Theories of Criminal Behavior

1. Theories of Criminal Behavior

2. What do you think are the root causes of crime?

3. Explanation of Criminal Behavior • Moralism – evil ; sin • Positivism – free will / choice • Biological determinism – born bad • Psychological determinism – childhood issues • Social determinism – society made me do it

4. Moralism • Evil = Sinner • Devil made them do it. • Possessed with demons • Trepanning – drilling a hole in the head to “release the spirits.”

5. Positivism – Free Will / Choice • Classical School The classical school sees crime as an exercise of free will in pursuit of pleasure. People will pursue what makes them happy, and avoid that which causes them pain. Punishment, then, should decrease the pleasure of crime. Crimes is a matter of free will

6. Positivism • Cesare Beccarie – • Founder of Classical Criminology • Important because his theories began a new era of thinking about criminology • Criminal Justice based on a social contract: • Logic, goal orientation, and humanistic principles, Innocent to proven guilty, trial by peers, right to appeal, equal treatment in the eyes of courts,

7. Positivism Cesare Beccaria - • Precursor to American Justice system • Pain – Pleasure Principle • People seek to do things that cause them pleasure, and avoid things that cause pain. • Swift punishment (pain) = less crime (no pain)

8. Positivism Jeremy Bentham. • Founder of neoclassical criminology. • Similar to classical but children under 7 and offenders suffering from mental disease should not be held liable for criminal behavior. • Opposed to death penalty.

9. Positivism The Positive School • Theory that states the importance of the scientific method to determine the factors that contributes to criminal behavior. • Crimes committed due to uncontrollable internal or external factors that can be measured and observed.

10. Biological determinism • Inherited predispositions toward criminal behavior • Environment is first considered as a element for possible reason for criminal behavior

11. Biological determinism Franz Joseph Gail (1758-1828) • Human brain was a muscle. • Phrenology • Science of reading bumps on the skull to identify character traits such as criminality http://www.kshs.org/cool/coolhed2.htm

12. Biological determinism Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909) • Theory: Criminals did not fully develop and they were closer to ape like. • Atavism – criminals were a throwback to primitive times

13. Biological determinism • Atavistic stigmata: • Physical characteristic representing earlier or prehuman stages of evolution, that were believed to distinguish criminals from others.

14. Biological Determinism Three types of criminal 1.Born criminals – born bad – failed to evolve 2.Insane criminals - Due to trauma to the brain after birth became criminal (not born bad) 3.Occasional criminals – Crime as a trade Women – by nature – revengeful, jealous, and inclined to vengeance of a refined cruelty- when a women committed a crime – her wickedness was enormous - Lombrosso

15. Biological Determinism Somatotype school of criminology. i.Body build was a link to the mind. Three Types of body build. Asthenic / Ectomorph – lean = Smarter. Athletic / Mesomorph – Muscular = Linked to criminal behavior. Pyknic / Endomorph – Round = Happy.

16. Athletic / Mesomorph Pyknic / Endomorph Asthenic / Ectomorph

17. Modern Biological Explanations • Biocriminology – A new field in criminology that encompasses modern biological approaches to explain criminal behavior. ( Genetic and neurophysiological variables in criminal behavior.)

18. Modern Biological Explanations • XYY chromosome theory – Normal males have an XY chromosome . The XYY Chromosome theory suggests that males with the XYY chromosome pattern are more violent. In a study of prisoners who had committed violent crimes a correlation was found between violent offenders and the XYY chromosome. 1 in 1000 males have the XYY chromosome.

19. The Twinkie Defense • In 1978, Dan White, a former San Francisco city supervisor who had recently resigned his position, entered San Francisco City Hall through a basement window, went upstairs, and shot and killed Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. Psychiatrist Martin Blinder testified in court that White had been depressed, which led to eating junk food: Twinkies and Coca-Cola. This further deepened White's depression, since he was an ex-athlete and knew that the food was not good for him. This was evidence of his depression that prompted his murder spree. This celebrated diagnosis became known as the "Twinkie defense.“ White's depression was used to establish grounds for a successful diminished capacity plea; and therefore White was judged incapable of the premeditation required for a murder conviction. Dan White was convicted of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to was sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison. • Dan White was paroled on January 6, 1984 • On October 21, 1985, Dan White committed suicide by asphyxiation in the garage of his wife’s home.

20. Psychological Explanations • Sigmund Freud • Psychoanalytic Theory- behavior is not a free-will choice but is controlled by subconscious desires • Id-Subconscious impulses / chaos • Ego- Logical part of conscious mind • Superego- Moral and value choices

22. Personality Theories and Psychopathic Behavior • Criminal Personality • Criminals • have a different way of thinking • Are angry people who feel a sense of superiority • Have highly inflated self image • Do not expect to be held accountable for their acts

23. Social Determinism • Criminal behavior is caused by social factors and forces rather than by moral, environmental, psychological, or biological causes. • Bad neighborhood = bad people

24. Social Disorganization Theory • Crime causation based on the assumption that social conditions such as poverty, unemployment, poor schools, and substandard housing are significant factors contributing to delinquency and crime

25. Zone Theory • Environmental theory of crime causation based on the belief that structural elements of society such as poverty, illiteracy, lack of schooling, unemployment, and illegitimacy are powerful forces that influence human interactions

27. Differential Association Theory • Edwin Sutherland • Criminal behavior is learned through association with a peer group that engages in criminal behavior

28. Social Control Theory • Crime causation based on the assumptions that peoples belief in and identification with the values of their society and culture influence their behavior • This theory bases itself on people conforming to norms.

29. Containment Theory • Walter Reckless • People are deterred from deviant behavior because of the influence on individuals of both internal and external social control factors • Positive role models / others stops criminal behavior • Positive self concept / good self control stops criminal behavior

30. Neutralization theory • Gresham Sykes and David Matza • Criminals learn techniques that allow them to rationalize their behavior, deny responsibility for harm, and avoid being guilt ridden. • Criminal feel bad for what they did,but have learned to cope with it.

31. Social Bond Theory • Travis Hirschi • Strong social and emotional ties to social values and norms lessen the likelihood of deviant behavior • Four variables: Attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief

32. Labeling theory • Frank Tannenbaum and Howard Becker • People are strongly influenced by society’s expectations of them • Good boys are good • Juveniles are criminals

33. Strain Theory • Robert Merton • People are naturally law-abiding but resort to crime when frustrated in finding legitimate means to economic success

34. Differential Opportunity Theory • Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin • Criminality stems from blocked opportunities based on where one lives, who one knows, and what skills, talents, and resources one has. • Few opportunities in bad nieghborhoods

35. Cultural Deviance Theory • Crime is based on the assumption that criminal behavior is learned through the participation in deviant subculture or countercultures within a society • Norms of main stream society and subcultures are different

36. Reaction Formation • Albert Cohen • Lower class youth rejects middle class values that they cannot attain and instead join counterculture that express the opposite values

37. Conflict Theory • Criminal behavior is based on the assumption that the sources of criminal behavior are class conflict and social inequality.

38. Feminist Criminology • Gender inequality lies at the heart of crime in which women are the victims or the perpetrators