Biological Theories Of Crime

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Abstract
There are a number of theories of crime. The most prevalent theories are; general social disorganization theory, rational choice, strain theory, biological theory, social control theory and social learning theory. The aforementioned concepts all seek to the answer the question of “why” of crime. Each offer their own unique hypothesis on what drives an individual to commit crime. This writing will provide a cursory overview of the above listed theories.

Social Disorganization Theory Social disorganization refers to the theory that is used to explain the differences in crime levels of communities based upon the ecological conditions of a particular community. In essence the theory presents that the geographical location …show more content…

The ideas are generally referred to as positivism or determinism (“Biological Theories of Crime”,2017). This model states that behaviors that violate the law are affected by factors which cannot be controlled by an individual. Instead these behaviors can be attributed to physical traits, genetic characteristics, and unique brain compositions (structural, functional, and chemical compositions of the brain) (“Biological Theories of Crime”, 2017).
Rational Choice Theory
The rational choice theory stems from the classical theories of the causation of crime and holds that criminal behavior is a result of free will by rational human beings. In this theory punitive measures associated with a particular crime play a direct role in whether or not a subject will commit an offense (Ahmad, & Emeka, 2013). Although rational choice theorists consider a criminal’s social environment, the primary responsibility for the commission of crime lies with the …show more content…

The control theory focuses on why subjects follow societal rules and regulations. The control theory relies on the concept of free will and assigns the offender responsibility for his/her behavior. Social control theory offers those who break laws are generally going to believe that the rule should have been followed. The control theory holds that primary reasoning for criminal behavior is attributed to the lack of close relationships with societal rule followers. Instead, criminals have developed close associations with other criminals who do not share societal values and norms (Leonard,

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