trait theories Flashcards
biological/ biosocial theories
includes biochemical, neurological, and genetic. Modern biosocial theory states that it is biological causes in interaction with environment that lead to antisocial behaviors.
psychological theories
includes psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive. Delinquents have a disturbed personality or developmental deficits.
Cesare Lombroso
“the criminal man” (1876), people with features such as two rows of teeth, big jaws, long arms, and flattened noses indicate criminal nature
atavist
someone who is born criminal
William Sheldon
believed that body type had an effect on temperament and someone’s ability to commit crime. Mesomorphies who are muscular and aggressive tend to commit crime, while endomorphies (bigger) and ectomorphies (skinnier) did not.
biochemical theory
cause: vitamin/mineral deficiency, hormone imbalance due to diet
strength: helps to explain aggressive behavior
neurological theory
cause: brain impairments (ADHD, LD, and MBD)
strength: helps to explain irrational violence
genetic theory
cause: a criminal predisposition (gene) is inherited, MAOA and CDH13 genes (Moffitt)
concern: is delinquency immune to treatment if it is genetic?
psychodynamic theory
cause: personality parts (Id Ego and Superego) and human development (oral, anal, phallic, latent, genital), crime due to imbalanced personality and fixation from childhood trauma
which theory relates to Sigmund Freud?
psychodynamic theory
behavioral theory
cause: crime reinforced by rewards and extinguished by punishment (stimuli and response)
strength: explains significant others in influencing crime
cognitive theory
cause: intellectual/ moral deficits
strength: explains why people age out
Lawrence Kohlberg
relating to cognitive theory, his stages of moral development (relating to justice):
preconventional (0-7)
conventional (7-12)
postconventional (12+)
trait theory crime prevention
- prenatal or neonatal care
- early childhood prevention/ intervention
