Criminological theories
Criminological theories
Throughout human history, different individuals and especially scholars, have come up with different definitions of theories. Some of the definitions are misleading, while others make sense of what a theory is. According to William and MacShane, theories explain how two or more events are related to each other. Through this, individuals can understand the relationship between different events and how they influence a certain outcome (Akers, 2012). For instance, an individual who grows up in a violent environment has a higher likelihood of developing aggressive behavior than an individual who grows up in a less violent environment.
Disciplinary theories do not focus on punishing individuals for crimes committed but seek to make individuals learn from their mistakes and reform. Alternatively, multidisciplinary theories focus on different factors that trigger individuals to commit crimes. For instance, they focus on cognitive and physical factors that make individuals commit a crime (Akers, 2012). The interdisciplinary approach encompasses professionals in the justice system combining data from other sources to understand why individuals commit crimes.
Criminology evolved in Europe in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Individuals like Jeremy Bentham can take credit for the development of this field. According to the classical school of thought, individuals commit crimes out of a free will, and people should be punished for their crimes, which can deter potential criminals from committing crimes (Akers, 2012). Other schools of thought like the Chicago school of thought emerged and posits that individuals tend to adopt criminal behavior from other hardcore criminals.
Different criminological theories explain why individuals commit a crime or do not commit crimes. According to scholars, certain factors trigger individuals into engaging in a life of crime, while other factors discourage individuals from committing a crime. According to the social learning theory, individuals learn through imitation. This means that individuals tend to adopt the behavior of those they look up to in society. This theory posits that individuals brought up in a violent environment have higher chances of becoming criminals than individuals brought up in a peaceful environment (Akers, 2012). When young children are exposed to violent video games, they are likely to believe that violence is the solution to disagreements and therefore end up adopting aggressive conduct. However, individuals can be prevented from becoming criminals by raising them in a peaceful environment.
The rational choice theory also explains the reasons why individuals engage in crime. According to this theory, before individuals commit crimes, they do a cost-benefit analysis. Individuals tend to maximize benefits at the expense of costs (Akers, 2012). For instance, an individual is likely to commit crimes where the monetary value of the crime committed supersedes the punishment accrued. The theory explains that individuals can be deterred from committing crimes if the punishment for the guilty increases and the benefits accrued reduced.
The social control theory does not focus on why individuals commit crimes and why individuals obey the land’s laws. The theory posits that the family plays an essential role in shaping an individual’s behavior during the early stages of development. For instance, children who have a positive relationship with their parents are less likely to engage in aggressive behavior than those who have a negative relationship with their parents (Akers, 2012). This is because parents who relate with their children positively are likely to advise them on the dangers of engaging in crimes. Also, such children feel free to share contentious issues with their parents to get the required information regarding the issues at hand. In a nutshell, an individual’s background during the early stages of development can trigger or hinder them from engaging in criminality.
In conclusion, criminological theories explain why crime occurs. According to these theories, different factors like an individual’s background can trigger them to commit crimes. However, positive relationships at the family level can hinder individuals from committing a crime.
References
Akers, R. L. (2012). criminological theories. New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
2) Provide an explanation as to why people commit crime and deviance or don’t commit crime and deviance. Be careful to construct a strong and compelling argument referencing the empirical and theoretical literature discussed in class, in your readings, and in your own personal research.
Criminological theories
