Theoretical Framework - Essay Example

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE: The current chapter discusses the topic under study with the relevant theoretical framework applied for the present research. The present study has been supported both by nature and nurture theories of deviant behavior. The nature theories include biological theory of perversion articulated by the biologist psychologist Cesare Lombroso as well as the constructivist theory of cognitive development introduced by Jean Piaget. The study has also been supported by Social Learning Theory by Bandura & Mischel to elaborate the role of nurture and learning in personality development as well as perversion. Famous Italian biologist-criminologist Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909) is of the opinion that the individuals have innate characteristics that determine their behavior while entering into interaction with their environment and society. Since people act, react and behave on the basis of their instinct, it is therefore biological features play foremost role in human behavior. It is particularly applied on the criminals, which are born with some specific biological and physical characteristics. Though he does not refute the very idea altogether that crime is the product of society and consequently a learned behavior, yet he states by birth traits as vital to determine man’s social behavior. Criminals are, he submits, criminals by birth, and hence their behavior cannot be controlled by implementing restrictions or introducing any statutes of law. He has supported his theory with the help of evidence he gathered during his research on criminals and prisoners. Lombroso, on the basis of his research, states that structure of skull, nose, ears, hands, feet and nails reflect to the personality traits of habitual criminals, which are quite different from ordinary people and non-criminal persons. The enormous jaws, Lombroso observes, high cheek-bones, prominent superciliary arches, solitary lines in the palms, extreme size of the orbits, handle-shaped or sessile ears are found in criminals, savages and apes. (Quoted in Hagan, 1997: 23) Since the genetic code of the individuals determines the their mental capabilities, aptitude and inclination, it is therefore declaring environment of prison houses and jails as sole responsible for the crime recidivism is not a just way on the part of the criminals, according to crime psychology and biological sociology. Concrete behavioral traits, Pinker (2004) submits, reflect the underlying talents and temperaments--- how proficient with language a person is, how religious, how liberal or conservative--- are partially heritable. The present research has also been supported by Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. Cognitive growth simply means the development in children’s ability to think and perceive. In the same way, it also elaborates the learning process of children from their environment. Renowned biologist Jean Piaget presented his constructivist theory of cognitive development by 1952, according to which humans have innate capability of learning everything, which distinguishes them from animals. Humans maintain, Piaget stresses, innate capabilities to symbolize the abstract things within their environment, which reveal their inborn distinction while entering into social interaction with other members of society. (Anderson, 2001: 433) Consequently, criminal activities and deviant behavior are also the outcome of cognitive development, which cannot be declared as the by-product of the atmosphere only. Hence, crime recidivism cannot be stated as the result of the unpleasant and immoral atmosphere of prison houses. Piaget found, Walsh (2008) notes, that even though 5 to 10 year old children were able to distinguish between deliberate and unintentional acts, they still tended to base their judgments on the outcome of the act, though they are unable to resist their instinct. (Retrieved from alevelpsychology.co.uk) The present research has also been supported by nurture theories of human behavior. Environmentalist, social learning and psychodynamic approaches vehemently assert all human actions as the outcome of the learning process of individuals; consequently, the individuals’ social surroundings and environment play the most imperative part in human behavior. The nurturists are of the opinion that crime is the product of society. The theory submits that man entered as completely a neat and clean being, at the eve of his birth, and is unable to make distinction between right and wrong. It is society that either makes him a very useful member or spoils him altogether by teaching him criminal activities, delinquent behavior and perversion existing in all human societies since ever. Thus, society is the responsible for turning the biological man into a polluted social animal. Since man’s learning process takes place in the environment in which he grows up and obtains socialization, environment is stated to be the most influential phenomenon for personality built-up. Thus, socio-cultural environment maintains the lion’s share in the upbringing of human mind and personality. Contemporary psychologists Albert Bandura & Walter Mischel are the torch-bearers of the social learning theory of personality development. Both the theorists are of the view that since different people display different types of behavior while performing their everyday duties and obligations, the difference in their behavior is the result of difference in their learning process. Theories that explain, Bandura notes, human behavior as solely the product of external rewards and punishments present a truncated image of people because they possess self-reactive capacities that enable them to exercise some control over their own feelings, thoughts and actions. (1977: 129; retrieved from Pervin, 1995: 360) Hence, human behavior entirely and unconditionally based on the traits prevailing in a social set up. Similarly, Mischel also declares environment as the influential factor in human learning process. Mischel has keen interest in juvenile delinquents and views repetition of criminal activity and offence as the result of continuous interaction of the juveniles with the habitual criminals and jail birds. Social disorganization theory submits that the prevailing social norms, values and mores make up the personalities of individuals. For instance, children grown up in slum areas are inclined towards committing crimes related to money and finance. Such crimes include burglary, theft and robbery etc. In the same way, homosexual behavior and pedophilia are often considered as the reaction to the past experiences of the victim. Since the victim is unable to forget the crime had been committed against him, he takes revenge from society and is continuously gets involved into criminal activity had been afflicted upon him in past. Since, prison houses had aptly been declared as the center of such crimes including homosexuality and other sexual perversions; the juveniles often repeat the same crime and cause crime recidivism on their release from jail. In the same way, the juveniles, who had been rummaged through, battered and physically abused could turn as murderers, child molesters, pederasts and rapists as well while adopting criminal line on becoming grown ups. Few of the juveniles, belonging to lower stratum of society, learn getting free of cost food from prisons, so they repeat their crimes to reach in jail again, as they observe the habitual criminals while having long term interaction with them during their imprisonment. Thus, crime psychology helps the law enforcing agencies recognize and perceive the criminals by following the causes of crime behind it. LIST OF REFERENCES: Anderson, J. R. 1990 Cognitive Psychology and Its Implications. 3rd Edition W. H. Freeman & Company, New York Pervin, Lawrence A. 1995. Personality: Theory, Assessment & Research. 7th Edition John Wiley & Sons Inc. Canada Piaget, J. 1952. The Origin of Intelligence in Children. International University Press NY. Walsh, Keiron. 2008 Piagets Theory of Moral Development (Retrieved from http://alevelpsychology.co.uk/developmental-psychology/development-of-moral-understanding/piagets-theory-of-moral-development.html) Read More