3 causes of crime Flashcards
First cause of crime ?
biological differences
Second cause of crime ?
socialisation and the underclass
Third cause of crime ?
Rational choice theory
Concept under socialisation and the underclass ?
Generous revolution
Concept under rational choice theory
Felton routine theory
What is Generous revolution
the welfare state since the 60s allows increasing numbers of people to become dependent on the says. Let to the decline of marriage and growth of lone parents families. Lone mothers are ineffective socialisation agents especially for boys. absent fathers etc a
Theorist under generous revolution ???
Bennett - argues crime is the result ‘growing up surrounded by deviant, delinquent, criminal adults in a practically perfect criminogenic environment - that is almost destined to produce vicious, predatory unrepentant street criminals.
What is Felton routine theory ?
argued for a crime to occur, there must be a motivated offender( a suitable target and the absence of a ‘capable guardian’. offenders assumed to act rationally so the presence of a guardian will deter them
Explain biologicals differences as a cause of crime
Bernstein and Murray argue that the main cause of crime is low intelligence, which they also see as biologically determined
Biological differences make people innately more strongly predisposed to coming crime than others
Eg personality traits such as aggressiveness and risk taking put some people at greater risk of offending
Wilson and Hernstein put forward a biosocial theory of theory.
Who created the biosocial theory
Wilson and Hernstein
Where does the biosocial theory of criminal behaviour fall under (3 causes of crime)
Biological differences
What is the biosocial theory of criminal behaviour
crime is caused by a combo of biological and social factors
Explain socialisation and the underclass as a cause of crime
Right realists the best agency of socialisation is the nuclear family
Murray argues that crime rate is increasing because of a growing underclass or ‘new rabble’ who are defined by their deviant behaviour and who fail to socialise their children properly. Found underclass growing in US and UK as a result of welfare dependency
Generous revolution
Bennet argue crime in the result of growing up surrounded by deviant, delinquent, criminal adults in a criminogenic environment- that is almost designed to produce vicious street criminals
Lone mothers are in effect socialisation agents especially for boys. Absent fathers = no appropriate male role models = turn to street criminals = gains status through crime instead of a stable job
Explain rational choice theory
Felton routine theory
Clarke argue the decision to commit crime is a choice based on a rational calculation of the likely consequences. If the perceived rewards of crime appears to be greater than the perceived costs. people more likely to offend
Right realists argue that the perceived costs of crime are low and this is why the crime rate has increased. low risk of being caught
Criticism of right realists explanation (rational choice theory)
- ignores wider structural causes such as poverty
- overstated offenders rationality and how far they make cost-benefit calculations before committing a crime. it may explain utilitarian crime but not explain impulsive/violent crime
- view of criminals as rational actors freely choosing crime conflicts with its claim that their behaviour is determined by their biological and socialisation
