Explaining Criminal Behavior Research Paper
Explaining Criminal Behavior
October 8, 2014
Professor Makin
Criminology has had many different definitions over the years. The textbook not only defines criminology as the study of crime and criminals but it also states “criminology is an interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior, including their forms, causes, legal aspects, and control.” Criminology has many theories and arguments on both sides to state why it is or isn’t important. A theory is defined as “a series of interrelated propositions that attempts to describe, explain, predict, and ultimately control some class of events.” Theories try to help us make sense from several observations that are conducted …show more content…
The book definition states the strain theory is “a sociological approach that posits a disjuncture between socially and subculturally sanctioned means and goals as the cause of criminal behavior.” This theory states most people have the same and/or similar dreams and goals, but they don’t all have the same opportunities or abilities to see those aspirations come to fruition. The strain theory “points to a lack of fit between socially approved success goals and the availability of socially approved means to achieve those goals.” In other words, a person is faced with stressors or strains from things has have be subjected to in their live which increases the likelihood of that person committing a crime. A great example of this theory would be an individual faced with chronic unemployment living in a poor neighborhood decides to sell drugs, commit burglary to obtain money or take illicit drugs to numb the pain they …show more content…
The rational theory states that a person thinks before they commit a crime and they determine what would be good or bad if they commit the crime yet they still do it anyway. The sociological theory states that where a person lives and their social plays a determining factor on how and why a person will commit a crime. The strain theory differs by stating that everyone has dreams and aspirations they want to achieve in life but there’s an apparent disconnect between them socially and culturally that causes some to commit crimes and some who achieve their dreams and/or
October 8, 2014
Professor Makin
Criminology has had many different definitions over the years. The textbook not only defines criminology as the study of crime and criminals but it also states “criminology is an interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior, including their forms, causes, legal aspects, and control.” Criminology has many theories and arguments on both sides to state why it is or isn’t important. A theory is defined as “a series of interrelated propositions that attempts to describe, explain, predict, and ultimately control some class of events.” Theories try to help us make sense from several observations that are conducted …show more content…
The book definition states the strain theory is “a sociological approach that posits a disjuncture between socially and subculturally sanctioned means and goals as the cause of criminal behavior.” This theory states most people have the same and/or similar dreams and goals, but they don’t all have the same opportunities or abilities to see those aspirations come to fruition. The strain theory “points to a lack of fit between socially approved success goals and the availability of socially approved means to achieve those goals.” In other words, a person is faced with stressors or strains from things has have be subjected to in their live which increases the likelihood of that person committing a crime. A great example of this theory would be an individual faced with chronic unemployment living in a poor neighborhood decides to sell drugs, commit burglary to obtain money or take illicit drugs to numb the pain they …show more content…
The rational theory states that a person thinks before they commit a crime and they determine what would be good or bad if they commit the crime yet they still do it anyway. The sociological theory states that where a person lives and their social plays a determining factor on how and why a person will commit a crime. The strain theory differs by stating that everyone has dreams and aspirations they want to achieve in life but there’s an apparent disconnect between them socially and culturally that causes some to commit crimes and some who achieve their dreams and/or