Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this module, you
should be able to:
1. discuss the
concepts of classical theories; and
2. formulate
examples based on real life situations using the concept of the theory.
CLASSICAL
THEORIES
Classical theories of crime
causation hold primarily that the people’s decision to commit crime is a matter
of choice. Because it was assumed that people had free will to choose their
behavior, those who violated the law were motivated by personal needs such as
greed, revenge, survival, and hedonism. Utilitarian philosophers Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham argued
that people weigh the benefits and consequences of their future actions before
deciding on a course of behavior. Potential violators would stop their actions
if the pain associated with a behavior outweighed its anticipated gain;
conversely, law violating behavior seems attractive if the future rewards seem
far greater than the potential punishment (Siegel et al, 2007). These are the
theories under classical:
1. Rational
Choice Theory
Holds that person will engage in criminal behavior after weighing the
consequences and benefits of their actions. Criminal behavior is a rational
choice made by a motivated offender who perceives that the chances of gain
outweigh any possible punishment or loss (Siegel et al, 2007).
"Rational choice" theory, which is derived mainly from the
expected utility model in economics, has become a "hot" topic in
criminology, sociology, political science, and law. The rational choice theory
posits that one takes those actions, criminal or lawful, which maximize payoff
and minimize costs (Akers, 1990).
2. Routine
Activity Theory
This theory was created by Lawrence E. Cohen and Marcus K. Felson, with the 1979 publication of their seminal article “Social Change and Crime Rate Trends: A Routine Activity
Approach.” They
viewed that crime is a “normal” function of the routine activities of modern
living; offenses can be expected if there is a motivated offender and a
suitable target that is not protected by capable guardians (Siegel et al,
2007). Routine activity theory—also
sometimes referred to as lifestyle
theory—has proven to be one of the more useful theories for understanding
criminal victimization and offending patterns in the late 20th and early 21st
centuries.
3. General
and specific deterrence theory
General deterrence theory is
aimed at making potential criminals fear the consequences of crime showing that
crime does not pay. It focuses on potential offenders and that these offenders
must receive punishment in a severe, swift and certain way. It is also
manifesting societal deterrence which aimed to target would be offenders
(Siegel et al, 2007). For example: imposing long prison sentences or in the Philippines lifetime imprisonment
for violent or heinous crimes.
Specific
deterrence theory holds that if offenders are punished so severely, the
experience will convince them not to
repeat their illegal acts. Its main targets are those offenders who have
already been convicted and it also claimed that punishing more criminals will
reduce their involvement in criminal activity (Siegel et al, 2007).
4. Victim
precipitation theory
Victim precipitation theory viewed
that some people may actually initiate the confrontation that eventually leads to their injury or
death. It was first presented by Von Hentig (1941) and applies only to violent victimization. Its basic
premise is that by acting in certain provocative ways, some individuals
initiate a chain of events that lead to their deaths (Walsh, 2012). For
example, a wife who was able to kill her husband because the husband kept on
beating her by the time he got drunk is one example. The husband became a
victim in this case since the perpetrator (the wife) is just acting based on self-defense.
The concept of
victim offender interaction can be classified either active or passive
precipitation (Walsh, 2012).
Active precipitation occurs
when victims act provocatively, use threats or fighting words, or even attacks
first the offenders (Siegel, 2012). For example, when the person who shouts and
utters profane language at his enemy but the latter has a knife and stabs the
former to death.
Passive precipitation occurs
when the victim exhibits some personal characteristic that unknowingly either
threatens or encourages the attacker (Siegel, 2012). For example, Bee who has
tattoos all around his body may be a threat to somebody especially if Bee is
already drunk. Even though he did
nothing wrong but the other person got threatened and attacked B leading either
to his injury or immediate death.
5. Incapacitation theory
Incapacitation theory stands to reason that if more criminals are sent to
prison the crime rate should go down; keeping known criminals out of
circulation (Siegel et al, 2007). This theory supported the idea of
imprisonment of criminals.
Q1. What does classical mean?
Answer: Classical has a root word classic which means standard or model.
Q2. Who is the father of classical criminology?
Answer: Cesare Beccaria
Q3. What is the main concept of classical theory?
Answer: Its main concept is that people have freewill; that people have all the freedom to choose between right and wrong and despite
knowing that his action is wrong still he chooses it then he deserves
punishment
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