Biological Sociological Theory
Biological, psychological, and sociological theories of crime all seek to determine why individuals commit crime. Biological theorists link crime to physical and/or mental traits of an individual. Psychological theorists link crime to influences of individual and family factors, such as events that take place during childhood that have an impact on an individual during adulthood. Sociological theorists link crime to an individual’s social environment, such as family and economic status. The common denominator between the three is determining the cause of crime.
Biological theorists say criminals bear physical and/or mental traits that make them different and abnormal. This view was shared with Cesare Lombroso, an Italian …show more content…
Believing his natural mother died while giving birth to him was the source of intense guilt and anger inside of Berkowitz (Montaldo, n.d.). Berkowitz eventually reunited with his natural mother and sister after spending three years in the Army, but the union was brief due to Berkowitz’s isolation, fantasies, and paranoid delusions taking over his life.
Berkowitz eventually went on to try and find a victim to kill saying demons drove him out into the streets with a hunting knife. He later confessed to plunging his knife into two when
(Montaldo, n.d.). Berkowitz then moved to Yonkers in a neighborhood where howling dogs kept him from sleeping and in his mind he turned the howling into messages from demons telling him to go out and kill women (Montaldo, n.d.). Sociological theories of crime look for elements in social structure and processes that create motivation and provide the opportunity to commit crime. These theories are relevant to social environment; including family, peer group, school, community, workplace, and society. Social structure theories, social conflict theories, social process theories, and rational theory make …show more content…
Lower class areas are scenes of inadequate healthcare and housing, underemployment, despair, and disrupted family life. Though they are members of society that extols material success above any other, they are unable to satisfactorily compete for such success with members of the upper classes (Siegel,
2012). As a result, they turn to illegal solutions to advance economically.
A well- known example of sociological theories is the deprived young child turned drug dealer like Frank Lucas, a real American gangster. Lucas was raised in a shack located in Washington,
North Carolina (tribute.ba). His life of crime began at the age of six after he witnessed the Klu
Klux Klan murder his 13 year old cousin for looking at a white woman. This made him the oldest male in his home; therefore, he had to provide for his family. He began stealing food and mugging drunks for money; and eventually stole money from his boss and burned his place down as a teenager (tribute.ba). Lucas moved to Harlem, New York after this criminal act and started working for Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, a well-known mobster. After Johnson
Biological theorists say criminals bear physical and/or mental traits that make them different and abnormal. This view was shared with Cesare Lombroso, an Italian …show more content…
Believing his natural mother died while giving birth to him was the source of intense guilt and anger inside of Berkowitz (Montaldo, n.d.). Berkowitz eventually reunited with his natural mother and sister after spending three years in the Army, but the union was brief due to Berkowitz’s isolation, fantasies, and paranoid delusions taking over his life.
Berkowitz eventually went on to try and find a victim to kill saying demons drove him out into the streets with a hunting knife. He later confessed to plunging his knife into two when
(Montaldo, n.d.). Berkowitz then moved to Yonkers in a neighborhood where howling dogs kept him from sleeping and in his mind he turned the howling into messages from demons telling him to go out and kill women (Montaldo, n.d.). Sociological theories of crime look for elements in social structure and processes that create motivation and provide the opportunity to commit crime. These theories are relevant to social environment; including family, peer group, school, community, workplace, and society. Social structure theories, social conflict theories, social process theories, and rational theory make …show more content…
Lower class areas are scenes of inadequate healthcare and housing, underemployment, despair, and disrupted family life. Though they are members of society that extols material success above any other, they are unable to satisfactorily compete for such success with members of the upper classes (Siegel,
2012). As a result, they turn to illegal solutions to advance economically.
A well- known example of sociological theories is the deprived young child turned drug dealer like Frank Lucas, a real American gangster. Lucas was raised in a shack located in Washington,
North Carolina (tribute.ba). His life of crime began at the age of six after he witnessed the Klu
Klux Klan murder his 13 year old cousin for looking at a white woman. This made him the oldest male in his home; therefore, he had to provide for his family. He began stealing food and mugging drunks for money; and eventually stole money from his boss and burned his place down as a teenager (tribute.ba). Lucas moved to Harlem, New York after this criminal act and started working for Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, a well-known mobster. After Johnson