theories Flashcards
(26 cards)
Trait Theory
The view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits.
each offender is considered physically and mentally unique, so there must be different explanations for each person’s behavior.
inherited criminal tendancies, neurological problems, blood chemistry disorders that heighten anti-scoial behavior
contemporary trait theory
Bernard Rimland
personal traits and biological conditions, not parenting or social environment, that best explain behavior choices.
Today’s trait theorists
crime-producing interactions involve both personal traits (defective intelligence, impulsive personality, abnormal brain chemistry) and environmental factors (family life, educational attainment, socieoeconomic status, and neighborhood conditions)
Biological trait theries
branch of contemporary trait theory that focuses on biological factors that would control human behavior.
“twinkie defense,” diet, hypoglycemia, hormonal influences, lead exposure, environmental contaminants,
Nuerophysiological conditions
ADD/ADHD, brain chemistry, inherited traits,
Psychological trait theory
second branch of trait theory focuses on the psychological aspects of crime, including (intelligence, personality, learning, and criminal behavior)
Charles Goring
discovered “defective intelligence” included, feeblemindedness, epilepsy, insanity, and defective social instinct.
Gabriel Tarde
forerunner of modern learning theorists who hold people learn from one another through imitation.
John Bowlby
attachment theory
psychological theory
Hirschi’s social bond theory
failure to develop social bonds could produce a number of psychological disorders (impulsive, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sustaining relationships) results in antisocial behavior
Social learning theory
violent behavior is learned through personal experiences with violence. children learn to become violent from adults and the media
Choice theory
criminal violations even those involving violence is rational decision making.
offender carefully weighs the potential benifits and consequences of the planned action and decides that the benefits are greater than the consequences.
positivists
external factors (poverty, IQ, education - rather than personal choice and decision making)
Cesare Beccaria
father of classical criminology
utilitarian principle of maximize pleasure avoid pain
contemporary rational choice
careful thought and planning.
offenders choose crime after considering both personal factors (such as money, revenge, thrills, and entertainment) and situational factors (such as target availability, security measures, and police presence.)
Strain Theory
holds that crime is a function of the conflict between people’s goals and the means they can use to obtain them.
lower classes cannot achieve through legitimate means feel anger, frustration, and resentment (strain)
Alternative methods of achievement
Strain theory - Merton
one risk factor must be present
general strain theory - Agnew
2 or more conditions for unlawful behavior must be present
Parental rejection
Child abuse and neglect
Excessive or harsh discipline
Negative secondary school experiences (low grades, negative relationships with teachers)
Abusive peer relations (bullying)
Unemployment
Marital problems
Homelessness
Discrimination
Social Disorganization theory
breakdown of neighborhoods through the breakdown of institutions such as (family, school, and employment)
informal social control
peers, families, and relatives exert informal social control by awarding or withholding approval, respect, and admiration
social control theory
All people have the potential to violate the law
passions are controlled by internal (self-control, morals) and external (laws punishment)
theory of differential opportunity
Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin combined strain and social disorganization
people who percieve themselves as failures within conventional society will seek alternative and innovative ways to succeed.
all opportunities both legal and extralegal are closed to the most disadvantaged youth
more likely to join gangs
differential association theory
Edwin Sutherland
crime is a function of a learning process that could affect any individual in any culture
skills and motives conducive to crime are learned as a result of contact with pro-crime values, attitudes, and definitions and other patterns of criminal behavior.
principles of differential association theory
- criminal behavior is learned
- criminal behavior is learned as a by product of interacting with others
- learning criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups
- learning criminal behavior involves assimilating the techniques of committing crime, including motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes
- The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from perceptions of various aspects of the legal code as favorable or unfavorable
- a person becomes a criminal when he or she perceives more favorable than unfavorable consequences of violating the law
- differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intesity
- the process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anticriminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning process.
- although criminal behavior expresses general needs and values, it is not excused by those general needs and values, because noncriminal behavior expresses the same needs and values.
Sykes and Matza
neutralization theory
criminality is still a learning process but even the most dedicated criminals aren’t criminals all the time
they have both conventional and illegal behaviors
