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Psychological and biological way to understand crime
Explain crime via classical theory
Explain crime via classical theory
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Katz’s Seductions of Crime Theory can be used to provide an explanation of why the teenager committed such a tragic crime that resulted in manslaughter. Katz (1988) proposed that criminal behaviour is greatly influenced by certain qualities and gains that crime encompasses. As the 16-year-old boy’s crime of a joyride is viewed as being extremely exhilarating and pleasurable, it can be suggested that there are tempting qualities of deviancy (Lyng, 2014). For this reason, the teenager may have chosen to perpetrate this crime and ignore the deadly consequences simply influenced by the momentary pleasure of that crime. Additionally, it can be suggested that the teenager tried to establish importance or a sense of superiority, by acting out against
From a psychological standpoint, Dellen Millard’s actions and personality are clearly not typical of the average human. Millard was extremely affluent, yet committed murder in order to steal a car he could have easily bought. ‘Why?’ is the question which psychologists would ask. Millard was raised wealthy, educated, and privileged; he was not abused as a child, nor was he denied affection or care. Unlike many psychopaths, sociopaths, and murderers, Millard did not seem to have a troubled or traumatic life at all. What experiences in Millard’s life could have given rise to his manipulative, thrill-seeking and criminal behaviour- as well as his apparent lack of conscience- in spite of his indulgent and ordinary upbringing? Psychology studies- and attempts to comprehend- human behaviour: the human mind, personality, and thinking. As such, psychologists would find interest in understanding the thoughts and motivation behind Millard’s cold-blooded actions. They might look towards his childhood for answers, and endeavour to discover the events in his past that shaped him to be the person he
One Important part of the evidence was a note in which the culprit demanded $50,000 in Gold certificates. Dudley Shoenfield was a psychiatrist that analyzed the ransom notes. He concluded that the crime had been committed by a lone wolf criminal who was German and in his 40 he also concluded that he had schizophrenia. The note also featured a drawing of two interlocking circles and between them had been colored red as three small circles had been punched into the design.(Russell, Auito) This note and all the subsequent ones helped in the case against Richard Hauptmann because it was identified as his writing. Also the use of this drawing in the note with the holes indicates that this note and the other ones had been thoroughly planned as to
This paper explores three criminological theories as to why Jeffrey Dahmer committed his crimes. Although these approaches vary in terms of defining the cause of crime, one thing is certain, there is no single cause of crime; the crime is rooted in a diversity of causes and takes a variety of forms depending on the situation in which the crimes occur. However, the published articles vary in their definitions and uses of Criminological Theory. Rawlins (2005) suggest that the criminal phenomenon is too complex to be explained by a single theory. Other theories suggest differently and; therefore, have varying explanations. This paper examines the Psychological, Biochemical, and Social Process theories to slightly explain Jeffrey Dahmer’s actions.
Eysenck, H.J., & Gudjonsson, G.H. (1989). The causes and cures of criminality. Contemporary Psychology, 36, 575-577.
It discusses childhood characteristics and how those behaviours lead into their more violent and aggressive adolescent behaviours. It has been found that more than half of men have some sort of sexual fantasies whether they are violent or not and that a serial killer will fantasize and replay these fantasises in their minds until they are perfected enough to demonstrate in real life. This article will serve a purpose in discussing more concepts of serial killing and describing in more detail about what fantasies can lead into one becoming a future serial killer.
"There is a feeling that if you commit murder, you can get away with it." (Filkins 2) There are several thoughts about murder, mainly discussed is the question why? "Rather than rehabilitating juveniles who have gone astray, the system often seems to release hardened criminals." (Glazer 1) One consideration on headlines worldwide was discussed by Sarah Glazer is Children killing Children.
The first argument put forward to explaining female crime was by Lombroso and Ferrero. They argued that the explanation was biological, stating that criminality is innate, but due to biological differences, very few females born with this trait. Lombroso argued that criminals represented a reversion to a more primitive state, physical traits being – ears of an unusual size, a sloping forehead and asymmetry of the face. This theory of physical differences was late disproved by Charles Goring in the English Convict, 1913 who found insignificant statistical differences between non criminals and criminals.
