Biosocial Theory of Crime - Assignment Example

Biosocial Theory of Crime Summary Biosocial criminology theory is an emerging perspective that tries to relate crime and of antisocial behaviors with the environmental factors and genetic of a person who engages in crime. Description and postulation According to Bryant, T. (2009), the theory postulates that biosocial factors directly influence antisocial behaviors and crime. The view of this theory is that individuals will engage in unlawful act not by choice, but because of the influence of their immediate surroundings. A child born in in areas with highj prevalence of criminal activities will most likely join the vice. In addition, the theory suggests that crime is inborn; in this case, if a relative of a child engaged in criminal activities, his or her children are likely to join the vice. Real life Case Kendall Francois from Poughkeepsie, New York is a serial killer who was charged and convicted of killing at least eight (8) women in the year 2000. According to Bryant, T. (2009), the convicted was raised up in a suburb several kilometers from the New York City where cases of abduction and serial killing were common. In addition, his uncle, Aadams Riverham was convicted of murder 16 years before Kendall Francois was arrested. Psychological Theory of crime Summary Psychological theories of crime deals with the relationship between the crime and antisocial behaviors and the thinking process of a person. Postulation The theory postulates that criminal behavior results from individual distinctions in thinking processes. Accordingly, there are different psychological theories, but they all agree that it is the person's feelings and thoughts that dictate criminal actions. Real life Case In the case of Mary Agnes who was convicted of murdering her own child, Bryant, T. (2009), observes that the mother had no criminal background or anything that could have influenced the killing. In this case, he concludes that her psychological process would have experienced a dysfunction that prompted her to kill, (pg.443). Social structure theory This theory suggests that the social-economic status of a person can influence them to commit crimes especially for economic gains. In this case, people who are placed lowly in the social ladder are more vulnerable to joining criminal activities. Postulation The theory postulates that the place of people in the socioeconomic structure has a direct influence on their chances of becoming criminals. Accordingly, Jordens, P. (2006), declares that there is more likelihood of poor people committing crimes as a result of failure to achieve social success using other ways, (pg.312). Real life Case To explain this theory, Jordens, P. (2006) cites the case of Aliata Michaal. In the case, Aliata Michaal was accused of robbery with violence on 12th June 1996. He was found guilty as accused and the presiding judge gave the accused an opportunity to plead for lenience. In his submission, the accused narrated his ordeal with his father. In a statement present by the accused attorney, Aliata Michaal was abandoned with his six siblings and he was the only bread winner. Though the judge did not hand a lesser penalty, it is evident that poverty can lead criminal activities, (pg.330). Social Process theory of crime This theory observes that criminality is an affair of people’s interaction with various institutions, organizations and processes in the society. In this case, the immediate environment that a person interacts with will dictate whether they will engage in crime or otherwise. Postulation and assumptions This theory assumes that every person is a potential criminal so long as they keep destructive social relationships. Social learning theory further postulates that people learn the attitudes and techniques of crime when they are in relationships with criminal peers. This can be related to the peer pressure and influence school of thought. According to Bryant (2009), this theory manifests itself mostly in young people and once they pick the criminal activities, it is usually quite hard to move out of them. Real life case In trying to bring the Social Process theory into better perspectives, Bryant (2009) cites a case when school boys start stealing from their fellow students. In this case, these boys perfect the art of stealing and they continue with the vice in other places after school. If one the gang meets one their college mate who needs to be assisted with a place to stay as he tries to get a job in the city. In this case, the criminal gang will live with the innocent classmate. Accordingly, the innocent boy is likely to engage in criminal activities as a result of a close association with the criminal gangs, (pg.400). Social conflict theory This theory blames the existing inequalities in the society as a factor that precipitates criminal activities. In this case, the theory suggests that norms and laws in the society are enacted so as to benefit the advantaged but oppressing those that are less privileged. Postulations Conflict criminology holds that criminal activities in capitalist societies cannot be adequately comprehended without recognition the society is dominated by the wealthy who dominates through economic exploitation of others. As such, the oppressed groups may turn to crime so as to gain the wealth that obviously brings equality in capitalist societies. Real life case The emergence of militia groups, especially in developing countries, is a good example of the social conflict theory of crime. The groups are majorly formed to fight for one thing or the other. in most cases, the membership of these criminal groups is drawn from the unemployed youths who are brainwashed and convinced that they should do anything, including killing, so as to recover their lands or other property that were acquired by the rich. A good example of such group is Boko Haram in Nigeria of Al shabaab in Somalia. Developmental Theory of crime This theory is of the view that criminality is a dynamic process that is influenced by individual characteristics as well as social experience. In this case, a person can develop characteristics that are oriented towards antisocial behaviors without being influenced by external factors. Jordens, P. (2006) agrees that individuals, especially teenager can acquire criminal characteristics without necessarily obtaining the vice from a second person. Postulates This theory argues that antisocial behaviors can easily be acquired the same way that other characteristics are acquired in life. In this case, a person who is undergoing physical and psychological development can spontaneously got the criminal characteristics. Real life case Psychologists argue that when other theories have failed to explain the genesis of a criminality attitude, the development theory can give explanation. A good example of developmental theory of criminality is when a person from a wealthy family with access to all what they desire in life caught in a criminal affair. In the FBI website, there is a one Mr Roninson Paul, a wanted criminal for robbery with violence. What is amazing is that Paul is a son of a former senator for California. Jordens, P. (2006) declares that Mr Roninson Paul is one of the few isolated cases where criminal traits were acquired spontaneously in the course of development. Reference Jordens, P. (2006). Criminal Brain. Washington : Mouton de Gruyter. Bryant, T. (2009). Criminology Theory. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press. Top of Form Bottom of Form Teitelbaum, J., & Wilensky, S. (2013). Essentials criminal law (2nd ed.). Sudbury, Mass.: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Read More