Criminal Behavior Theories Paper
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the criminal behavior theories. Which theory do you think is most applicable to the cause of criminal behavior today and why? Support your answer.
Requirements:
· 2-3 pages double spaced
· Use at least two reliable sources other than the text (not Wikipedia)
Crime depicts any act or omission that is prohibited by the public law. On the same note, behavior is a function which has measurable differences in psychological characteristics among individuals (Brennan-Galvin, 2002). Criminal Behavior Theories Paper. Such characteristics may be influenced by constitutional, personality attributes, and neurophysiologic or genetics factors. Likewise, criminal behavior is the commission of acts which in their situational and social settings are considered crimes due to the fact that they violate existing norms and codes of conduct regardless of whether the perpetrator is arrested, and if tried, convicted or acquitted. The origin of criminal behavior is complex since it involves long term interaction of the psychological…
After testing validity, the weight of the evidence supporting the theory is measured by ensuring that it is empirically supported. This implies that the theory should be in a position to give valid results when it is applied to the real world. Finally, a theory should have concepts that cover both parsimony and scope. It worth mentioning that parsimony entails the provision of a more concise explanation regarding a theory. Studies indicate that a theory which uses few concepts to explain a crime is better than the one which employs several concepts. On the other hand, scope refers to what a particular theory is able to clearly exhibit in terms of definitions or topics of study. Criminal Behavior Theories Paper.
Many theories have been put forward to explain criminal behaviors but the most common one is the social control theory. This maintains that all people have the potential to violate the law and the society (Alston, Harley & Lenhoff, 1995). Furthermore, the environment is an important fueling factor because it provides the opportunity for criminal activities to be carried out. This is bent on the fact that an individual gains the know how on the carriying out of criminal activities as easily as obtaining knowledge on performing socially acceptable activities. However, any theory related to the explanation of criminal behaviors must logically and clearly give details on the factors which relate to crime.
3.0 Relevance of studies related to the theory of criminal behavior
There is
After testing validity, the weight of the evidence supporting the theory is measured by ensuring that it is empirically supported. This implies that the theory should be in a position to give valid results when it is applied to the real world. Finally, a theory should have concepts that cover both parsimony and scope. It worth mentioning that parsimony entails the provision of a more concise explanation regarding a theory. Studies indicate that a theory which uses few concepts to explain a crime is better than the one which employs several concepts. On the other hand, scope refers to what a particular theory is able to clearly exhibit in terms of definitions or topics of study. Criminal Behavior Theories Paper.
Many theories have been put forward to explain criminal behaviors but the most common one is the social control theory. This maintains that all people have the potential to violate the law and the society (Alston, Harley & Lenhoff, 1995). Furthermore, the environment is an important fueling factor because it provides the opportunity for criminal activities to be carried out. This is bent on the fact that an individual gains the know how on the carriying out of criminal activities as easily as obtaining knowledge on performing socially acceptable activities. However, any theory related to the explanation of criminal behaviors must logically and clearly give details on the factors which relate to crime.
3.0 Relevance of studies related to the theory of criminal behavior
There is
Throughout history a lot of experts have tried to understand why some people feel the need to commit crimes, even though there have been harsh laws enforced for those who commit crimes. These people have come up with theories as to why people commit crimes to understand these theories, we must understand what a crime is and understand the definition of theories.
Crime is a human conduct that violates the laws of a state or the federal government. There are different ways people view criminal behaviors either through the view of the social problem perspective which blames the society and the social responsibility which blames the person who committed the crime. Through these two perspectives we get the idea of theories. A theory is a comprehensive explanation about certain experiences which are based on facts that have been gathered overtime. These theories explain the mental reason people are more pushed to commit crimes. Theories like Robert Agnews’ General Strain Theory has given us an explanation as to phenomena criminal behavior. In 1992 strain theory was reformulated by Robert Agnew and called the general strain theory. Agnew felt as though that strain theory was not fully explaining the main reason people are pushed to commit crimes, so he came up with a theory he felt was a better explanation and a reason as to why crimes were committed.
The concept of general strain theory comes from the idea that people commit crimes to use it as a means of copping with the
Crime is a human conduct that violates the laws of a state or the federal government. There are different ways people view criminal behaviors either through the view of the social problem perspective which blames the society and the social responsibility which blames the person who committed the crime. Through these two perspectives we get the idea of theories. A theory is a comprehensive explanation about certain experiences which are based on facts that have been gathered overtime. These theories explain the mental reason people are more pushed to commit crimes. Theories like Robert Agnews’ General Strain Theory has given us an explanation as to phenomena criminal behavior. In 1992 strain theory was reformulated by Robert Agnew and called the general strain theory. Agnew felt as though that strain theory was not fully explaining the main reason people are pushed to commit crimes, so he came up with a theory he felt was a better explanation and a reason as to why crimes were committed.
The concept of general strain theory comes from the idea that people commit crimes to use it as a means of copping with the
Criminal Behavior Theories Paper