Causes of Crime Study Guide

What Causes Crime?
 It is difficult to control or reduce crime without knowing what causes it.
 Criminology: The scientific study of the nature, extent, cause and control of
criminal behavior.
There are various theories about what causes crime.
Theories About The Causes Of Crime

 Choice Theory
 Biological Theories
 Psychological Theories
 Sociological Theories
 Conflict Theories
 Integrated Theories
 Victimization Theories
Choice Theory
– Belief that people commit crime when they perceive benefits of law violation
outweigh the threat and pain of punishment.
– Belief that criminals use Rational Choice in deciding to commit crime.
Choice Theory Responses To Crime:

 1. General Deterrence
 2. Specific Deterrence
 3. Situational Crime Prevention
Choice Theory Practical Implications

– Philosophical cornerstone of the crime control perspective.
– “Get Tough On Crime” approach
– Belief that increasing the severity of punishment deters and lowers lower crime
rate
Biological Theories
– Belief that crime is caused not so much by human choice but by inherited and
uncontrollable biological and psychological traits.
– Intelligence
– Diet
– Personality
– Body Build
Psychological Theories
1. Psychoanalytic Theory
2. Behavioral Theory
3. Cognitive Theory
1. Psychoanalytic Theory
– Belief that the development of personality in early life influences behavior for the
rest of a person’s life.
– Belief that criminals have weak egos and damaged personalities.
2. Behavioral Theory
– Belief that people commit crimes when they model behavior after others they see
being rewarded for the same acts.
– Belief that behavior is enforced by rewards and extinguished by punishments.
3. Cognitive Theory
– Belief that individual reasoning processes influence behavior.
– Reasoning is influenced by the the way people perceive their environment, and by
their moral and intellectual development.
– Emphasis on Information Processing
– Emphasis on Moral Development Theory
Biological & Psychological Theories Practical Implications

 If criminals are inherently “flawed”
– Incarcerate them to protect the public
 Similarity to the Crime Control Perspective
– Similar Approach
 Different From Rehabilitation Perspective
– Help people not responsible for their actions
Sociological Theories
1. Social Structure Theory
– Strain Theory
2. Social Process Theory
– Differential Association Theory
– Social Control Theory
– Labeling Theory
 Sociological explanations of crime are the most common because:

– Crime patterns have a definite social orientation
 Why are sociological theories of crime so important?
--They gave rise to the treatment oriented crime prevention concept.
– Made the connection between social factors and crime.
 Poverty
 Unemployment
– Emile Durkheim: Sociological Criminology Concept
 Theory of Anomie: The absence or weakness of rules, norms, or
guidelines as to what is socially or morally acceptable.
Social Structure Theory

– Contends social strata are created by the unequal distribution of wealth, power
and prestige.
– Obvious social class distinctions in America.
– Upper, Middle and Lower Class
– Conflicts and problems of urban social life and communities control the crime
rate.
– Transitional Neighborhoods
– Social Disorganization
– Value Conflict
Social Structure Theory Practical Implications

– Linked to the Rehabilitation Perspective
– If poverty and strain cause crime, efforts to improve economic opportunity should
be able to help reduce crime.
Strain Theory
– A subset of Social Structure Theory
– Contends that members of the lower class experience anomie when their means to
achieve culturally defined goals, like wealth and financial success, are insufficient.
– Recall Theory of Anomie: The absence or weakness of rules, norms, or
guidelines as to what is socially or morally acceptable.
– Robert Merton: Formulated Strain Theory
– Inability of lower class to achieve culturally defined goals results in
alternative solutions to meet their need for success.
– Innovation: Steal, Sell Drugs, Extort Money
– Retreatism: Drug Abusers, Alcoholics, Wanderers
– Rebellion: Revolutionaries
--Robert Agnew: Expanded Anomie Theory
--Recognized sources of strain besides financial
--Negative Experiences
--Child Abuse
--Loss of Positive Supports
--End of Romantic Relationships
Social Process Theories

– Learning Theories
– Differential Association Theory
– Control Theories
– Social Control Theory
– Labeling Theory
Social Process Theories

– Theories that people learn to commit crime by exposure to Antisocial Behaviors
– Belief criminal behavior depends on experience with rewards and punishments.
– Rewards for deviance leads to crime.
– NOTE: Similarity to Behavioral Theory
Differential Association Theory

--Belief that people learn to commit crime in the same way they learn other behavior
(exposure to attitudes and values).
Social Control Theory

– Belief that most people do not violate the law due to social bonds to family, peers,
school and other institutions.
– Also believe that if the bonds weaken or are absent, crime may result.
Social Control Theory Practical Implications

– Linked to the Rehabilitation Perspective
– Advocates programs to strengthen:
– Societal Bonds
– Family Involvement
– Counseling Programs
– School Prevention Programs
– Inmate Treatment and Educational Programs
Labeling Theory
– Belief that society produces criminals by stigmatizing some persons as deviants.
– Labeled persons come to accept that as their identity.
Labeling Theory Practical Implications

– Linked to the Noninterventionist Perspective
– Advocates limited offender contact with CJ System
– Prefers: Deinstitutionalization and Restitution Programs
Political Theories
 Conflict Theory
– View that crime results from the rich and powerful imposing their moral standards
and economic interests on the rest of society.
Conflict Theory Practical Implications

– Linked to Restorative Justice Perspective
– Advocates restoration of damages social relations by:
– Mediation
– Arbitration
– Restitution
– Forgiveness
Integrated Theories
1. Latent Trait Theory
2. Developmental Theory
Latent Trait Theory

– Belief that some people have a personal characteristic that controls their
likelihood to commit crime.
– Low Intelligence
– Impulsive Personality
– Genetic Defect
Developmental Theory
– Belief that the reasons people commit crime and its frequency change during the
course of their lives.
– As people mature, the factors that influence behavior change.
Developmental Theory Practical Implications

– Building social capital (positive relationships that foster self worth and inhibit
crime) and social bonds reduces long term criminality.
– Life events help terminate of sustain criminal careers.
Causes Of Crime: Theories Of Victimization
 Some theories of crime examine the role victims play in provoking or
encouraging crime.
1. Lifestyle Theory
2. Routine Activities Theory
Lifestyle Theory
– Theory that some people become victims because their lifestyle increases
exposure to criminal offenders.
– Partying and drug use increases likelihood of violent crime involvement
Routine Activities Theory

– Theory that crime is a product of three factors
– Motivated Offenders
– Suitable Targets
– Lack of Capable Guardians(security devices, police)

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What Causes Crime?

 It is difficult to control or reduce crime without knowing what causes it.

There are various theories about what causes crime.

Theories About The Causes Of Crime

Choice Theory Responses To Crime:

Choice Theory Practical Implications

Biological & Psychological Theories Practical Implications

 Sociological explanations of crime are the most common because:

Social Structure Theory

Social Structure Theory Practical Implications

Social Process Theories

Social Process Theories

Differential Association Theory

Social Control Theory

Social Control Theory Practical Implications

Labeling Theory Practical Implications

Conflict Theory Practical Implications

Latent Trait Theory

Developmental Theory Practical Implications

Routine Activities Theory

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