Sociological Theories Of Crime Essay
Theories of Crime
Ideas About Theories of Crime
Crime is socially defined. What is considered a crime at one place and time may be considered normal or even heroic behavior in another context.
The earliest explanations for deviant behavior attributed crime to supernatural forces. A common method to determine guilt or innocence was trial by ordeal.
Although theories of crime causation and the workings of the legal and criminal justice systems are of limited utility, there are theories that can explain some crime.
Many theories of crime have failed to provide reasonable explanations.
The Classical School of Criminology
The classical school of criminology, which argues that people freely choose to engage in crime, is embodied primarily …show more content…
Skinner's theory of behaviorism, based on the psychological principle of operant conditioning, states that behavior is determined by rewards and punishments.
Sociological Theories of Crime
Sociological theories focus on the social situation or environment as a cause of crime.
Chicago school researchers concluded that social disorganization causes crime.
Edwin Sutherland developed differential association theory, which claims that crime is learned.
Ronald Akers contends that crime is learned according to the principles of operant conditioning.
Robert Merton's strain theory of delinquency was influenced by French sociologist Emile Durkheim's theory of anomie or "normlessness."
Travis Hirschi's social control theory explores why most people do not commit crimes.
Gresham Sykes and David Matza developed neutralization theory to describe how offenders deflect feelings of blame and shame.
Edwin Lemert helped develop labeling theory, which contends that people commit deviant behavior because they consider themselves "outsiders" and attempt to live up to that label.
Critical Sociological Theories of Crime
Critical theory describes a range of perspectives that consider social justice as a legitimate …show more content…
atavism— The appearance in a person of features thought to be from earlier stages of human evolution. Popularized by Cesare Lombroso. behaviorism— The assessment of human psychology via the examination of objectively observable and quantifiable actions, as opposed to subjective mental states.
Chicago school— Criminological theories that rely, in part, on individuals' demographics and geographic location to explain criminal behavior. classical school of criminology— A set of criminological theories that uses the idea of free will to explain criminal behavior. differential association theory— States that crime is learned. Children learn crime from other children. Developed by Edwin Sutherland. false consciousness— An attitude held by members of a class that does not accurately reflect the reality of that class's existence. A term associated with Karl Marx. labeling theory— A perspective that considers recidivism to be a consequence, in part, of the negative labels applied to
Ideas About Theories of Crime
Crime is socially defined. What is considered a crime at one place and time may be considered normal or even heroic behavior in another context.
The earliest explanations for deviant behavior attributed crime to supernatural forces. A common method to determine guilt or innocence was trial by ordeal.
Although theories of crime causation and the workings of the legal and criminal justice systems are of limited utility, there are theories that can explain some crime.
Many theories of crime have failed to provide reasonable explanations.
The Classical School of Criminology
The classical school of criminology, which argues that people freely choose to engage in crime, is embodied primarily …show more content…
Skinner's theory of behaviorism, based on the psychological principle of operant conditioning, states that behavior is determined by rewards and punishments.
Sociological Theories of Crime
Sociological theories focus on the social situation or environment as a cause of crime.
Chicago school researchers concluded that social disorganization causes crime.
Edwin Sutherland developed differential association theory, which claims that crime is learned.
Ronald Akers contends that crime is learned according to the principles of operant conditioning.
Robert Merton's strain theory of delinquency was influenced by French sociologist Emile Durkheim's theory of anomie or "normlessness."
Travis Hirschi's social control theory explores why most people do not commit crimes.
Gresham Sykes and David Matza developed neutralization theory to describe how offenders deflect feelings of blame and shame.
Edwin Lemert helped develop labeling theory, which contends that people commit deviant behavior because they consider themselves "outsiders" and attempt to live up to that label.
Critical Sociological Theories of Crime
Critical theory describes a range of perspectives that consider social justice as a legitimate …show more content…
atavism— The appearance in a person of features thought to be from earlier stages of human evolution. Popularized by Cesare Lombroso. behaviorism— The assessment of human psychology via the examination of objectively observable and quantifiable actions, as opposed to subjective mental states.
Chicago school— Criminological theories that rely, in part, on individuals' demographics and geographic location to explain criminal behavior. classical school of criminology— A set of criminological theories that uses the idea of free will to explain criminal behavior. differential association theory— States that crime is learned. Children learn crime from other children. Developed by Edwin Sutherland. false consciousness— An attitude held by members of a class that does not accurately reflect the reality of that class's existence. A term associated with Karl Marx. labeling theory— A perspective that considers recidivism to be a consequence, in part, of the negative labels applied to