Sexual Crimes as Explained by Biological and Criminological Theories - Research Paper Example

Occurrence of sexual crimes: explanation by biological and criminological theories Introduction This research paper discusses occurrence of sexual crimes from perspectives of biological and criminological theories. Therefore the research paper is outlined as follows: A) Introduction. B) General discussion: 1) Biological theories as explanation for sex crime occurrence; 2) Sexual crime and criminological theories. C) Conclusion Thesis: Sexual crime occurrence is a complex intimidating phenomenon caused by biological, social, psychological and other factors. The reasons for sexual crimes’ occurrence can be found with the help of integrative approach to theoretical background discussion. Introduction Sexual crimes are the most hated crimes in any society. The causes of such kind of crimes were previously sought in a criminal’s life. Currently, the accents have been shifted to biological and criminological theories. Thus modern scientists put all their efforts in order to determine and thus prevent reasons for sexual crimes. The reasons for and consequences of sexual crimes are intimidating factors for modern society development. Sexual crimes are committed by persons with deviant behavior. The forms of sexual crimes may scare by their inhumanity and humiliation. Let’s refer to the Online Dictionary definition of sex crime. It’s defined as “a constitutional offence that provides that it is a crime to intentionally cause another person to engage in an sexual act by force or threat” (Online Dictionary). Currently, many countries have replaced the concept ‘rape’ by ‘sex crime’ though the latter definition implies many other names: sexual assault, sexual abuse, sex offense (in America) sex offence (in Britain and Canada) etc. In the process of this research conduct, it was clear that there is a lack of theoretical sources for studies of sex crimes’ reasons. In accordance with Tangri et al. (1997) studies on sex crimes are of descriptive character and provide no detailed analyses of sex crimes reasons. Therefore it is relevant to turn our research to theoretical approaches to sex crimes’ study. The attention is focused on biological and criminological theories as the descriptive mechanisms of sex crimes’ reasons. Biological theories as explanation for sex crime occurrence In this section we combined biological and genetic theories as explanatory mechanisms for sex crimes commitments. Genetic theories are concerned with social factors and social environment as influential factors on person’s behavior. Biological theories are focused on “physiological, biochemical, neurological, and genetic effects” on a person’s behavior. Of course, it is necessary to underline that all these factors are interrelated, but the attention of the scientists is focused on the study of sociological factors. It is better to claim that the scientists start their study of either genetic or biological factors from sociological point of view. The general idea of biological theories, which explain occurrence of sex crime, is a presence of "crime gene" that drives potential criminals to commit crimes. Sociological environment can ‘awake’ this gene and only its presence in somebody’s organism isn’t enough to drive a person to break the law. Nevertheless, biological theories are not taken into account in the Courts. Thus the legal system of the USA has claimed that the persons who are aged younger than18 can’t be executed (Steffensmeier, 1996). As far as we can see, not the presence of “crime gene” is considered, but aspects of social behavior such as irresponsibility, vulnerability to outer factors etc are taken into account. The same claims, explaining exclusion of young criminals’ execution, can make an emphasis on their dispositions to sex crimes. It means that irresponsibility, lack of self-control can lead to drastic consequences when committing sex crime. Moreover, biological theories are often underestimated because of crime reasons’ explanation in the view of the gender gap in crime. Thus males are more considered by criminologists as potential lawbreakers. Gender gap theory belongs to biological theories, but gender gap variability because of age, race and geographic territory underline groundlessness of biological theory of gender gap in comparison with sociological explanation of crime. In case biological theory had a strong background, then gender gap wouldn’t vary with regard to social factors. Sex crimes also cause doubtful considerations among some scientists. For example, Steffensmeier (1996) claims that sex crimes are not violent crimes. The author refers to Online Dictionary and defines violence as “unlawful exercise of physical force, intimidation by exhibition of this” (Online Dictionary). He claims that sex crime may be considered to be a violent crime because a physical force is applied to a victim. Thus the author shows unordinary approach to sex crimes reasons’ definition and considers sex crimes on three levels: popular considerations about violence, criminal justice statistics on sex crimes and sex crime as a judicial phenomenon (Steffensmeier, 1996). Steffensmeier claims and considers sex crimes in such kind of sequence, because popularization of sex violence in mass media influences potential lawbreakers or stimulates “crime gene”. Thus criminal justice statistics reflects consequences of this popularization and leads to occurrence of another judicial phenomenon. Thus we can trace the roots of biological theories Steffensmeier uses in combination with social aspects’ interrelation and claims that “crime gene” will be activated if popularization of sex violence in mass media occurs. Another application of biological theories to the explanation of sex crimes’ occurrence maybe found in the study conducted by Tangri (1982). The author provides with the “natural/biological model” in compliance with which sex crimes’ occurrence is explained by male supremacy and male drive to sexual aggression. The author combines biological and social theories. Male supremacy is a social stereotype which differs across