Chester Colbert
Grantham University
CJ102 Introduction to Criminology
October 6, 2011
Carolyn Dennis
Crime is global issue and for years researchers and law enforcement agencies have tried to determine why people choose the lifestyle of crime. They have theorized it down to social economics. But not all criminals commit crimes because of life disadvantages. Some criminals are adventure seekers and they seek the thrill and adventure of committing crimes and getting away without detection. Crime causation theories can vary. Some people believe that concentrated poverty is the cause of crime. Others tend to believe that criminal behaviors manifest it due to negative reactions to ordinary human characteristics. They even go as far using substance abuse and mental health issues as a large determining factor for criminal activity. Poverty concentration is one causation theory for crime. This theory states that crime is the result of deteriorating communities. It is believed that people with higher financial gain and formal education tend to leave communities that are criminally infested. This results in people with insufficient means to care for them to make a living any means necessary. The label for cybercrime is normally under the white collar crime label. This label has been affixed because it is most commonly committed by those in good position, has high social standing and is pillars within the communities. Although cybercrime can and has been known to be committed by children and others with low economic background. It is more of a crime of greed and power. Money laundering, bank fraud, and cyber bullying are only a few of the factors that apply to cybercrime. The availability and ease to commit this type of crime is well within the common man’s reach. I feel the best theory of causation for white collar crime (cybercrimes) is social control theory. It fits because it’s not only looks at the social standing but also the readily availability of the tools needed to commit these crimes. Means a nd accessibility is half of the social control theory. The other portion is the will and desire to commit the crime.
References
http://criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/sutherland.htm
http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/understanding/pdf/WhiteCollarCh1.pdf
References: http://criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/sutherland.htm http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/understanding/pdf/WhiteCollarCh1.pdf
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Crime occurs when society does not provide its members with equal opportunities in society. The individuals are not given equal opportunity in society will not have the same investment in their community as members of society that are afforded job and educational opportunities. When social functions are not equal the members of society are not recognized by society, he or she will develop their own unique subculture is more accepting of crime (Rock, 2012). This type of subculture appears in lower income and poverty…
- 795 Words
- 4 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Common crime models are the neoclassical perspective is that people make their own decision to break the law without any influence. Rational choice theory supports one makes a choice to benefit from criminal activity; outweighing the penalty. Biological theories are based on ones inherent tendencies. Psychological theories lean toward mental illness or chemical imbalance that may cause one to commit a crime. Routine activities theory attribute ones lifestyle to their criminal activity. Social standing as well as indifference to law and social welfare is also attributing theories to understanding the criminal mind.…
- 257 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Crime theories can vary greatly. A lot of people think that poverty or social status is a major factor on criminal behavior. Others believe that is embedded in human beings to be born with evil therefore we are attracted to crime. Bottom line is deterrence cannot be achieved unless the underlining cause for criminal behavior is found.…
- 1359 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The aim of this essay is to compare, contrast and evaluate two sociological theories of crime causation and two psychological theories of crime causation.…
- 1985 Words
- 8 Pages
Good Essays -
Theories regarding social structure and crime are usually automatically assumed to form some type of relationship between poverty and crime. More specifically, these models suggest that forces operating in lower class settings lead inhabitants to commit crime. The primary focus is on the criminal behavior of youth. Evidence indicates that environmental forces are probably more likely to generate law-violating behaviors than such factors as individual choice, biological characteristics, or psychological dysfunction would be. In fact, if the last two listed were significant factors, one might predict that crime frequency statistics would be the same across social structures. Research demonstrates that they are not when it comes to social structure and crime.…
- 452 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
* The relevance of the various theories to understanding different types of crime, and their implications for social policy.…
- 25888 Words
- 104 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Most classical theories of crime, both old and new, make basic assumptions. Among these are: Crime is caused by the individuals exercise of free will, pain and pleasure are the two central determinants of human behavior, crime erodes the…
- 627 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Though there are many theories I studied one which is routine activity theory which was developed by Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen. These people strongly believed that crime is unaffected by social causes such as poverty, inequality, and unemployment. There are of course some sociologists who believe in the social causes of crime. Although there is of course some routine activity theory related crimes some sociologist just can’t agree. For crime to be committed, three aspects are needed A motivated offender, A suitable target, and the lack of a Capable Guardian. It is also said that crime is normal and depends on the opportunities available. It says that if a target is not protected enough, and if the reward is worth it, crime will happen.…
- 326 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
for the hacker is for financial gain. Cybercrime is about making a profit and continuing to make…
- 1094 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Poor people are more likely to commit crimes because they are unable to achieve monetary or social success in any other way. Social disorganization, strain, and cultural deviance theories are the three social structure theory schools of thought. Structural theories predict that negative aspects of societal structures, such as disorganizations within family, poverty or income inequality with the economic arrangements of society, and disadvantages brought about by lack of success for some in the educational process, produce criminal behavior. Social structure theories assert that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime. Economics and disenfranchisement are fundamental causes of crime. Environmental influences, socialization, and traditional and accepted patterns of behavior are all used by social structuralists to portray the criminal as a product of his or social…
- 1591 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
It has been proven that crime rates are affected based on social class. Crime rates are significantly higher in areas of poverty and social disorganization (textbook 42). There are many factors that contribute to having someone living a normal life to a life of crime such as needing money and basic necessities such as food. less education, more economic inequality, and more police officers all lead up to a higher chance of one committing a crime. lack of education had a higher correlation to crime than poverty.…
- 257 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
“Crime is a violation of societal rules of behavior as interpreted and expressed by a criminal legal code created by people holding social and political power. Individuals who violate these rules are subject to sanctions by state authority, social stigma, and loss of status.” (Siegel, pg 18) As a society we are subjected to people who will victimize and those who will be victimized. Criminologists have studied for many years on why this happens and what can be done to lower these rates of crime. They have defined some theories that are helping us to better understand why these crimes happen to certain people and why these particular crimes continue to happen.…
- 1064 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
4.Sociological TheoryThe social environment is the cause of criminal behaviour. With weak or broken bonds to family school and religion being the catalyst to criminal behaviour.…
- 1926 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Crime in America has been the be the most serious public issue in America since the beginning. Criminological have created many theories to try and understand how crime has changed over time. In early years many Criminologies were mainly studying the motivation for the crime and risk. But eventually, criminologists decide it was time to explain the criminality. Theories of criminality show the potential of the crime and the motivation to commit a crime (Miethe, Meier 1994).…
- 1079 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Another premise is that crime is relatively unaffected by social causes such as poverty[->7], inequality[->8], unemployment[->9]. For instance, after World War II[->10], the economy of Western countries was booming and the Welfare states were expanding. During that time, crime rose significantly. According to Felson and Cohen, this is because the prosperity of contemporary society offers so much opportunities of crime: there is much more to steal.…
- 1074 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays