...to explain the criminal behavior. A theory is an abstract statement that explains why certain things do or do not happen. A valid theory is based on and must have the ability to be able to predict future occurrences of the phenomenon in question. Also, a valid theory has the ability to be validated or tested through experiment or other observation. Today the theories used to explain criminal behavior include what are the onsets, the continuation, and the eventual desistance from a criminal career. The rational theory is when a person commits a crime and their actions are rational and contain detailed planning and making decisions used for personal gain. The person in this theory does everything and thinks outside of the box to avoid capture or punishment. The offender thoroughly evaluates and weighs the potential benefits against the consequences and then decides that the benefit outweighs the potential outcome. There are theories beyond rational theory that we know that these criminals are rational and that their behavior can be controlled or even avoided by fear of punishment. The situational crime control is a theory that state that desperate people may think about crime but only irrational would attack a well-defended, an unreachable target and ultimately risk strict punishment. Crime prevention is reached by reducing the open opportunities people may have to commit particular crimes. The situational crime prevention is focused on the criminal acts being avoided...
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...Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behavior Offender Assessment Introduction The problem of human violence has been major concern within the literature of psychology. The field of psychology concentrates on individual’s behavior and characteristics to determine how they will interact with their social surroundings to develop a violent event (Farrington et al, 2015). Studies in psychology have put a stress on assessing the mental processes behind what drives a person’s tendency to commit a crime instead of focusing on possible biological reasons for violence. The studies in psychology are usually concerned in determining the links between personality, intelligence, learning and aggressive behavior of criminals. There are several psychological...
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...Although rational choice theory does have merit to otherwise strengthen its argument, there are some limitations to rational choice that weakens its case for criminal behavior. One limitation that I have identified, is that this theory does not take into account non-rational human behavior, such as emotional and psychological behaviors. In some cases, individuals, when confronted with a devastating or emotionally charged situation, are sometimes cause them to commit a crime. For example, if a husband walks in on his wife having relations with another man or vice versa, there is no real way to correctly identify the way someone is going to behave when confronted with this scene. Some individuals may commit a violent act based on irrational impulse...
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...Jeffery Dahmer was born May 21st 1960 and, had by all accounts, a relatively standard childhood but “he became withdrawn and uncommunicative as he got older” (Crime Museum). “He began showing little to no interest in hobbies or social interaction around the ages of 10 to 15” (Crime Museum). Around the same time, he started to become interested in odd things such as dead animals, and by the time he reached high school he became heavily involved in drinking and it began to affect his school work and attendance (Crime Museum). Due to this behavior with drinking continuing even after he was through with school, “His father made him enlist in the army, but he was kicked out due to alcoholism” (Crime Museum). Dahmer’s drinking continued when he...
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...How can we predict future criminal activity based upon a Childs social behavior and skills and understand how to help them? Have you ever wondered if we could prevent someone from becoming a criminal? Many people have studied the social behaviors in children to predict the chances of them becoming criminals in their future. This idea is becoming more popular as well as recognized in the United States in hopes that we can help the children with high chances before it is too late. The three main predictors looked at are anti-social children, their aggressiveness, as well as their reactions towards affection. Though there are many other social predicts these three are the biggest ‘red flags’ used by those who conduct the studies. Being anti-social at a young age forces a child to being independent and lack in social skills needed to interact in society. Though many cases are just shy children whom find it difficult to initiate conversation; others are drastically different. The shy children are taken out of the equation for high chances of criminal ability do to the fact of one word, choice. A child whom chooses not to interact with other children typically does so because they see themselves as higher than the other children. This leaves the other children to believe this child is weird or an outcast. Therefore the child is treated differently at school, or other places in which they would interact. This can grow to hatred from being tormented by the children and lead the child...
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...“If I Try Hard Enough, I Can Do Anything” As a young boy beginning my first day of grade school, I was excited but frightened at the same time. You see this would be my first experience away from my parents or grandparents. The school building seemed so big and had so many doors and hallways. My mother tried to console me by walking me to my classroom to meet my first teacher. I was frightened and visibly upset to see my mother leave me. After a couple of hours into my first day of school, my father who was an over the road truck driver and hadn’t seen me leave home earlier that morning, stopped by the school to see how my first day was going. Wow, was I happy to see him! Although frightened and upset I had no intentions of letting him leave without me. Needless to say, my first day of grade school became my first half day of grade school. Through all the emotions and tears, I neglected to observe the school motto, but apparently my parents noticed. The next morning while preparing to to to school my mother kept telling me, “If you try hard enough, you can do anything”. Well on my second day of school as I walked in with a feeling a little more at ease, I noticed on nearly every wall a single phrase that stuck with me from that point. The school motto read, “If I try hard enough, I can do anything.” From that day forward I began to believe that single phrase. I was my parents first child of two and by the time I turned seven years old, my little sister was born. In...
