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Theories of crime causations
The relationship between mental illness and crime is significant
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The world will always be full of crime, thus it is necessary for scientist to grow along with the gruesome and increasing amount of violations. Due to this it sparked scientist to develop crime theories in which emerged to explain why crime is caused by individuals. Some of the few theories that have advanced over the past century and provided many answers to why crimes are committed are biological theories, psychological theories and learning theories. These theories provide an insight to its first use and change in order to provide answers. The first theory that has advanced drastically is the biological theory. This theory is based on the belief that criminals are physiologically different from noncriminal. When this theory emerged it …show more content…
The learning theory was described by Tarde as “something learned by normal people as they adapted to other people and the conditions of their environment” (Bohm & Haley, 73) this was set to be called imitation. But, further studies of this theory by Sutherland developed that “persons become criminal do so because of contacts with criminal definitions and isolation from anti-criminal definitions” (Bohm & Haley, 73). In other words, crimes varied in how the community was structured. Advancements to the theory followed and divided the learning theory into four sections positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, extinction and punishment. The idea of positive reinforcement meant that people did something for the reward such as stealing. The negative reinforcement is something that takes away and increases response, such as drug addicts to relieve pain. Further research of the theory led to criminals can experience extinction which is “behavior that previously was positively reinforced is no longer reinforced” and punishment which is “aversive stimulus to reduce a response”. These ideas emerged and advanced the learning theory. The learning theory was then seen as a theory to punish criminals for their actions, in order to cause extinction. Since Tarde’s explanation to now the learning theory has drastically advanced and provided many answers as to find ways to why one commits crimes and why …show more content…
today is the biological theory. I believe this theory is explains urban crime in the U.S because many of the individuals who commit crimes have a certain disorder of factor that causes them to commit the crime. For instance, many individuals have a brain disorder such as insanity that affects the brain and causes a person to experience hallucinations and not know what they’re doing. In the United States over 64% of individuals who are incarcerated have some type of mental illness (Nami, 2017) which may have influenced the individual to commit the crime. When an individual goes to prison or any type of confinement the first thing officers do is get them screened to see if they encompass any mental illness and majority of the time that’s the case. Any type of damage whether small or big will trigger a person to do the wrong thing, the mind is powerful and can make a person commit horrendous acts. Also since there are fewer rehabilitation programs people being sent to prison are recidivating instead of receiving help causing a never ending cycle. Overall, I believe the biological theory best explains urban crime in the United States
Differential association theory best explains the burglary deviance. There are many principles associated with this type of learning theory. Edwin Sutherland’s theory discusses how crime is a learned behavior where one’s family, peers, and environment are of great influence. Differential association theory seeks to prove that criminal behavior is learned and this paper will evaluate the connection between the two.
...ifferent crime patterns and thought processes of criminals. The reasons can only come from these theories and will help the justice systems become more prepared to react towards different crimes. However, with adding some enhancements, projects and experiments these two theories have the potential to change the criminology realm forever.
The media is a dominating aspect of American culture. The way the media depicts crime and criminal behavior has an effect on the way society views crime and criminals. Television series such as CSI, NCIS, Law and Order, Criminal Minds and countless others, have become very popular in our society today showing that our culture has an immense interest in crime. It is clear that there is a fascination with criminals and why they do the things they do. To analyze the way crime dramas represent crime and criminal behavior, I completed a content analysis of one episode of Criminal Minds. The episode I chose was season one; episode eight, which first aired in 2005, titled ‘Natural Born Killer’.
The theory of crime I can identify most is the Rational Crime Theory. I came to this conclusion
Cesare Lombroso, medical criminologist, headed the school. Enrico Ferri and Raffaele Garafolo were Lombroso’s disciples, both of whom also headed, as well as had their own opinions on the biological crime theory. Lombroso argued that “criminality was a biological trait found in some human beings” (Boundless, 2015, 1). Today, the biological theory emphasizes the relationship between genetics and crime. The biological theory of crime has evolved over the years in the sense that, initially, the theory was primarily based on physical features. In contrast, it is now primarily based on genetics. As technology has also evolved as well as our knowledge on genetics, this only makes sense (Boundless,
Psychologist Albert Bandura argued that human behaviour is significantly acquired vicariously through the process of modelling, whereby humans learn through the observation of others, and either imitating or avoiding their behaviours (Bandura, 1969). In relation to deviant behaviours social learning theory postulates that there are three core mechanisms by which individuals learn to engage in crime; differential reinforcement, beliefs favourable to crime and modelling (Jenson and Akers, 2002).
The post-industrial revolution period, marks a turning point in in perceptions towards crime and the motives behind it. While the industrial revolution resulted in an imminent influx of the working class in the cities in seek for employment due to the falling standards of living in the agrarian areas, poverty was not initially considered to be the prime cause of crime in any circumstance. Police reports1 even went as far to suggest the existence of an attraction in a individual towards a criminal life. Therefore, it could be argued whether such reports are suggestive of the existence of a separate criminal class in British society, yet in the longer term, as proposed by Professor S.E Finer2, the report caused the manifestation of a new attitude amongst the public, that downplayed the effect of “want” due to austerity. Interestingly nonetheless, prison admissions showed considerable proportionality with the state of trade and the price of wheat,3 which thus implies that crime realities were not accommodated in the public eye. Notions of a “criminal class” were very popular from the mid-19th to the beginning of the 20th century; such views claimed the impossibility of individuals to maintain permanent employment, even if they so desired and similarly that “honest habits”4 would never deign to unlawful acts, even if stimulated by “extreme hardships”. As a result, this proposes cyclical infatuations and obsessions with committing crime that could not be contained.
