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Theories of Criminal Deviance

Theories of Criminal Deviance. Classical Criminology Emerged in Europe (18 th -19 th C); focus on role that the legal process & law-making has on incidence of crime in society. Cesare Beccaria-Italian Theorist. Jeremy Bentham – English Philosopher.

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Theories of Criminal Deviance

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  1. Theories of Criminal Deviance

  2. Classical CriminologyEmerged in Europe (18th-19th C); focus on role that the legal process & law-making has on incidence of crime in society. Cesare Beccaria-Italian Theorist Jeremy Bentham – English Philosopher • Human beings were driven by self-interest; but are rational in their actions. • Rational Conclusion: Limiting their freedoms would be in best interest. • Ex: ppl forfeit the freedom to drive through red light in exchange for personal peace + security • Gov’t should act on behalf of best interest of its citizens; citizens forgo some personal freedom for the protection offered by the state. • Existence of law should be enough to deter ind’ls from committing crimes. • Law should ensure the greatest good for the greatest number of people. • Law is a social contract between the gov’t & the ppl; each side needs to accept certain consequences if the contract were broken. • Role of gov’t was to identify & outline “criminal acts” & establish consequences + punishments. Both agreed that the gov’t should control crime by enacting laws. Gov’t would also have to enforce laws w/ swift + certain punishments.

  3. PositivismFocus: Biological & physiological factors can explain criminal behaviour • Cesare Lombroso (Italian Psychiatrist) Scientific method to the study of human behaviour • Studied the corpse of executed criminals to scientifically identify whether criminal were physically different from non-criminals. • Criminals had inherited criminal traits; “born a criminal” + specific criminal features reflected a criminal mind (Enormous jaws + Huge Canine Teeth) • 1960’s, criminologists argued that criminals might have abnormal chromosomal abnormalities. • XYY Theory argued that violent male criminal have an abnormal XYY chromosome (XY is the normal pattern in males) • Proven False; Many male criminals didn’t have the abnormality.

  4. Theory of Anomie • Emile Durkheim (French Sociologist) argued as society moved from rural to urban, traditional values + bonds that regulated individuals behaviour in groups were weakened. • “Anomie”- Individuals isolation in an urban setting; no longer restrained by the norms of society + anonymity associated w/ living in a big city, certain individuals turn to crime.

  5. Ecological School Theory • Expansion on Durkheim’s theory: argued that criminal behaviour was fostered + encouraged in certain environments. • Studied a number of poor neighbourhoods; communities that suffer high rates of poverty + social disintegration were more likely to condone criminal activity than more affluent neighbourhoods. • Capitalism the root of all evil + crime!

  6. Consensus Theory • Crime is not a politically defined concept; behaviour that people consider wrong. • A universal definition of right + wrong exists; criminal laws reflect this global moral code + consensus. • Criminal laws prohibit behaviours that society has agreed are harmful; applied to people. • Criminals choose not to accept the view of the majority.

  7. Sociological Theories:Strain, Socialization & Social Conflict • Individuals commit crimes when they cannot achieve their desires + goals legitimately • Strain Theory: Stress + goal of acquiring wealth, success + power coupled with the means to achieve these goals (education + economic resources) are denied to those of the economically disadvantaged • Socialization: External environmental factors; agents of socialization (i.e. upbringing- family, peer group, soc/eco status) • Social Conflict Theories: Marxist view – root cause of crime is in the unfair economic structures of capitalism. Case Study: CBC Toronto Crime Map: http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/features/crimemap/

  8. Biological Trait Theory (modern version) • Certain human traits (intelligence, personality, chemical + genetic makeup) might predispose certain individuals to engage in criminal behaviour. • Poor diet, influence of hormones (especially male) or exposure to alcohol + drugs while in the womb could cause a person to become a criminal • U.S. Case: Daniel White’s lawyers argued that his actions were b/c of an addiction of “junk food”. “Twinkie defence” was successful in reducing his sentence.

  9. Neurophysiological Theories • Focus on the study of brain activity and argue that certain neurological dysfunctions lead to criminal activity. • Connection between crime + genetics (studies on identical + fraternal twins) • Some argue that the studies are too weak. • Need to focus on up-bringing + environment

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