The Nature of Crime Understanding Crime and Victimization.
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Transcript of The Nature of Crime Understanding Crime and Victimization.
The Nature of Crime
Understanding Crime and Victimization
Question:
What Causes Crime?
Five Theories
Why does crime occur?
Because they want to: Choice Theory
(skip five lines here)
Choice Theory
• People choose to commit a crime after weighing the potential costs and benefits
• Example: Drug dealing– Benefit: large profit, prestige, power, drugs– Potential cost: apprehension, punishment, loss of
power
Choice Theory
• According to “Choice Theory,” punishment must be strict, sure and swift to outweigh any benefits of the crime– People will not choose crime if they fear
punishment (costs)– Assumes that all criminals exhibit rationality and
make choices
Why does crime occur?
Because they want to: Choice TheoryBecause they’re different: Biological Theory
Biological Theory:(Biochemical, Neurological, and Genetic)
• Linking physical traits (at birth or soon after) with tendencies toward violence, aggression, and anti-social behavior
• Example: Low birth weight babies– Low birth weight Poor educational
achievement Delinquency
Biochemical Factors
• Antisocial behavior could be linked to:• Improper diet• High levels of sugar and caffeine• Environmental contaminants• Hormonal imbalance• Hypoglycemia
ABNORMAL levels of organic/inorganic substances could influence behavior
Neurological Factors
• Abnormal Electroencephalograms (EEGs)• Hostile, nonconforming, impulsive behavior
• Minimal brain dysfunction (MBD)• Explosive rage
Genetic Factors
• Twin studies– Monozygotic (identical) vs. Dizygotic (fraternal) of
the same sex– Adopted children: If behavior runs parallel with
biological parents (especially father)
Why does crime occur?
Because they want to: Choice TheoryBecause they’re different: Biological TheoryIt’s in their heads: Psychological Theory
Psychological Theory
• Linking psychological abnormality to criminal behavior
• Psychological views of crime are divided into four major areas
Psychoanalytic Theory
• Freudian• Damage that occurs in childhood causes an
imbalance in later life• Neurotic: extremely anxious and fear that impulse may
break through their personality• Psychotic: primitive impulses have broken through and
control personality• Little evidence exists that mentally ill people are any
more criminal than mentally sound people
Behavioral Theory
• Behavior is learned through interactions with others– Social Learning Theory• Modeling behavior after violent adults and reinforced
by peers
Cognitive Theory
• How people perceive and mentally represent the world– Moral development theory• Distinguishing between right and wrong• Criminals lack ability to make moral judgments
The Psychopath
• Criminal behavior as a function of a disturbed personality– Fail to learn from mistakes– Not deterred by punishments– Incapable of caring for others– Abnormally low level of anxiety– Thrill seekers; repeat offenders (serial
murderers/rapists)
Why does crime occur?
• Because they want to: Choice Theory• Because they’re different: Biological Theory• It’s in their heads: Psychological Theory• Society is the real culprit: Sociological
Theories
Social Structure Theory
• United States is stratified– Disorganized neighborhoods– Deviant Values and Cultures– Strain
Social Process Theory
• People commit crimes as a result of socialization
• Family» Severe discipline, lacking warmth
• School» Tracking, labeling » Deviant peers» High school dropouts
Why does crime occur?
• Because they want to: Choice Theory• Because they’re different: Biological Theory• It’s in their heads: Psychological Theory• Society is the real culprit:Sociological Theories• It’s Political: Conflict Theory
Conflict Theory
• Economic and political forces cause criminality– Criminal law and justice system control the poor– Powerful and rich impose their morality on the
entire society• Theft of $500 property by a poor person is punished
more severely than the misappropriation of millions by a large corporation
Other Theories
• It’s a matter of development: Integrated Theories
• It’s how you live: Victimization Theories