People start to see factors beyond the individual’s control that may cause their behavior. Also began to view criminal behavior as a defeat that is beyond the individual’s control. Now that the world was starting to be viewed in a different manner, crime started to take place badly. Between the 1960’s and 70’s, the crime rate in the United States was at an all-time high rate. During that time, the Classical Criminology had renewed their interest.
In today’s society, one will find that there are many different factors that go into the development of a criminal mind, and it is impossible to single out one particular cause of criminal behavior. Criminal behavior often stems from both biological and environmental factors. In many cases criminals share similar physical traits which the general population do not usually have. For example criminals have smaller brains than properly adjusted individuals. However biological reasons cannot solely be the cause of criminal behavior. Therefore, one must look to other sources as to how a criminal mind is developed. Social and environmental factors also are at fault for developing a person to the point at which they are lead to committing a criminal act. Often, someone who has committed a violent crime shows evidence of a poorly developed childhood, or the unsuitable current conditions in which the subject lives. In addition if one studies victimology which is the role that the victim plays in the crime, it is apparent that there are many different causes for criminal behavior. Through the examination of biological factors, in addition to the social and environmental factors which make up a criminal mind, one can conclude that a criminal often is born with traits common to those of criminals, it is the environment that exist around them that brings out the criminal within them to commit indecent acts of crime.
Criminology is the study of why individuals engage or commit crimes and the reasons as to why they behave in certain ways in different situations (Hagan, 2010). Through understanding the reasons or why an individual commits a crime, one can come up with ways to prevent and control crime or rehabilitate criminals. There exist a large number of criminology theories, some link crime to an individual or person; they believe a person weighs the cons and pros and makes a conscious decision on whether to commit or not commit a felony. Others see the society as having a duty to make sure that its members do not engage in criminal acts by providing a secure and safe living place. Some claim that some people have hidden or dormant characteristics that determine their reaction or behavior when confronted or put in particular negative conditions (Akers & Sellers, 2012). By understanding and studying these theories, together with applying them to people, psychologists and authorities can prevent criminals from committing or repeating crimes and aid in their rehabilitation. As many theories have emerged over time, they continue to be surveyed and explored, both individually and in combination in order for criminologists to develop solutions and eventually reduce the levels and types of crime. The most popular criminology theories emphasize on the individual, positivist and classical traits. This paper will explore the classical theory, which is among the earliest theories in criminology.
The general theory of crime I would pick is the neoclassical school of theory. Neoclassical focuses on the importance of character and the dynamics of character development, as well as the rational choices that people make when faced with opportunities for crime (Schmalleger, 2012). This theory is practically what is used in law enforcement today. The neoclassical theory focuses on punishment as being a deterrent for future crimes. Unfortunately, it is becoming more evident is the criminal justice system, criminals are being punished lightly or the charge is downgraded. More often than not, this is not helping the situation, but is allowing for the criminal to continue to commit crimes. Punishment has been established as an effective means
The first theory to be explored is the hereditary theory, which stems from Cesare Lombroso (1876) father of criminology, (Feldman, 1993) whose studies were carried out by morphology. Lombroso tried to show a relationship between criminal behaviour and physical characteristics. Lombrosco suggested that an individual was predisposed to becoming a criminal, as a result of internal or innate characteristics, rather than environmental factors.
The causes of crime seem to be indefinite and ever changing. In the 19th century, slum poverty was blamed; in the 20th century, a childhood without love was blamed (Adams 152). In the era going into the new millennium, most experts and theorists have given up all hope in trying to pinpoint one single aspect that causes crime. Many experts believe some people are natural born criminals who are born with criminal mindsets, and this is unchangeable. However, criminals are not a product of heredity. They are a product of their environment and how they react to it. This may seem like a bogus assumption, but is undoubtedly true.
Different schools of thought propose varying theoretical models of criminality. It is agreeable that criminal behaviour is deep rooted in societies and screams for attention. Biological, Social ecological and psychological model theories are key to helping researchers gain deeper comprehension of criminal behaviour and ways to avert them before they become a menace to society. All these theories put forward a multitude of factors on the outlooks on crime. All these theories have valid relevancy to continuous research on criminal behaviour.
Actus reus, mens rea…A guilty crime, a guilty mind. These words ring true for and crime, whether it is a simple misdemeanor, or as bad as a felony. Crimes can be any manner of things, from crimes against the person to crimes against property and against justice. The law has the extent of inchoate offenses, or “planning” to do a crime. These include an attempt at serious crime, conspiracy, incitement, or solicitation of services. Each of these is viewed differently in the eyes of the public and the eyes of those who interpret the law. In the United States, crime was at one of the highest rates in the world in the 1990’s, but has since decreased steadily. However, through massive amounts of mainstream media, the public is now far more aware of crime that does happen. The U.S. now spends far too much money and time focusing on legislation involving capital punishment, allowing jails to become over crowded with too-small crimes such as possession of marijuana, allowing ridiculous amounts of money to be spent on jails and prisoners.