Understanding Crime Theories

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What characteristic refers to a theory being straightforward and without unnecessary complexities?

Scope

Logical Consistency

Empirical Support

Parsimony (correct)

According to the Classical School of thought, what is the primary assumption about crime?

Crime results from socialization processes.

Crime is predetermined by biological factors.

Individuals have free will to choose crime. (correct)

Crime is an inevitable outcome of societal structure.

Which of the following is a criterion for defining a 'Good' Theory?

Must have practical utility for crime prevention. (correct)

Must be based on common beliefs.

Should identify specific crime rates.

Should allow for ideological differences.

Which theorist is known as the Father of Positivism?

Cesare Lombroso Signup and view all the answers

What are 'atavisitic' traits according to Lombroso's theory?

Physical features of evolutionary throwbacks. Signup and view all the answers

What limitation is associated with the Classical School's view on human behavior?

Over-simplified understanding of human behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of deterrence focuses on preventing the public from committing crimes?

General Deterrence Signup and view all the answers

How does the Positivist School's assumption differ from the Classical School regarding the causes of crime?

It asserts crime is caused by external factors. Signup and view all the answers

What body type is considered to be the least likely to engage in criminal behavior according to somatotypes?

Endomorph Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Anomie' refer to in the context of sociology?

A breakdown of social norms Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological theory suggests that crime can be learned through observing others?

Social Cognitivism Signup and view all the answers

In twin studies, which type of twins share 100% of their DNA?

Monozygotic Twins Signup and view all the answers

Which individual is known for illustrating the effects of severe brain injury on behavior?

Phineas Gage Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic is noted about individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in relation to crime?

They are overrepresented in the criminal justice system Signup and view all the answers

Which zone is characterized by high crime rates due to social disorganization, according to the Chicago School?

Zone of Transition Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of 'social integration' aim to achieve in the context of preventing crime?

Enhancing social bonds and regulation through laws Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

What is a Theory?

A theory is a set of concepts and their proposed relationships.
Hypotheses are statements about the direction of the relationship between two concepts.

Why is Theory Useful?

Explains why crimes are committed and who commits them.
Informs crime policy and interventions.

Characteristics of a "Good" Theory

Logical Consistency: Propositions should make sense and not contradict each other.
Parsimony: The theory should be as simple as possible, without unnecessary concepts.
Scope: The broader the scope, the stronger the theory.
Testable: Can empirical tests verify the validity of the theory?
Empirical Support: A theory is valid only if studies empirically verify its claims.
Practical Utility: The theory should guide crime prevention and interventions.

Assumptions of Human Nature

Humans are born bad: Crime results from people needing to be compelled to conform.
Humans are born good: Crime is caused by forces that push people to act bad.
Humans are born neutral (Tabula Rasa): Crime results from socialization.

Theoretical Classifications

Classical School: People have free will, crime is a rational choice based on a cost-benefit analysis.
Positivist School: Crime is determined by factors outside individual free will (e.g., biology, psychology).
Integrated Perspectives: Combine multiple models to better explain crime.

Classical Perspectives

Classical School (18th Century): Key Theorist: Cesare Beccaria
Assumption: Individuals have free will to choose crime based on rational calculations.
Deterrence: Crime can be deterred through punishment.
- Specific Deterrence: Preventing the individual from committing future crimes.
- General Deterrence: Preventing the public from committing crimes.
Effective Deterrence: Punishment should be certain, swift, and severe.
Limitations: Oversimplified view of human behavior and the effectiveness of deterrence. Punishment is often neither certain nor swift.

Positivist School

Positivist School (Late 19th Century): Key Theorist: Cesare Lombroso (Father of Positivism)
Assumption: Crime is determined by factors outside of free will, like biology or psychology.
Atavism: Criminals are "evolutionary throwbacks" identifiable by physical features.
Lombroso's Criteria: Larger jaws, retreating foreheads, tattoos, etc.
Limitations: Lombroso's theory was empirically unsupported and criticized for racial biases.

Policy Implications

Focused on treatment (e.g., medical model, rehabilitation) rather than punishment.
Practices like indeterminate sentences and involuntary sterilization emerged.

Early Biological Perspectives

Physiognomy: Study of facial features as indicators of criminality.
Phrenology: Study of skull shape and size as indicators of behavior.
Somatotypes:
- Endomorph: Fat and outgoing (least criminal).
- Mesomorph: Muscular and aggressive (most likely criminal).
- Ectomorph: Thin and withdrawn (least criminal).

Genetic Predispositions

Studies using twin studies and adoption studies have shown that crime may have a genetic component.
Monozygotic (MZ) Twins: Identical twins, share 100% of their DNA.
Dizygotic (DZ) Twins: Fraternal twins, share 50% of their DNA.
Heritability: The extent to which crime or criminal behavior is inherited.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Individuals with FASD are overrepresented in the criminal justice system due to cognitive, emotional, and social impairments.
Risk Factors: High exposure to substance abuse, foster care, and poor socialization.

Brain Injury

Phineas Gage: Severe brain injury linked to personality changes (increased aggression).
CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy): Brain damage from repeated head trauma linked to criminal behaviors.

Psychological Theories

Low IQ and Crime: Early theories linked low IQ with criminality (e.g., The Kallikaks).
Contemporary Views: Intelligence indirectly affects crime through employment opportunities (Hirschi & Hindelang).

Operant Conditioning

Operant Conditioning (B.F.Skinner): Crime is learned through reinforcement (increasing behavior) or punishment (decreasing behavior). Crime can be shaped by the rewards and punishments individuals receive.

Social Cognitivism (Albert Bandura): Crime is learned through social environment and modeling (observing others).
Bobo Doll Experiment: Children mimicked aggressive behavior after observing adults.

Emile Durkheim

Crime is Normal: Crime serves a function (e.g., social cohesion, moral boundaries).
Anomie: Social instability caused by breakdown of norms (e.g., periods of lawlessness).
Social Integration: Society needs integration through bonds and regulation via laws to prevent crime.

The Chicago School

Focused on how neighborhoods, not individuals, influence criminal behavior.
Concentric Zones: Areas of a city differ in terms of crime due to their social organization.
Zone in Transition (ZIT): Characterized by high crime due to high population density, poverty, and social disorganization.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores the fundamental concepts and characteristics of theories related to crime. It covers the utility of theories in explaining criminal behavior, guiding policy, and interventions. Test your understanding of what constitutes a good theory in the context of criminology.