Trait Theory in Criminology - Research Paper Example

 Introduction Trait theory posits that people are either genetically predisposed to commit crime or they are not. According to trait theory, a criminal can be identified by their genetic composition as well as their personality (Vito & Maahs, 2011). As Siegel (2011) argues, although there are many varieties of trait theory some of some of which include the element of environment, the core of trait theory is that genetics determine whether a person is going to be involved in crime or not. In this regard, Gordon Allport, the father of trait theory argues that criminals are those who bank lower in the evolutions tree. He argued that these criminals can be identified by their physical appearances which are an indication of their genetic competition. Among the features that Gordon Allport identified were sharp eye sight, sharp hearing abilities, large hands, bodies etc. The theory also posits that criminals are more likely to have lower intelligent quotients, since they are still lower in the evolution process. Gordon Allport was a pioneer of trait theory and believed that people’s behavior did not depend on environment or past, but that rather they depended on the genetics of a person. Gordon Allport described over 4500 traits by going through the dictionary and identifying all words which can be used to describe the traits or character of a person. He then classified these traits into three main categories which included the following. Cardinal traits Cardinal traits are the traits which fundamentally describes a person and their behavior. He argued that these are the traits that are fundamental in shaping the character of an individual. Cardinal traits have the most major role in shaping the behavior of a person and they are made from the strongest of a person’s obsessions and passions. Central traits Gordon Allport identified that there are some central traits which are common in almost all people. Although these traits are not fundamental in shaping the character and behaviors of a person, they nonetheless have an important role. Secondary traits Gordon Allport also identified secondary traits which also contribute to the personality of a person. Gordon Allport argued that these secondary traits have a very minimal impact on a person behavior, but must be considered in order to give a complete picture of a person’s personality and character. Application of trait theory Violent crime Although trait theory has been seen to have some very serious flaws in it, it has also been seen to be supported by various situations. For instance, most people who commit violent crime seem to be having some very common traits. For instance, serial killers seem to have very similar traits and are usually people with such attributes as very sharp eye sight and physical strength. However, there are some violent crimes which seem not to satisfy the requirements of trait theory. For instance, serial killers have always been very smart people who meticulously execute their planned crime and this makes them able to escape the long had of the law in most cases. Most serial killers commit crime for a very long time while the law enforcers are cahsing after them but always manage to fool the system. In fact these kinds of offenders are very same people with very high intelligent quotients. Due to this, the trait theory may into fully be applicable to these people. On another dimension however, these kinds of criminals can be said to prove the validity of trait theory. Serial killers are individual who commit crime not because they want to gain anything from the crime, not because they are forced by circumstances, but because they derive pressure by just committing these heinous acts (Thomas, 2011). Property crime and trait theory Trait theory of criminology can be seen in most of property crime. Most of the criminals who are likely to commit these types of crime are people who may be described by trait theory as likely to be criminals (Sutherland et al, 1992). Enterprise crime and trait theory The world has witnessed some t memorable white collar crimes. In fact, as Deflem (2011) says, these crimes were the major cause of the global economic recession of 2008 which lasted till 2012. These crimes seem to disprove the trait theory in one particular way. For instance, one of the major arguments of trait theory with regard to criminology is that criminals have low intellect as compared to non-criminals. Yet, those who have committed the most heinous white crimes are very brilliant people (Simpson & Weisburd, 2008). A good example is Jeff Skilling of the Enron saga who was a very sharp student in Harvard Business School. There are other very famous crimes such as the Ponzi pyramids scheme, the Lehmann Brothers saga and many others, these people were very smart people and their intellectual abilities were so too high to be considered to be low. Public order crimes Most people who commit these kinds of crime seem t have the same traits. These are usually people who have much lower intellectual abilities and for having low intellectual abilities, these people are always less educated. These crimes include such crimes as gambling and prostitutions and most of the people who are likely to commit them are people with the lowest levels of education. Prevention Trait theory provides for very a controversial position with regard to how crime would be prevented. Since the theory ascribed tie argument that criminals are born not made, the most logical way to prevent crime would then be to get rid of people with these genetic disposition. This would include preventing them from giving birth in order to make sure that these genes are not replicate din future generations. However, this is not the ethical thing to do, especially in a civilized society where each individual has a right to be. Alternatives would be to identify these potential crimeless and offering the right support mechanism in order to make sure that even though they are genetically predisposed to commit crime, they will not be tempted to do. However, it is necessary to note that with the original trait theory, this would not help because the hardcore trait theory suggests that these people would commit crime, regardless for situation and environment. However, other scholars have also modified the trait they to also include other factors such that that includes other elements. A modified trait theory for instance suggests that although criminals are predisposed to commit crime, they only do this once in a situation that pushes them towards committing crime. With this in mind, it wool be necessary to identify these criminals and them provide for ways to prevent this from happening. However, some of the crimes which would the most difficult to control would be serial killers Conclusion Trait theory is one of the theories that have been used to understand human personalities. In criminality, the theory is used to explain crime and to theorize crime. Unlike other criminology theories, the theory depends a lot on the generics of a person to explain criminology. This theory, while providing for some very important insights to crime and criminology, has some flaws which been identified by some scholars. Most scholars have identified that although genes affect the way an individual behaves, they don’t necessary do this solely. Some have argues that the best way to understand genes as causing people to commit crime would be to look at how genetic predisposition works together with the environmental forces to determine the behavior of a person. For instance, if two people, one with a genetic predisposition to commit crime and the not, are put in a strained environment, the one with a genetic predisposition to crime would most probably consider crime as a way to get out to of the strenuous position while the other would consider other ways. This means that genetics will affect the way a genetically predisposed person will behave, but not without the help of the environment. The issue of trait theory also brings out an ethical dilemma with regard to how crime should be controlled. If criminals are born, how would crime be prevented? It would definitely be by deterring the birth of criminals. Yet, this is not practical. Providing for any other solutions such as improving the environment in order to prevent these people from committing crime would imply be an admission that the environment is also a determining factor in how an individual behaves. In this regard, trait theory have provides for an ethical paradox which is hard to overcome. However, as it has been seen, modern improvements on trait theory seem to accept the fact that genes alone are inadequate to determine a person’s behavior, without the influence of the environment. In this regard, crime would be thwarted by the improvement of the environment. This however seems to be more in line with other criminology theories such as strain theory which posits that individuals commit crime when they are under pressure to come out of a situation which is not desirable, or to comply with the societies expectations of their responsibilities. The Conflict Theory which posits that crime arises from the differences in social classes which make up a society would be applicable in this situation. References Deflem, M. (2011). Economic Crisis and Crime. New York, NY: Emerald Group Publishing. Siegel, L. (2011). Criminology. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. Simpson, S.S. & Weisburd, D. (2008). The Criminology of White-Collar Crime. New York, NY: Springer. Sutherland, E. et al. (1992). Principles of Criminology. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield. Thomas, D. (2011). Police Psychology: A New Specialty and New Challenges for Men and Women in Blue. London, UK: ABC-CLIO. Vito, W. & Maahs, J. (2011). Criminology: Theory, Research, and Policy. New York, NY: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Read More