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...Biological Criminal Behavior and Angela Yates Ceretha Butler, Angela De Libero, Tameka James, Sam Price, Michael Palazuelos CJA/314 5/20/2013 Professor Judy Mazzucca Biological Criminal Behavior Through-out history criminal intents have escalade from small crime to federal crimes seen in cases today. Research have proven genes influence the outcome of a behavior in a criminal behavior and the type of attach committed to his or her victim. This crimes are taught in the school of crime into five different steps to help during a crime investigation. One of these cases is Andrea Yates, who committed a horrific crime on her family. This paper will explain the changes in history of crime and the procedures done in a crime. The paper will also include the story of a criminal who committed the crime. Genetic evidence that confirms that biology does play an important part in explaining an offender’s criminality. Some believe that desire to commit crimes may be inherited and that criminal inclinations are genetically based. Research has been done extensively to discover evidence that would support this claim that has been made by intellectuals. Criminal deeds have always been a motivation due to the debate of nature and nurture. Studies have been done in regards to this debate that has resulted in a conclusion that both genes and environment do play apart in the criminality of a person. The research has stated that it is more often collaboration between genes...
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...Causes for Criminal Behavior Ashford University CRJ 308 September 3, 2013 Causes for Criminal Behavior According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, there were 1,203,564 violent crimes committed in the United States in the year 2011. That means that someone was murdered every 36 minutes, raped every 6.3 minutes, robbed every 1.5 minutes and assaulted every 42 seconds. But why do people commit these crimes? What drives them to harm others? "Criminal behavior and violence may be the consequence of head injuries acquired during childhood and youth" (Carrington & Ramos, 2003) neurological and neuropsychological anomalies or the upbringing and social interactions of the child's upbringing. Some people read the morning paper to keep up on current events while others watch the evening news, but regardless of the method they are all looking to see what sort of crimes have been committed that day. Crime has become so common that people skip reading about simple offences such as breaking and entering and theft and move on to the more interesting violent crimes such as forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. However, every once in a while a crime occurs that is so tragic it shocks the nation back into reality and makes people question their safety even with their family, neighbors and friends. These are the crimes that remind us that we walk hand in hand with the criminally insane on a daily basis without realizing it. But if they are insane should they be...
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...Cheryl Vance 10/6/2013 CJ2799 Explaining Criminal Behavior For this paper I am going to discuss social structure theory and social process theory. If biology could explain criminality, then why is the majority of crime and violence in poor, underdeveloped neighborhoods? To ignore environmental and social aspects contributing to crime would be a mistake. People who live in the United States live in what is called a “stratified society” (Siegel) Stratification refers to, “a hierarchical arrangement…compromising three main layers: upper class, middle class, and lower class”). Social disorganization theory: focuses on the urban conditions that effect crime rates. A disorganized area is one in which institutions of social control, such as family, commercial establishments and schools have broken down and can no longer perform their expected or stated functions. Indicators of social disorganization include high unemployment and school dropout rates, deteriorated housing, low income levels and large numbers of single parent households. Residents in these areas experience conflict and despair, and as a result, antisocial behavior flourishes. Strain theory: holds that crime is a function of the conflict between people’s goals and the means they can use to obtain them. Strain theorists argue that although social and economic goals are common to people in all economic strata, the ability to obtain these goals is class-dependent…members of the lower class are unable to achieve [symbols...
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...Explanations of Criminal Behavior In the early 1900s, sociologists at the University of Chicago applied the concept of social disorganization to the explanation of crime, delinquency, and other social problems. With origins in the study of ecology, social disorganization refers to the failure of social organizations or social institutions in certain neighborhoods and communities. Robert Ezra Park’s research “demonstrated that criminal behavior was independent of individual characteristics and much more dependent on disruptive social forces” (23). Park’s social disorganization theory forms the basis for several other theories in contemporary criminology. For example, the theories that have come to be known as strain theories. Sociologist Robert Merton believed that “social conditions, especially poverty and ethnicity, are powerful factors in determining the adaptations that individuals make to socially prescribed goals and the lifestyles that develop as a result” (25). Focusing on social disorganization and strain theory, I can attempt to explain why people commit the crimes of juvenile delinquency, methamphetamine use, and prostitution. Shaw and McKay’s theory of social disorganization asserts “that delinquency emerges in neighborhoods where the neighborhood relationships and institutions have broken down and can no longer maintain effective social controls” (Bernard, Snipes, Gerould, 2010, p. 65). Agnew’s general strain theory focuses on negative relationships with others...
