environment.

Broken Windows Theory

• Broken Windows Theory is the relationship between the appearance of disorder and the amount of disorderly behavior in society.
• A criminological theory states that visible signs of crime, anti-social behavior, and civil disorder create an urban environment that encourages further crime and disorder, including serious crimes.
• Heinous crimes would likely happen if minor offenses like snatching left unresolved by law enforcement authorities