Jennifer Jenkins is a high school teacher who lost her younger sister to a teenager who shot Jenkins’ pregnant younger sister and the sister’s husband. In Jenkins’ article, “On Punishment and Teen Killers” she describes the teenage boy who killed her sister as a privileged kid who “got a rush out of breaking the law” (Jenkins 91). She also called him a serial killer in the making because he admit that he had been planning the killing and had bragged about it ones it was done, that’s why he got caught. Jenkins also states, “There are advocates who wish to minimize these offenders’ culpability simply because of their age” (Jenkins 91). She argues that a teenager’s age has nothing to do with their ability to become a cold blooded killer. Some people may agree with her but the truth is that the teenage brain is too complex for anyone to understand. The teen years are difficult to get through, which explains all these suicides we hear about in the news. If the kid who killed Jenkins’ family members would have gotten the proper help, her family members might have still be alive and the kid would be free from
The theory that juveniles are not mature enough to intentionally commit a crime has been around since the development of psychology as a science. In the 18th century, the authors of the English criminal code concluded that children, younger than seven had not acquired the mental ability to commit a crime such as murder, rape, burglary, etc. These experts used the following acts to determine if a crime committed was criminal or non-criminal: (1) The commission of the crime i...
In 1989 John Braithwaite proposed a theory of crime causation. Braithwaite’s primary proposal was that a society’s structure and culture can influence individual deviant acts by the process of disintegrated shaming. Most punishments may consist of some type of shaming either from friends, family, and the community or law enforcement. Braithwaite argues that the result of guilt serves both as the social process which builds our consciences as well as a form of informal social control when wrongdoing occurs. People often become stabilized in criminal roles when they are labeled as a criminal and they also begin to develop criminal identities. Braithwaite (1989) distinguished between two types of shaming: stigmatization and reintegration.
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.
Psychology and Philosophy offer different dimensions to human behaviour, notably deviant behaviour. Psychologists have long been interested in explanations for crime. In Freud’s essay, Beyond the Pleasure Principle, he proposes that we have a ‘death drive’ known as Thanatos, which is the reason for our compulsive behaviour, and also explains the rush of exhilaration we get from things like bungee jumping or riding on roller coasters. Psychologists Gottfredson and Hirschi, however, argue that it is likely that the two main factors related to uncontrollable desires to commit crime are ineffective parenting and biology,
People are strange creatures, we are born with our own free will; however, it is not something that we realize we have until we are a little older. Once children get to the age where they begin to discover their own free will, that is when they start to make choices on how to act, granted the adults or authority figures in their lives influence the choices that they make but they are not completely responsible for the choices made by children. Adults on the other hand are responsible for the choices that they make. As an adult I feel that just because of the experiences that we endure in our lives they are not totally responsible for the choices we make for the future. Criminals become criminals because of choices they choose to make; although, choices are a major part of why people become criminals there are also other contributing factors for example what they were taught or the environment that they grew up in both in home and out of home environments, and the psychological affects that has on them.
Criminals are born not made is the discussion of this essay, it will explore the theories that attempt to explain criminal behaviour. Psychologists have come up with various theories and reasons as to why individuals commit crimes. These theories represent part of the classic psychological debate, nature versus nurture. Are individuals predisposed to becoming a criminal or are they made through their environment.
Criminality constitutes strategic mannerisms characterized by apathy to misery inflicted on others, egocentricity and depressed self-control. Habitual criminal behaviour seeks to satisfy the offender’s desires for material prestige, power or pleasurable feelings regardless to damage inflicted to victim or society. Such behaviors extend mistrust, fuel prejudice, and largely corrupt social cohesion. Biological, psychological and environmental attributes are thought to heavily influence antisocial and criminal behaviour. Numerous studies have proven that active emulation, genetic predispositions and psychosocial labeling are all complementary to development and expressions of criminal behaviour. There has historically been a myriad of theories that attempt to explain criminal behaviour through different perspectives, all which constitute intricate paradigms that play a role in expressio...