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...The Link: Genetics and Criminal Behavior Carla Davis AIU Online An ongoing debate that genetics can be linked to criminal behavior has been ongoing. Researchers are working hard to link criminal behavior and genetics. This study tries to find supporting evidence that a criminal can inherit the notion to commit criminal activity through inheritance. On side believes that criminal activity is caused through inheritance while others agree that genetics has absolutely nothing to do with committing crimes and it’s a person choice when committing a crime or partaking in criminal activities. Included in these studies are adopted studies, twin studies, and testosterone studies. These studying link criminal activities with genetics and give supporting evidence that criminal activities are not inherited. The Link: Genetics and Criminal Behavior Research currently suggests that the genetic characteristics of anger and illegal behavior involve several different factors depending on multiple genes. Although no researcher has been able to put a finger on any genetic factor that could be applied to the concept genes play a part in the influence of aggressive and criminal behavior, many studies have been done to include twin studies and adoption. Twin studies, adoption studies, and testosterone studies are the leading studies that link genetics and criminal behavior. (University of Texas at Dallas, 2012) Studying the differences and similarities between single/identical eggs and non-identical...
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...not what drives a juvenile to becoming a lifelong criminal and deviant, but instead, the “fate” that’s is tagged on by society and enforced by the conscience. According to a study performed in Malcolm Gladwell’s psychology book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, a person’s “self-identity” in college is just as important as the student’s actual intelligence. Gladwell begins to explain that if you are in a class where you feel smart (or have a positive self-identity); you will perform extraordinarily better on examinations. On the contrary, even though one is highly intelligent, if they are in a class containing students who are smarter than they are, then they will feel less smart and perform worse on examinations. If we compare college students to juvenile’s delinquency, we can get a better idea on how the self-fulfilling prophecy operates. If a society treats someone like a criminal, regardless of the offender’s...
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...A psychological theory is a type of biological theory who states that individuals commit criminal behavior against others because is derived from heredity. According to the author “Under this model, violent or criminal behavior is beyond the control of the individual and is cause by the persons biology” (Gosselin, 2014, p. 69). This theory assets that impulsive behavior is caused by genetic uncontrollable behavior that has been passed from generation from generation. Research on evolutionary psychology asserts that universally males are more aggressive because since ancient times males needed to commit violent-aggressive for protection of resources and intrasexual competition (same sex competition). In addition, evolutionist argues that humans have inherited biological and...
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...Long-Term Consequences of Childhood ADHD and Criminal Activities: Does childhood mental illness have long term consequences in terms of criminal behavior? Abstract The question of whether childhood mental illness has long term consequences in terms of criminal behavior has been little studied, yet it could have major consequences for both the individual and society more generally. In this paper, we focus on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), one of the most prevalent mental conditions in school-age children, to examine the long-term effects of childhood mental illness on criminal activities, controlling for a rich set of individual, family, and community level variables. The empirical estimates show that children who experience ADHD symptoms face a substantially increased likelihood of engaging in many types of criminal activities. An included “back-of-the-envelope” calculation of the social costs associated with criminal activities by individuals with childhood ADHD finds the costs to be substantial. Long-Term Consequences of Childhood ADHD and Criminal Activities: Does childhood mental illness have long term consequences in terms of criminal behavior? Introduction Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent and fast growing mental health problems facing children. The prevalence is estimated to be between 2-10% of school aged children, with 7.4 percent of parents who have children between the ages of 3-17 reporting...
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...Biological Theories and Criminal Behavior Biological theories address deviant behavior as a relationship between biological factors, and social norms in respect to crime. The theories address behavior of an individual based upon his or her biological impact. Schmalleger, (2008) points out a connection to social environments and the impact upon human behavior. The connection has validity because of human thoughts and activities are constantly flowing through the brain providing an impact relating to behavior. Researchers base biological theories on flaws relating to heredity, dysfunction of the brain’s neurotransmitters, injuries, trauma, or abnormalities involving the brain affecting behavior (Raine, 2002). Brain development is a biological theory providing information connecting damage of the frontal lobes located in the brain’s cerebrum to criminal behavior. The brain is similar to a computer sending messages to the body and when the messages cannot be delivered it is because of a dysfunction that has occurred in the brain. The frontal lobes and the limbic system are two of the major areas of the brain involving behavior. The frontal lobes are responsible for reasoning, problem solving, and emotions (Allen & Harper, 2010). The limbic system contains electrical circuitry controlling emotions and motivation (Allen & Harper, 2010). The amygdala when stimulated produces behavior related to emotions, memory and fear. When the amygdala is functioning properly it produces the...
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