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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.
– Wrongdoers act as if they weigh the
possible benefits of criminal or
delinquent activity against the
expected costs of being apprehended
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
• 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.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Genetics and Crime
• Genetics= a branch of biology that deals with
traits that are passed from parents to
offspring
• Adoption studies of twins have shown a
correlation between rates of criminality
among adopted children and antisocial or
criminal behavior by their biological parents
• No single gene or trait has been proved to
lead to criminality
• Does one’s family background predispose a
person to aggression or violence?
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Hormones and Aggression
• Hormone= a chemical substance that
controls certain cellular and bodily
functions such as growth and
reproduction
• Testosterone= hormone primarily
responsible for production of sperm
and development of male secondary
sex characteristics
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Hormones and Aggression
• Criminal activity in males has been linked to
elevated levels of hormones– specifically
testosterone
• Inmate pop. Show that those incarcerated
for violent crimes exhibit higher testosterone
levels than other prisoners
• Age crime relationship- testosterone levels
of >21 are double that of men between 31-66
• Postpartum depression can trigger
abnormal behavior in a small % of women
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Brain and Crime
• Neurotransmitters= chemical that
transmits nerve impulses between
nerve cells to the brain
• serotonin- regulates moods, appetite,
memory
• Norepinephrine- controls sleep-wake
cycles, response to anxiety, fear, stress
• Dopamine- controls perceptions of
pleasure/reward
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Brain and Crime
• Under certain circumstances, low
levels of serotonin and high levels of
norepinephrine are correlated
w/aggressive behavior
• Dopamine is connected to drug
addiction
• Strong connection between violent
behavior and damage to frontal lobe
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Learning Outcome 2
• Psychological influences on crime include
the study of
– Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.
– Social psychology and “evil” behavior.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Freud’s Psychoanalytic
Theory
• Sigmund Freud’s theory that attributes our
thoughts and actions to unconscious motives
• On an unconscious level, all humans have
criminal tendencies and that each of us is
continually struggling against these tendencies
– Id- driven by constant desire for pleasure and selfgratification through sexual and aggressive urges
– Ego stands for reason and common sense
– Superego learns expectations from society and
family and acts as conscience.
• When the 3 systems fall in disorder, the id takes
control and can lead to antisocial urges and
committing crimes
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Social Psychology and Evil
Behavior
• Focuses on human behavior in the context of
how human begins relate to and influence
one another
• Generally, we act in the same manner as
those we like or admire because we want
them to like or admire us- shows influence of
crowds on indiv. Behavior
• Guards/inmates experiment showed people
are able to justify improper behavior or
criminal behavior by convincing themselves
that it is actually acceptable 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
(extension of Chicago School)
– Crime is product of unfavorable
conditions
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Social Disorganization
Theory
• Certain “zones” exhibited high rates of
crime. These zones were characterized by
“disorganization” or a breakdown of
traditional institutions of social control such
as family, school systems, and local
business
• Disorganized zones had high levels of HS
dropouts, unemployment, deteriorating
infrastructures, and single-parent families
• Areas w/fewer African American male role
models had higher levels of black juvenile
violence
© 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 (education,
training) 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
Strain Theory
• Anomie: (w/out norms)- a condition in
which the indiv. Suffers from the
breakdown or absence of social norms.
• All citizens have similar goals w/o equal
means to achieve them. One way to
alleviate strain is to gain wealth by the
means that are available to residents of
disorganized communities: drug
trafficking, burglary, etc.
© 2011 Cengage Learning
Cultural Deviance Theory
• Subculture: a group exhibiting certain
values and behavior patterns that
distinguish it from the dominant
culture
• Members of low-income subcultures
are more likely to conform to value
systems that celebrate behavior such
as violence.
© 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
ABC Video: Gang Prevention
© 2011 Cengage Learning