1. Criminology Lesson 3 Explaining Crime
Stankiewicz

2. Essential Questions - 1
What are some useful definitions for understanding crime causality?
What are the Classical and Neoclassical approaches to explaining crime?

3. Essential Questions - 2
What are positivist approaches to explaining crime
What are the biological theories of crime causation?
What are the Psychological theories of crime causation?
What are the sociological theories of crime causation?

4. Essential Questions - 3
What are Critical Approaches to Explaining Crime?
What is the Labeling Theory of crime causation?
What is the Conflict Theory of crime causation?
What is the Radical Theory of crime causation?
What is the British or Left Realism Theory of crime causation?
What is the Feminist Theory of crime causation?
What is the Postmodern Theory of crime causation?

5. Definitions
Theory: An assumption(s) that attempts to _____________________________________________
Criminal Theory: The __________________________ as well as the behavior of police, attorneys, prosecutors, judges, correctional personnel, victims and other actors in the criminal justice system

6. More Definitions
Social Contract: an imaginary agreement to ___________________________________________ amount of liberty to prevent anarchy and chaos
General Deterrence: The _______________________ of people in general or society at large from engaging in crime by punishing specific individuals and making ______________________________ .

7. Classical and Neoclassical Approaches to Explaining Crime - 1
Classical Theory
Product of the Enlightenment (Age of reason)
Assumes people exercise “Free Will”
______________________________________________
People ______________________________________

8. Classical Theory of Crime
Human behavior (including criminal behavior) is motivated by _________________________________
People weigh the ______________________________ aspect of their actions
Together with Neoclassical theory essentially the model on which ________________ is based on today
AKA: Rational Choice Theory

9. Cause of Crime - Classical Theory of Crime
Free willed individuals commit crime because they ___________________________________________ will give them more pleasure than pain

10. Classical Theory of Crime Policy Implications - 1
Establish a social contract with people
Enact laws that are ___________________________ and reflect the population’s consensus
Punishments proportionate with crimes
Least possible given the circumstances
Not judge’s discretion
_______________________________________

11. Classical Theory of Crime Policy Implications - 2
Punishments are ______________________________
Educate the public on crime
Reward _________________________________

12. Caesar Beccaria Principal Proponent of the Classical Theory
The justified rationale for laws and punishment as the Principle of Utility
Principle of ____________
Policy should provide ____________________________________________________________________________________

13. Classical and Neoclassical Approaches to Explaining Crime -2
Modification of classical theory in which it was conceded that ___________________________________________
______________________________________ , etc.

14. Neoclassical Theory Effects on Criminal Justice Policy
Two practical effects:
(1) Provided a reason to include non-medical experts to testify as to the diminished responsibility of offender
(2) Defenders began to be sentenced to punishments that were _____________________________________

15. Positivist School (theory) Of Criminology
Grew out of positive philosophy and logic
Focus on ______________________________________
Use __________________________________________
Several subsets of Positivist Theory
Biological theories
Psychological theories
Sociological theories

16. Key assumptions in all positivist schools of thought
Human Behavior ______________________ and not a matter of “Free Will”
_____________________________________________
Social scientists (including criminologists) can be objective, or value-neutral
Crime is frequently caused by ___________________
Society is based on consensus but not on a social contract

17. Problems with Positivist Theories - 1
Over prediction and generalization
_______________________________________________
Ignores the criminalization process
______________________________________________
Consensual world view
Belief that most people ___________________________
Does not take into account conflict of values
Blind acceptance of the status quo

18. Problems with Positivist Theories - 2
Belief in determinism
Choice is ______________________________________________ independent of a person’s will
Assume humans only ____________________________
Belief that people can be value-neutral

19. Positivist Theories of Crime- Biological Theory
_____________________________________________ causes people to commit crimes
Biological Inferiority: According to biological theories, a criminal’s _________________________ produces certain _____________________________ characteristics that distinguish criminal from noncriminals

20. Biological Theory Policy Implications
_____________________________________________
For specific problems, brain surgery, chemical treatment, improved diet, and better mother and child health care
Proponents: Caesar Lombroso (1878) and William Sheldon (1940s)

21. Biological Theory Criminal Anthropology
Criminal Anthropology: The study of “Criminal” human beings
Proponent: Caesar Lombroso (1878)

22. Biological Theory Caesar Lombroso (1878)
________________________________________________
That type can be recognized by _____________________ or stigmata (ex: insensitivity to pain, enormous jaws)
The more characteristics the more chance a criminal
Physical stigmata _________________________________; only indicate a _________________________________ to crime. Such a person could be an atavist (Someone who reverts to savage type)
Because of personal natures, such people can not resist being criminal unless they ___________________________

