Chapter 5: Criminological Theory PDF

Intro to American Criminal Justice https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/ccj230/  Chapter 5 Criminological Theory  Theory An explanation to make sense of our observations. Explaining the causes of crime. Concepts that explain and measure. Ice cream sales go up Murde...

Intro to American Criminal Justice https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/ccj230/  Chapter 5 Criminological Theory  Theory An explanation to make sense of our observations. Explaining the causes of crime. Concepts that explain and measure. Ice cream sales go up Murder goes up  Theory Criteria – Is it logical? – What is its scope? Range? – Parsimony? (Concise, elegant, simple) – Testable? – Validity?  Pre-Classical Theory During middle ages it was spiritual explanations that assumed why people broke laws They were possessed by devil or demons or witch Crime was equivalent to sin Governments had to punish for God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3usxel3lK 04  Classical School Hobbes – Leviathan (1651) – Assumed humans were in conflict with one another – Pursued their self-interests – Were rational Wanted a government people would control and create a social contract  Classical School Cesare Beccaria (1738) – Punishments should fit the crime and be in proportion of crime done – Every person should be treated equally under law – Sole purpose of law was to deter crime – This was considered radical at the time  Classical School Humans are hedonistic – Seek maximum pleasure and avoid pain – We should hold people 100% responsible for their actions because it was their choice – Basis for American Criminal Justice System – Crime is a choice  Classical School Jeremy Bentham (1748) – English philosopher – Founder of utilitarianism – A person’s expectation of the future would determine their behavior – Punishment should be severe enough to deter  Neoclassical Deterrent theory tries to change behavior through law and punishment – General deterrent Uses punishment to deter crime in general population – Specific deterrent Uses punishment to reduce the crime of particular persons  TED Zimbardo https://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_t he_psychology_of_evil Routine Activity Theory  Routine Activity Theory 1. There will always be people who will seize opportunities to commit criminal offenses 2. Suitable targets are vacant houses, parked cars, a person, an item 3. The absence of a capable guardian facilitates the criminal event – Police officers, security guards, a dog, being home, alarm, cameras, teachers  Positivists The use of empirical evidence through scientific inquiry to improve society Sought to identify other causes of crime (why do some places consistently have more crime than others) Darwin – some people might be evolutionary reversions to an early stage of man Biological and Psychological Positivism Trait theories – People with certain traits will be criminals Biological and Psychological Positivism Cesare Lombroso – Trained medical doctor – Did autopsies on prisoners – Believed many had certain physical attributes – Claimed 1/3 of all criminals were evolutionary throwbacks – Large lips, long arms, twisted nose – 1st attempt to explain crime through science Biological and Psychological Positivism Charles Goring, Alfred Binet, HH Godard – Believed those who engaged in crime had certain mental attributes – Believed intelligence was innate/static Began to sterilize people with low IQ Biological and Psychological Positivism Today – Theorists believe biology does play a role in our behavior – Nature vs. nurture debate – Do certain genetics combined with a social environment put those people at higher risk to engage in crime – Neurotransmitters, hormones, central nervous system, autonomic nervous system linked to criminal behavior Biological and Psychological Positivism Today – Impulsivity – Lack of self-control – Low empathy – IN SUMMARY: Our biology and personality play a role in our criminal behavior  The Chicago School Tried to detect differences between kinds of places rather than people University of Chicago study 1920s-1930s  The Chicago School Plotted addresses of juvenile court referred youths Noticed a zone of transition 1. Condemned buildings, disrepair 2. Higher concentrations of foreign born and African Americans, transient people 3. High welfare, lowest median rent, low percentage of owning a home, high infant deaths, TB, illnesses  The Chicago School Social disorganization – Led to the inability for institutions to control an individual’s behavior – Institutions like family, school, religion, government, economy could no longer agree on social norms/values – Lack of community bonds – Language barriers let to poor communication – Community affects crime  Strain Theories Assume people will commit crime because of strain, stress, pressure – Humans are naturally good, bad things happen which push them to commit crime – When there is a rapid social change (farming to industrial) – no time to normalize - – Inability for society to control people’s appetites. – “American Dream” Some people or groups are not given the same opportunities Cannot achieve leads to frustration  Strain Theories Many youths in lower-class families rejected education and middle-class values – Instead created a new set of values Sought status and self worth Would commit crime for money, join gangs, obtain stuff Lack of coping skills for problems = crime Parental rejection, child abuse, bullying, loss of job, loss of loved on Leads to strain and lack of social control  Learning Theories Aristotle – Human beings learn from association – We learn through experiences and create patters Ex. Pavlov’s dog We can create patterns through positive or negative reinforcements  Learning Theories Edward Sutherland – Micro level learning Behavior is learned Occurs within personal groups People give meaning to their situation and this meaning determines whether they will break law (Difference in siblings) People around you either favor obeying the law or breaking it  Control Theories People are selfish – Social controls keep you from committing crime (family, school, religious institutions) – Hirsch – all humans have the propensity to commit crime but those with the strongest bonds will not – We care about other’s opinions, expectations, support  Control Theories People who commit crime tend to be – Impulsive – Insensitive to other’s suffering – Short-sighted – Low self-control