1. Understanding Crime and Victimization
The Nature of Crime

2. Question:
What Causes Crime?
Five Theories

3. Why does crime occur?
Because they want to: Choice Theory

4. 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

5. 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

6. Why does crime occur?
Because they want to: Choice Theory Because they’re different: Biological Theory

7. 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

8. 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

9. Neurological Factors Abnormal Electroencephalograms (EEGs)
Hostile, nonconforming, impulsive behavior
Minimal brain dysfunction (MBD)
Explosive rage

10. Genetic Factors Twin studies
Monozygotic (identical) vs. Dizygotic (fraternal) of the same sex
Adopted children: If behavior runs parallel with biological parents (especially father)

11. Why does crime occur?
Because they want to: Choice Theory Because they’re different: Biological Theory It’s in their heads: Psychological Theory

12. Psychological Theory
Linking psychological abnormality to criminal behavior
Psychological views of crime are divided into four major areas

13. 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

14. Behavioral Theory Behavior is learned through interactions with others
Social Learning Theory
Modeling behavior after violent adults and reinforced by peers

15. 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

16. 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)

17. 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

18. Social Structure Theory
United States is stratified
Disorganized neighborhoods
Deviant Values and Cultures
Strain

19. Social Process Theory
People commit crimes as a result of socialization
Family
Severe discipline, lacking warmth
School
Tracking, labeling
Deviant peers
High school dropouts

20. 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

21. 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

22. Other Theories It’s a matter of development: Integrated Theories
It’s how you live: Victimization Theories