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CJ
Chapter 2
Causes of Crime
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcomes
LO1: Discuss the difference between a hypothesis and a
theory in the context of criminology.
LO2: Contrast positivism with classical criminology.
LO3: List and briefly explain the three branches of
social process theory
LO4: Contrast the medical model of addiction with the
criminal model of addiction.
LO5: Explain the theory of the chronic offender and its
importance for the criminal justice system.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
LO 1
Discuss the difference
between a hypothesis and a
theory in the context of
criminology.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 1
• Criminology
– The scientific study of crime and the
causes of criminal behavior.
• Criminologists
– A specialist in the field of crime and the
causes of criminal behavior.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 1
• Criminologists attempt to discover
– Correlations – relationships between
variables in which they vary together.
What factors are related to crime?
– Causation – a relationship where one
variable causes a change in another.
What factors cause crime?
Learning Outcome 1
• Theory
– An explanation of a happening or
circumstance that is based on
observation, experimentation and
reasoning.
• A hypothesis
– A possible explanation for an observed
occurrence that can be tested by further
investigation.
– Hypotheses are tested using the
scientific method.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
© 2011 Cengage Learning
LO 2
Contrast positivism
with classical
criminology.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
• Choice Theory
– A person commits a crime because
they choose to.
Learning Outcome 2
• Classical criminology
– Crime is an expression of a person’s
rational decision making process.
– If punishments outweighed the benefits
of crime, they would dissuade people
from committing crime.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
Cesare Beccaria
• Criminal law should reflect three truths:
– All decisions, including the decision to
commit a crime, are the result of rational
choice.
– Fear of punishment can have a deterrent
effect on the choice to commit crime.
– The more swift and certain punishment is, the
more effective it will be in controlling crime.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
Jeremy Bentham and Utilitarianism
• Punishment should use the threat of pain
against criminals to insure the pleasure of
society.
• Four goals of punishment:
– Prevent all crime
– Assure that a criminal commit a lesser crime to
avoid a harsher punishment.
– Give criminal an incentive not to harm others.
– Prevent crime at the least possible cost to
society.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
• Positivism
– Criminal behavior is determined by
biological, psychological, and social
forces.
– Criminal behavior is beyond the
individual’s control.
• Rational choice theory
– Criminal actions are committed as if
individuals consider the costs and
rewards of crime.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
• Trait Theories
– Suggest there are biological and
psychological causes of crime.
• Biology is the scientific study of living
organisms.
• Psychology is the study of the mind.
Learning Outcome 2
• Biological influences on crime include the
study of
– Genetics and crime.
– Hormones and aggression.
– The brain and crime.
• Psychological influences on crime include
the study of
– Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.
– Social psychology and “evil” behavior.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
Sociological Theories of Crime
• The Chicago School
– Showed a correlation between poverty
and high crime rate.
– Neighborhood conditions have much
great effect on criminal behavior than
ethnicity, race, or religion.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
Sociological Theories of Crime
• Social Disorganization Theory
– Crime is product of unfavorable
conditions
© 2011 Cengage Learning
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
Sociological Theories of Crime
• Strain theory
– Crime rooted in strain (frustration) of not
having access to resources needed for
financial success.
• Cultural deviance theory
– People adapt to the values of the subculture
to which they belong.
– Member of low-income subcultures more
likely to celebrate behaviors that confront the
values of society at large.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Mastering
Concepts
The Causes of
Crime
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Mastering
Concepts
The Causes of
Crime
© 2011 Cengage Learning
LO 3
List and briefly explain the
three branches of social
process theory
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 3
• Social Process Theories
– The potential for criminal behavior
exists in everyone.
– The potential is realized depending on an
individual’s interaction with society.
Learning Outcome 3
• Learning Theory
– Crime is a learned behavior.
– Influences include family, friends, co-workers,
and media.
• Control Theory
– Even though most people have the potential to
commit crime, we don’t because we care about
the opinions of friends and family.
• Labeling Theory
– Studies how being labeled a criminal affects a
person’s future behavior.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
CAREERPREP
Social Worker
Job Description:
• Help people cope with issues in their everyday lives, deal with relationships,
and solve personal and family problems. Assist families that have serious
domestic conflicts, sometimes involving child or spousal abuse.
• Conduct research on services in a particular area and act as an advocate for
improvement of those services.
What Kind of Training Is Required?
• A bachelor’s degree in social work is the minimum requirement, and a
master’s degree in social work or a related field has become the standard for
many positions.
• Essential qualities include emotional maturity, sensitivity to people and their
problems, and the ability to handle responsibility, work independently, and
maintain good relationships with clients and co-workers.
Annual Salary Range?
$32,500–$56,500
For additional information, visit: www.socialworkers.org.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 3
Social Conflict Theories
• The key component of crime is power.
• True crimes – those committed by
ruling classes – poverty, racism,
sexism.
• Crimes committed by powerless are
justified reactions against oppressive
laws.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 3
Social Conflict Theories
• Marxism versus Capitalism
– Capitalism seen as leading to high levels
of violence.
– Penalties for crimes protect privilege of
the “haves.”
• Race and Gender
© 2011 Cengage Learning
LO 4
Contrast the medical
model of addiction with
the criminal model of
addiction.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Source: National Survey
on Drug use and Health,
2009
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 4
• Theories of Drug Use
– Social Disorganization Theory – people
use drugs to cope with rapid social
changes.
– Subculture Theory – people use drugs
because of peer pressure.
– Control Theory – people use drugs
because there is no social control.
Learning Outcome 4
• Drugs and the Learning Process
• First time users:
– Learn the techniques of drug-use
– Learn to perceive the pleasurable effects
of drug use
– Learn to enjoy the social experience of
drug use.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 4
• Models of Explanation
– The Psychopharmacological Model
– The Economically Impulsive Model
– The Systemic Model
• Models of Addiction
– The Medical Model of Addiction
– The Chemical Model of Addiction
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 4
Relationship between Drugs and Crimes
• Psychopharmacological Model
– People act violently because of drugs they
take.
• Economically Impulsive Model
– People commit crimes so they can get money
for drugs.
• Systemic Model
– Violence is by-product of relationships within
the drug-using community.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 4
• Models of addiction
– Medical model – addicts are not
criminals. They have an illness and are
forced into crime to feed their habit.
– Criminal model – addicts endanger
society with their behavior.
LO 5
Explain the theory of the
chronic offender and its
importance for the
criminal justice system.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 5
• The Chronic Offender = career
criminal.
– Small percent of criminals responsible
for majority of crimes.
– Led to specific strategies to apprehend
and prosecute repeat offenders.
© 2011 Cengage Learning