Personal Criminological Theory Paper
Personal Criminological Theory Paper
Criminological Theory
3 February 2012
Personal Criminological Theory Paper
Introduction
Through out the years Criminologists has conducted a great amount of research and through that research Criminologist has developed different theories in order to better understand and explain criminal behavior. Theories try to help make sense out of many observations that are conducted presenting the facts of the principal that connects and explains the theories. If good theory has been developed; then it becomes very valuable to Criminologist, because it shows the knowledge that is beyond the facts that has been presented; which will show Criminologist how to predict how others might behave (Andrews, D and Bonta, J., 2010). Biological explanations of crime assert that particular individuals are more prone to deviance than others because of their genetic makeup (Haralambos, van Krieken, Smith & Holborn, 1996 p.514). These explanations of human behavior became popular in the nineteenth century. An Italian army doctor; Cesare Lombroso was one of the first writers to link crime to human biology. Psychological theories of criminology share several similarities with biological theories. Firstly, they see criminals as different from the population as a whole. Second, the criminal is abnormal in a normal population. Third, the criminal's abnormality predisposes him to crime (Harambolos & Heald, 1980, p. 409). However, they differ in the respect that psychological theories of criminality claim that the criminal's abnormality is learned as opposed to being genetically determined. They see abnormal experience rather than abnormal genes as the basis for crime (Scully, 2012). Strain theories contend that human beings are fundamentally conformists who are strongly influenced by the values and attitudes of the society in which they live. According to strain theory, American society advocates that the accumulation of wealth or status is
Criminological Theory
3 February 2012
Personal Criminological Theory Paper
Introduction
Through out the years Criminologists has conducted a great amount of research and through that research Criminologist has developed different theories in order to better understand and explain criminal behavior. Theories try to help make sense out of many observations that are conducted presenting the facts of the principal that connects and explains the theories. If good theory has been developed; then it becomes very valuable to Criminologist, because it shows the knowledge that is beyond the facts that has been presented; which will show Criminologist how to predict how others might behave (Andrews, D and Bonta, J., 2010). Biological explanations of crime assert that particular individuals are more prone to deviance than others because of their genetic makeup (Haralambos, van Krieken, Smith & Holborn, 1996 p.514). These explanations of human behavior became popular in the nineteenth century. An Italian army doctor; Cesare Lombroso was one of the first writers to link crime to human biology. Psychological theories of criminology share several similarities with biological theories. Firstly, they see criminals as different from the population as a whole. Second, the criminal is abnormal in a normal population. Third, the criminal's abnormality predisposes him to crime (Harambolos & Heald, 1980, p. 409). However, they differ in the respect that psychological theories of criminality claim that the criminal's abnormality is learned as opposed to being genetically determined. They see abnormal experience rather than abnormal genes as the basis for crime (Scully, 2012). Strain theories contend that human beings are fundamentally conformists who are strongly influenced by the values and attitudes of the society in which they live. According to strain theory, American society advocates that the accumulation of wealth or status is
References: Andrews, D and Bonta, J. (2010). The Psychology of Criminal Conduct http://www.scribd.com/doc/80365986/The-Psychology-of-Criminal-Conduct Darragh Scully, (2012). Psychological and Biological theories of criminal conduct http://www.friedgreentomatoes.org/articles/Psychological_Biological_criminal_conduct.php Diane M. DeMelo. (1999). Criminology Theory. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:G7pIgPVm13sJ:onlineclassroom.tv/files/series/sociology/understanding_sociology/crime_and_deviance/document/Crime_and_Deviance.pdf+onlineclassroom.tv/.../sociology/...sociology/.../Crime_and_Deviance&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShdZs7qV0WPWFXmw2vWSmIcSQfWzY8E8BYmOsO0icI9tlVLhoyiLZYt8fLdVHnZQJr5muKdLFr9Map22f1fpP83RE7uE6rcgYtjbpg2ftc9_3m5dz5X7OIikOKIRlGa7i54brRx&sig=AHIEtbT8dRd8Mj8FyTy9bSEF3Q1pJXG3Bg