Competing theories of crime and criminal behaviour

Question 1

What is the handling theory?

Answer 1

• It helps to understand the past.
• The theory links to varying viewpoints (political, medical, cultural and social.)
• The Theory provides a framework for making sense of crime and criminal behaviour.
• The theory also helps to design response to crime and criminal behaviour.

Question 2

What does Chamberlain (2015) say on understanding and revising theories?

Answer 2

1. Know the history
2. Acknowledge assumptions
3. Understand the scope
4. Define terms
5. Respect the research (evidence of justification)
6. Theory/ Practice problem

Question 3

What are the three levels of theory?

Answer 3

1. Micro (individual)
2. Mezo (practitioners)
3. Macro (theory)

Question 4

What is the definition of theory?

Answer 4

A set of concepts linked together by a series of statements to explain why an event or phenomenon occur, they provide explanations of why the world works the way it does. - (Tibbets, 2015)

Question 5

Examples of criminological theories?

Answer 5

• Classical theory
• Individual difference
• Process theories
• Structural theories
• Theories of crime and criminal justice
• Integrated theories

Question 6

What are classical theories, and how do they define crime?

Answer 6

Bentham and Beccaria support classical theories. They determine the seriousness of crime based on the harm caused to society.
They focus on the criminal act and free will and individual choice.

Question 7

According to classical theories of crime what are the main causes of crime?

Answer 7

Rational choice
Criminal behaviour is down to individual choice, not outside influence.
People are hedonistic and commit crime for pleasure, excitement and personal gain.

Question 8

What are the responses to crime according to classical theories?

Answer 8

• punishment should fit the crime and outweigh the gains
• protection of the accused rights
• punishment is not about revenge or retribution.

They focus on deterrence and preventing recidivism

Question 9

What are Beccaria’s 12 principles of justice? (1746)

Answer 9

• clear, simple, unbiased law
• minimal restrictions on individual freedom
• educate the public
• eliminate corruption
• reward virtue
• punishment is not about revenge, it should be just and aim to deter.
• punishment must be proportionate
• penalties should correspond with the nature of the offence and its extent in society
• Excessive punishment is ineffective and doesn’t deter
• the same punishment for the same crime
• it is better to prevent the crime rather than punish them

Question 10

Main Positivist theorists

Answer 10

1. Lombroso: Natural born criminal, atavistic features and physical features.
2. Goring: intelligence and stature (mental deficiency)
3. Sheldon: Body types (samotypes; mesomorphs, endomorphs, ectomorphs)

Question 11

How do positivists define crime?

Answer 11

Determined by individuals’ behaviour not being a product or choice or individual control.

Question 12

What do Positivist theories focus on?

Answer 12

They focus on the offender not the offence, and the factors causing criminality can be studied diagnosed and treated

Question 13

According to Positivists what causes crime?

Answer 13

Individual pathology-they don’t confirm to establish societal morals and values because of ‘personal’ deficit.

Question 14

What are ways that positivists suggest we should respond to crime?

Answer 14

Treatment - individualised and focused on the deficit
Neutral scientific approach
Measurement and evaluation

Question 15

What is Reiss 1951. Personality-Orientated control theory?

Answer 15

The ability of the individual to refrain from meeting needs in ways which conflict with the norms and rules of the community

Question 16

What is Nye’s 1957, family focused theory?

Answer 16

His theory of social control in criminology suggests that there are three types of controls that families can exert to reduce delinquency.
1. direct control - External forces, like parents, teachers and police, threaten or apply punishment for wrongful behaviour
2. Indirect control – Children absorb rules and behaviours of authority figures
3. Internalized control - children internalize the norms and values of society and use their conscience or superego to refrain from delinquency.

Question 17

What are integrated and general theories of crime

Answer 17

It brings together labelling (Lemert), Differential association (Sutherland), Social learning and bonds (Hirschi), control and strain (Merton and Agnew)