1. Contemporary Criminology
CLN4U

2. Nature vs Nurture
Theories of criminology generally fall into one of two categories
Biological Theories
Criminal are “born”
Sociological Theories
Criminals are “made”

3. Sociological Theories
Place emphasis on environmental factors (upbringing, peers, environment, etc.)
Examples:
Strain Theory
Socialization Theory
Social Conflict Theory

4. Strain Theory
People commit crimes when they see no legitimate way to achieve their goals
Explains why there is more crime among the economically disadvantaged

5. Socialization Theory
Upbringing, peer groups, role models influence criminal behaviour
A deviant’s sense of what is normal behaviour is skewed

6. Social Conflict Theory
Marxist influence: capitalism creates disparity, which creates crime
Not necessarily always “rich vs poor”, but more accurately “the powerful vs the powerless”
Theories that examine oppression based on gender, race, etc. and its effect on crime are also Social Conflict theories

7. Biological Theories
Most criminologists in this area agree that biology alone does not create a criminal
They see it as an interaction between certain inherited traits and the environment

8. Biological Trait Theory
Certain traits that are believed to be inherited may predispose criminality
Intelligence
Personality
Genetic makeup
Also looks at environmental factors that affect biology
Diet (see the “twinkie defence”)
Influence of hormones, especially androgens
Prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol

9. The Twinkie Defence
The expression derives from the 1979 trial of Dan White, a former San Francisco, police officer and firefighter, and until just before the crime, a city district Supervisor.
On November 27, 1978, White assassinated Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. At the trial, psychiatrist Martin Blinder testified that White had been depressed at the time of the crime, and pointed to several behavioral changes indicating White's depression: he had quit his job; he shunned his wife; and although normally clean-cut, he had become slovenly in appearance.
White had previously been a fitness fanatic and health food advocate, but had begun consuming junk food and sugar-laden soft drinks like Coca-Cola. As an incidental note, Blinder mentioned theories that elements of diet could worsen existing mood swings.
The fact that White had killed Moscone and Milk was not challenged, but the defense successfully convinced the jury that White's capacity for rational thought had been diminished; the jurors found White incapable of the premeditation required for a murder conviction, and instead convicted him of voluntary manslaughter. Public protests over the verdict led to the White Night Riots.

10. Neurophysiological Theories
Certain neurological dysfunctions are related to criminal behaviour
If this is true, then proper medications may be able to correct dysfunction, and therefore criminality
Supported by studies of twins