Differentiate Criminal Behavior

Differentiate Criminal Behavior

Biological theories

Biological theories about criminal behavior began in the early days when they believed that if you were ugly, deformed or disabled, it reflected your level of criminality. Physiognomy was used in ancient Greece where they looked at your facial structure and could tell whether you were a criminal or not. In medieval Europe, if two people were caught and accused of the same crime, the uglier one would be convicted. Phrenology was also used to identify criminals. It was said that some bumps on the surface of the skull depicted criminal behavior. Lombroso claimed that criminals were physically degenerate. His theory was based on natural selection. More theories on biology claimed that criminality was biologically inherited.

This theory uses the concept of physical appearance and genetics to explain criminal behavior in human beings. For example, the proprietors of phrenology based their arguments on the bumps at the back of the skull that reflected abnormalities of the brain hence criminal behavior. Physiognomists believed that criminals had physical deformities like small ears and large lips. They also believed that physical beauty reflected goodness. Men are said to be involved in criminal activity more than women because of their higher levels of testosterone.

Sociological theories

These theories emphasize the role of social factors in criminal behavior and hoe the society responds to it. There are three main sociological theories of crime; strain theory which states that people engage in criminal activity as a means of escaping bad experiences like poverty, drug addiction. The social learning theory states that criminals learn to engage in crime by associating with other criminals. The last theory is the self-control theory, which states that a person engages in criminal activity for the sake of his or her own pleasure.

Sociological theories use the concept of society and social issues to explain the causes of criminalities in human beings. Some of these issues include young men and women who come from poor families, abusive parents, etc tend to engage in criminal activities to run away from their problems. A person in a poverty-stricken neighborhood who is exposed to drug dealing activities, will himself start dealing because he will want to have as much money and power as the drug dealers.

Psychological theories

These theories are of the view that individual differences may make some people more prone to committing criminal acts. There are three psychological theories, psychoanalytic theory, cognitive development theory and the learning theory. Psychoanalytic theory was developed by Sigmund Freud who said that all humans have natural criminal tendencies. The cognitive development theory says that criminal behavior results from people’s organization of their thoughts about morality and the law. The learning theory illustrates that a person’s behavior is learnt and maintained by its reward value.

The psychological theories are based on concepts of a person’s psychological entirety. For example, children who were wrongly identified by their parents developed personality disturbance that causes him or her to engage in criminal activity later in his life. In addition, when a child does something wrong and his rewarded or praised for it, they will grow up knowing that doing bad things gets them good recognition from the people around them.

Social-psychological theories

This theory is based on the notion that crime results from the lack of self-direction, derisory social roles and involvement with bad role models. For example, a young girl who hangs out with criminals who use her as scapegoat every time they get into trouble. This girl is not being forced into the action, but is doing it willingly. She does not care about what her criminal friends are doing; she chose her own path when she decided to get involved with them. This theory is based on the impact of society on young people’s involvement in criminal activity.

These theories are interrelated in their efforts to explain why people engage in criminal activity. For example, some of the points on biological and psychological theories are closely related. This is because biologically, those with physical deformities suffer from low self-esteem, which may in turn drive into criminal activity. The esteem issues are psychologically developed within that person. Therefore, both theories, though different, serve the same purpose. Sociological and psychological theories are also related in that the man who starts dealing because he wants a flashy life is psychologically affected by the fact he cannot afford it.

Psychological theories are most accurate than all the others in explaining criminal behavior. A good example is given by the fact that a person psychology begins at birth and how that person is brought up determines whether he or she will turn out to be a criminal or not. It is further said that those children that are neglected and mistreated by their parents will most likely grow up with negative personalities and this might lead them into criminal activity as a way of trying to bet affection and attention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Marsh, I., & Melville, G. (2006). Theories of crime. London: Routledge.

Thornberry, T. P. (1997). Developmental theories of crime and delinquency. New Brunswick, N.J: Transaction Publishers.

 

 

 

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