23. Biological Theory Caesar Lombroso (1878)
Problems with Criminal Anthropology
Assumptions that certain characteristics are indicative of biological inferiority
No independent research
__________________________________________

24. Biological Theory William Sheldon (1940s)
Body types determine criminal behavior possibilities
Three body types (somatotypes) according to Sheldon
____________________________________________
Everyone has elements 0f all these types

25. Biological Theory William Sheldon (1940s)
_____________________________________________
____________________________, does not take into consideration social reasons for criminal behavior
Gang membership example

26. Positivist Theories of Crime Psychological Theory - 1
Intelligence Theory: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Policy implication: Isolate or execute offenders
Reliability: Low

27. Positivist Theories of Crime Psychological Theory - 2
Psychoanalytic Theory: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Policy implication: Provide psychotherapy or psychoanalysis
Reliability: ?

28. Positivist Theories of Crime Psychological Theory - 3
Humanistic Theory: Crime is a means by which people ________________________________ (MASLOW) OR
Crime is an adaptation to helplessness caused by oppression (HALLECK)
Policy Implication: Help people satisfy their needs legally (MASLOW) or
________________________________________________. Provide legal ways of coping with feelings of helplessness caused by oppression. Psychoanalysis (HALLECK)

29. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic Needs
Psychological (food, water, etc.)
____________ (security; stability; freedom from fear, anxiety, chaos, etc.)
Belongingness and Love (Friendship, love, affection)
__________ (Self esteem and the esteem of others)
Self-actualization (Being true to one’s nature, becoming everything one is capable of becoming)

30. Positivist Theories of Crime Psychological Definitions - 1
Psychopath, sociopaths, or antisocial personalities
Persons characterized by _______________________
______________________________________________
Have difficulty forming relationships with people
Can not empathize with other people
Psychopath: ________________________________
Sociopath: _________________________________

31. Positivist Theories of Crime Characteristics of a Psychopath
Superficial charm
“Good” intelligence
Absence of delusions or other signs of irrational thinking
Unreliability
Untruthfulness and insincerity
Lack of remorse/shame
Inadequately motivated antisocial behavior
Poor judgment and failure to learn from experience
Incapacity for love
10. General poverty in major
affective reactions
11. Specific loss of insight
12. Unresponsiveness in
general interpersonal
relations
13. Uninviting behavior with
or without drink
Suicide rarely carried out
Sex life trivial/impersonal
Failure to follow any life plan

32. Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory - 1
Durkheim Theory: ____________________________. It is a “normal” aspect of society, although different types of societies have greater or lesser degrees of crime. _______________________________________
Policy implication: Contain crime within reasonable boundaries

33. Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory - 2
Chicago School Theory: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Policy implication: Organize and empower neighborhood residents

34. Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory - 3
Learning Theory: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Policy implication: Provide law-abiding models. Regulate associations. Eliminate crime’s rewards. Reward good behavior. _____________________________________________

35. Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory - 4
Control Theory: __________________________________________________________________________________________
Policy implication: Properly socialize children so they develop self-control and a strong moral bond to society

36. Positivist Theories of Crime Sociological Theory – 5
Anomie or strain theory: Crime is caused by anomie or strain, which is contradiction between the cultural goals and the social structures capacity to provide means to achieve these goals. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Policy implication: Reduce aspirations, increase legitimate opportunities. Do both

37. Critical Theories of Crime Learning Theory
Learning Theory: Focus is the criminalization process – the way people and actions are described as criminal. This theory emphasizes the criminalization process as the cause of some crime
People ________________________________________
Does not explain initial ___________________________. Explains only secondary deviance
Policy Implication: Do not label

38. Critical Theories of Crime Conflict Theory
Conflict Theory: Assumes that society is based primarily on _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________ and that the criminal law and criminal justice system are used to control subordinate groups. __________________________________________________
Policy Implication: Dominant groups give up power to subordinate groups. Dominant groups become more effective rulers and subordinate groups better subjects

39. Critical Theories of Crime Radical Theory
Policy Implication: Define crime as a violation of basic civil rights. Replace the criminal justice system with a “popular” or “socialist” justice. Create a “_______________________________” society appreciative of human diversity

40. Critical Theories of Crime British or Left Realism Theory
British or Left Realism Theory: Relative deprivation is a potent, but not exclusive, cause of crime
Policy Implication: Employ police power to protect people in working-class environments

41. Critical Theories of Crime Feminist Theory
Policy Implication: Abolish patriarchal system. Champion greater equality for women in all areas

42. Critical Theories of Crime Postmodernism Theory
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Policy Implication: Transform people into caring individuals. Champion social justice

43. Summary and Reference References:
Bohn, Robert M. and Haley, Keith N. Introduction to Criminal Justice, (Columbus Ohio: The McGraw-Hill Companies) 2011, Chapter 3