Criminal Acts and Choice Response: Choice Theories
Criminal Acts and Choice Response
Rickey Napper
University of Phoenix Online
Criminal Acts and Choice Response
Choice Theories
There are four basic choice theories of why a person commits a crime. These four theories can be used to explain why a person commits a crime. The first theory is the rational cause theory. This theory explains that an offender’s motivation to commit a crime is for personal gain, such as ego, money, and greed. This theory concludes that on offender commits crimes purposely, even though they know the consequences of being caught.
Sociological positivism studies the relationship between social situations and crime. It studies the social structures of an offender, such as family, environment, and social status and how that relates to the crime. It also purposes that criminal acts are inevitable because of certain social aspects of life.
Biological positivism is the belief that some people are born to commit crime. This theory studies evolution, as well as psychological differences between criminals and non-criminals to support the theory.
Psychological positivism supports the claim that criminal acts are the result of mental illness or personality disorders. This theory looks at criminal acts as non-avoidable.
Common Models
There are two main models that society uses to determine if acts are criminal. The first is Consensus model. The consensus model works on the assumption that society as a whole have the same moral code and beliefs, therefore anything that goes against those said values are considered a crime.
The second model that society uses is the conflict model. In this theory, criminal acts are determined by whoever holds power within a society.
References
University of Phoenix. (2011). Criminal Justice Today. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, CJS200 website
Rickey Napper
University of Phoenix Online
Criminal Acts and Choice Response
Choice Theories
There are four basic choice theories of why a person commits a crime. These four theories can be used to explain why a person commits a crime. The first theory is the rational cause theory. This theory explains that an offender’s motivation to commit a crime is for personal gain, such as ego, money, and greed. This theory concludes that on offender commits crimes purposely, even though they know the consequences of being caught.
Sociological positivism studies the relationship between social situations and crime. It studies the social structures of an offender, such as family, environment, and social status and how that relates to the crime. It also purposes that criminal acts are inevitable because of certain social aspects of life.
Biological positivism is the belief that some people are born to commit crime. This theory studies evolution, as well as psychological differences between criminals and non-criminals to support the theory.
Psychological positivism supports the claim that criminal acts are the result of mental illness or personality disorders. This theory looks at criminal acts as non-avoidable.
Common Models
There are two main models that society uses to determine if acts are criminal. The first is Consensus model. The consensus model works on the assumption that society as a whole have the same moral code and beliefs, therefore anything that goes against those said values are considered a crime.
The second model that society uses is the conflict model. In this theory, criminal acts are determined by whoever holds power within a society.
References
University of Phoenix. (2011). Criminal Justice Today. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, CJS200 website
References: University of Phoenix. (2011). Criminal Justice Today. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, CJS200 website