Preview

Criminological Theories

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1551 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Criminological Theories
There are many different aspects of criminal justice policy. One in particular is the different theories of crime and how they affect the criminal justice system. The Classical School of criminology is a theory about evolving from a capital punishment type of view to more humane ways of punishing people. Positivist criminology is maintaining the control of human behavior and criminal behavior. They did this through three different categories of Biological studies, which are five methodologies of crime that were mainly focused on biological theories, Psychological theories, which contains four separate theories, and the Sociological theories, which also includes four different methods of explaining why crime exists. The last theory is about Critical criminology. Their goal was to transform society in a way that would liberate and empower subordinate groups of individuals.

The Classical School of criminology was founded by "European legal authorities that thought crime was caused by supernatural forces" (DeKeseredy & Schwartz, 1996, p.155) preceding the 1700's. The catch phrase "The devil made him do it" was very popular because of the thought that people who committed crimes were sinners or people who didn't follow God. Those who didn't follow God were known as heretics and this following led to the connection of church and state where torture or execution could happen to anyone that the government thought to be evil or a part of witchcraft. Since the Middle Ages didn't have equal rights for all, women and the poor were usually the ones being prosecuted. With all of the problems of the times, the government found and made scapegoats out of these people, and blamed them of the troubles that were occurring. As DeKeseredy and Schwartz (1996, p.156) stated, "the most common way of determining guilt was through torture. It was a simple system: if you confessed, you were executed: is you did not confess, the torture continued until you died." This system of



References: Barlow, M. H. (1999). Class Notes. Crime and Criminal Justice Policy. DeKeseredy, W. S. & Schwartz, M. D. (1996). Contemporary Criminology. Belmont, California: Wadsworth.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Within criminology there different theoretical theories which affect the way the crime is explained. These are classicist and positivist, realist and interactionist theory.…

    • 530 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Victor, J. L. & Naughton, J. (2010). Annual editions: Criminal justice. New York, NY: McGraw-…

    • 1321 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    LESMA204

    • 2205 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Since ancient times, criminologists study various theories of crime in order to place measures that may reduce or eliminate specific crime risks. They are trying to use different approaches to explain crime by different category of theory, such as psychology, biology and sociology. I am going to introduce four major approaches in criminology that criminologists use to explain crime. There is positivist criminology, classical perspective, sociological criminology, environmental criminology.…

    • 2205 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Crime is bad behavior displayed by citizens who reject societal norms and instead chose to commit crime. However, there are many types of theories of why crime occurs the most prevalent cause for crime involves the social environment of the criminal offender. Psychological theories discusses that these interruptions in childhood development is the cause for crime but because the delays developmental is the effect of the criminal’s environment. The same goes for biological theories that find genetic or biological factors that make a person more prone to become a criminal but require certain environmental factors for the person in reality to become a criminal.…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Criminologists seek to understand the commission of crime in a given society, attempting to figure out why certain crimes occur, and then to study how these can be prevented, and deterred by individuals. The two key approaches I will examine in this assignment is that of the early 'Classicalist' approach, and the opposing 'Positivist' approach, each of which are crucial for understanding modern criminology today.…

    • 1075 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    two schools of criminology: the school of classics and the school of positivist. Simply put, the school of classics focused more on the crime and punishment of the criminal whereas the school of positivist focused on the criminal and how to typically “rehabilitate the criminal” in order to prevent the crime. Note that while there may be two distinct schools with differing ideas, there cannot be such a case that is so one sided that fits under that school exclusively, rather it must be a “combination of classical and positivist principles” (Kubrin 9). However,…

    • 931 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Theories of Crime

    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Matza, D. & Sykes, Gresham (1961). Juvenile Delinquency and Subterranean Values. American Sociological Review. 26(5). 712-719.…

    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are many different perspectives and schools of thought when it comes to the study of crime. One such theoretical perspective is known as classical criminology, which can be traced back to the early 18th Century. Ideas of the Enlightenment which took place around this time, contributed to foundation philosophies of classicism (Carrabine et al., 2014). The notions of reason and science were beginning to take hold across areas such as political and social spheres of society, so unsurprisingly influenced the way people thought about crime (Bradley & Walters, 2005). Classicism reflected the fundamental aspects of the Enlightenment (science, reason, practicality) in the way it approached dealing with the problem of crime (Taylor, Walton, & Young, 2013). The methods of dealing with crime before the introduction of classical thought were harsh and unjust (Bradley & Walters, 2005).…

    • 1262 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Cote, S. (2002). Criminological Theories: Bridging the Past to the Future. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications Ltd. p232.…

    • 2514 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Criminal Theories

    • 2780 Words
    • 10 Pages

    When looking at crime, it is essential that we explore the definitions of crime and the theories that explain why crime happens and how this affects both individuals and communities. The study of crime is commonly known as “Criminology”. Criminology originated from many other disciplines such as sociology, psychology, biology, geography, law and anthropology. It is generally accepted that there are three main categories that are used to explain why crime happens.…

    • 2780 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In this document the subject to be explored is the personal criminological theory involving individuals within society. This information that is presented in the document will provide an explanation into the occurrences of crime, along with reasons to why individuals resort to committing crimes. Exploring the variables that maybe considered involving criminological theories. Identify statements that will provide substance to the theory that is discussed. Show methodologies that could be used to evaluate the theories.…

    • 962 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Theories Of Criminology

    • 1665 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Crime is an issue affecting us directly or indirectly in our everyday lives and we are surrounded by it constantly. Although criminal acts are often disturbing they are hugely fascinating and when such violent crimes occur, we seek answers. Regardless of how severe the crime is, we strive to know what the cause was and why it happened. Unless we have a clear reason it is challenging to put it behind us.…

    • 1665 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Criminological Theories

    • 322 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Theories are a type of explanation for behavior or actions (Bohm & Vogel, 2011). Theories are derived from different factors (Bohm & Vogel, 2011) including, however not limited to psychological, biological, social, and economic. Psychological factors include intelligence, mental illness, or trauma in the life of the person that has brought them to this place in their life. Biological theories (Bohm & Vogel, 2011) include hormone imbalance, mental illness that effects stems from a disability. Social issues, such as the person was not socialized properly during the formative years (Bohm & Vogel, 2011) and does not have an understanding of appropriate behavior. And there are economic issues (Bohm & Vogel,2011) such as poverty, failed employment efforts or dismissal from employment and the inability to recover from the loss of finances.…

    • 322 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Criminology

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages

    One of the most significant problems in the world now is that of economic inequality, and the social problems it produces. And the most damaging impact may be in developed nations such as the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. in particular has the greatest gap in wealth among all developed nations, and the problem it is causing is becoming more apparent with each passing day. During the recession in the U.S., at least 6 million people have lost their jobs; 25 million are underemployed. Eight trillion dollars of middle class wealth has been destroyed in the housing collapse. One out of eight mortgage holders owe more money on their home than it is worth. Fifty million people live at the poverty level. One of out of 8 people is on food stamps. One out of 2 children will be on food stamps at some point in their lives.…

    • 516 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Innocent Man

    • 3383 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Reviewed by Jack E. Call, Department of Criminal Justice, Radford University. Email: jcall [at] RADFORD.EDU.…

    • 3383 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays