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)