Theories of Crime Causation

  Module #14 Lesson Objectives: At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1.   rephrase the main concept of somatotyping theory; and 2.    identify the different types of body physique and its relation to crime causation. SOMATOTYPING THEORY Somatotyping theory is a theory which associates body physique to behavior and criminality ; it began with the work of German psychiatrist, neurologist, psychopathologist, Ernst Kretschmer (1888-1964) who constituted three principal types of body physiques: 1)   the asthenic -lean, slightly built, narrow shoulders; 2)   the athletic -medium to tall, strong, muscular, coarse bones; and, 3)   pyknic -medium height, rounded figure, massive neck and broad face (Adler et al, 2010).   Since Kretschmer was a psychiatrist, he related these body shapes to various psychiatric disorders : pyknics to manic depression . Manic depression according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary refers to ...

  Module #13 Lesson Objectives: At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1.   create concept maps of the family line of the Jukes’ and Kallikak’s Family; and apply the theory in real-life situations. JUKES FAMILY  Advocates of the inheritance school, such as Henry Goddard, Richard Dugdale, and Arthur Estabrook, traced several generations of crime-prone families (referred to by pseudonyms such as the “Jukes” and the “Kallikaks”), finding evidence that criminal tendencies were based on genetics. Their conclusion: traits deemed socially inferior could be passed down from generation to generation through inheritance (Siegel, 2011). According to Richard Louis Dugdale in his book, “The Jukes": A Study in Crime, Pauperism, Disease and Heredity, Also Further Studies of Criminals, stated the origin of the stock of the “Jukes”, there was a hunter, a fisher, a hard drinker, and a jolly-man named Max who was also a descendant of the Dutchess settler. Two of Max’s s...

  Module #12 Lesson Objectives: At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1. retell the concept of latent trait theory; and 2. relate this theory to a specific object. LATENT TRAIT THEORY   Latent trait is defined as a stable feature, characteristic, property, or condition, such as defective intelligence, impulsive personality, genetic abnormalities, the physical-chemical functioning of the brain and environmental influences on brain function such as drugs, chemicals and injuries that make some people delinquency-prone over the life course. Latent theorists such as David Rowe, Wayne Osgood and Alan Nicewander (1990) focus on basic human behavior and drive such as attachment, aggression, violence, impulsivity—that are linked to antisocial behavior patterns. They recognized that human traits alone do not produce criminality and that it is a combination of environmental factors such as family life, educational attainment, economic factors, and neighborhood conditions ...

  Module #11 Lesson Objectives: At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1.   express the main points of life course theory; and 2.   evaluate the relevance of this theory in today’s society. LIFE-COURSE THEORY   Life Course theory otherwise known as Developmental theory suggests that criminal behavior is a dynamic process , influenced by individual characteristics as well as social experiences, and that the factors that cause anti-social behaviors change dramatically over a person’s life span. It is the product of the collaborative efforts of Sheldon Glueck , a Polish-American Criminologist together with his wife Eleanor Touroff-Glueck , an American social worker and criminologists. According to life- course view, even as toddlers, people begin relationships and behaviors that will determine their entire life course. As children they must learn to conform to social rules and function effectively in society. Later, they are expected to begi...

  Module #10 Lesson Title: Evolutionary Theory Lesson Objectives: At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1.   rephrase the concept of evolutionary theory; and           formulate an example of a scenario regarding the evolutionary theory. EVOLUTIONARY THEORY Evolutionary theory explains the existence of aggression and violent behavior as positive adaptive behaviors in human evolution; these traits allowed their bearers to reproduce disproportionately, which have had an effect on the human gene pool (Siegel et al, 2007). For example, if the child witnessed that his father beats her mother by the time his father is under the influence of alcohol; then the child will assume that it is good to beat somebody and when the time comes the child becomes a husband the same situation will be applied to his wife.   Cheater theory is one of the theories under the evolutionary that suggests that a subpopulation of men has evolved...

  Module #9 Lesson Title: Biosocial Theory   Lesson Objectives: At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1.   discuss the concepts of biosocial theory; and 2.   explain its sub-concepts. BIOSOCIAL THEORY This theory viewed that both thought and behavior have biological and social bases. Biosocial theorists believe that it is the interaction between predisposition and environment that produces criminality. Children born into a disadvantaged environment often do not have the social and familial support they need to overcome their handicaps. Lack of family support can have long-term physical consequences. For example, a child’s neural pathways may be damaged by repeated child neglect or abuse. Once experiences are ingrained, the brain “remembers,” and a pattern of electrochemical activation is established, which remains present across the lifespan. Contemporary biosocial theorists seek to explain the onset of antisocial behaviors, such as aggr...

  Module #8 Lesson Title: Perspectives of Crime Causation Lesson Objectives: At the end of this module, you should be able to: 1. explain the perspective of crime causation; and 2. identify what perspective is asked on the scenario. Perspectives of Crime Causation In the field of criminology, it is an undeniable fact that there are multiple factors which lead the individual to commit crime. Understanding these factors is also the same when we speak of the perspective of crime causation. This lesson will only discuss the classical, biological, process, conflict, biosocial, and psychological perspectives. 1.   Classical Perspective Classical perspective viewed crime as a product of situational forces; that crime is function of freewill and personal choice. It emphasized that the purpose of punishment is mainly to deter the occurrence of crime. The three principles of punishment that became the trademark of Beccaria's classical deterrence doctrine include: Swift - punishmen...