countries and societies, but, on the other hand, inborn strength of a man can’t be underestimated. Sexual crime and criminological theories Criminologists next to biologists under their considerations of sex crime occurrence, tend to combine different factors in order to find the reasons for sex crimes. Thus criminological theories consider biological, psychological, social, and economic factors as determinants of sex crimes’ commitment. A potential sex offender is driven to a sex crime subconsciously with regard to the abovementioned factors. In spite of the fact that criminological theories may seem to be direct in their explanations of sex crimes’ occurrence, the combination of different factors creates a basis for deviant sex behavior of sex criminal. Psychological motives and emotional condition of a potential lawbreaker are properly considered in criminological theories. In accordance with sociopathy (criminological theory of 80s) sex crimes may be committed by individuals who live in a “cycle of violence”. These people are abused in their childhood or grow up in antisocial atmosphere. Consequently, these individuals can potentially commit sexual crimes. Unfortunately, this “vicious circle” or “cycle of violence” may reappear in many other generations of the family. Moreover, criminological theories consider that the reasons for sex crimes are rooted in sex popularization. Thus Stephen and Roland Holmes in their book “Sex Crimes: Patterns and Behaviors” (2002) discuss reasons and consequences of sex crimes but in the same time they try to find out the motives which drive potential criminals to violent sex crimes. The authors focus their attention, as it was already mentioned above, on sex popularization. They underline that in modern society sex isn’t a spiritual unification of two beloved persons; it’s a kind of entertainment and time spending. Thus married couples attract another person in order one of the spouses could watch how another spouse is having sex with a stranger; 264 magazines are focused on children having sex and 1 million women are raped every year (Holmes, p. 118). These horrible facts represent a sequential social degradation. From the first sight, one never believes that his neighbor, a stranger in the street or a teacher of his child is a person with a sexually deviant behavior. Therefore the authors of the book claim that sex crimes in the society occur because the society has created such kind of favorable conditions for these inhuman violent practices. Holmes & Holmes (2002) provide also criminological theories’ considerations on sex crimes: “Although [sex] crimes may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the feelings of animosity toward these offenders do not” (Holmes, p. 223). Sex criminals are the most hated category among criminals and are considered to be drags of society. Therefore the authors appeal to social institutions and judicial systems in the following way: in order to prevent sex crimes it is necessary to find the roots of this evil. In another book “Criminological Theories: Bridging the Past to the Future” (2002), Suzette Cote provides 36 articles on criminological theories. Having made a brief overview of this impressive anthology, it is possible to come to the conclusion that criminological theories underline multi-sided nature of sexual crimes’ reasons. Psychological and biological factors are properly considered in order to define the reasons for sexual crimes. Moreover, consequences of sexual crimes are also properly discussed in order to complement the list of sexual crimes’ reasons. Conclusion Sexual crime occurrence is a compound threatening phenomenon caused by a great number of factors. The causes for sexual crimes’ occurrence can be found with the help of integrative approach to theoretical background discussion. In the process of our research, we took under consideration two different approaches to sex crimes’ reasons. Interrelation of biological, social, psychological and many other factors witnesses that sexual crimes commitment has a multi-sided character and complicated nature. Thus a potential sex criminal from criminological theories’ perspective, can be portrayed as an individual from an antisocial family, who was abused in his childhood. On the other hand, from biological theories’ consideration, this individual may have inborn “crime gene” which, if activated by social environment, could lead to sexual commitment. Moreover, this research paper concerns such issues as increase of sexual crimes among youth that is caused by sex popularization in mass media. Another point discussed in this paper is correlation of concepts “violence” and “sexual crime”. Consequently, the conducted research leads to interpretation of sexual crimes’ occurrence in many different ways, but there is no list of sexual crimes reasons that would be judicially and socially grounded. Thus there is a wide range for future considerations of sexual crime reasons’ study. With regard to biological theoretical explanations of the above issue, it is relevant to note that biological theories deal with genetic and gender factors as determinants. At this point we can see that biological theories are focused on quantitative method of sexual crimes’ reasons determination. Criminological theoretical explanations of sexual crimes occurrence are more multi-sided and take into account a wider range of potential crime factors. Therefore the most promising perspectives on sexual crimes occurrence’ explanations should be sought in criminological theories. Moreover, it is relevant to combine different theories in order to find out the reasons for sexual crimes’ occurrence. As far as we can see, the study of sexual crimes has still been developing and different scientists put all their efforts in order to find relevant ways for data measurement, compilation, and theoretical background development. Works cited 1. Cote, S., 2002. Criminological Theories: Bridging the Past to the Future. 1st ed. Sage Publications. 2. Holmes, S. T. & Holmes, R. M., 2002. Sex Crimes: Patterns and Behaviors. 2nd ed. Sage Publications. 3. Sex Crime. Available at: http://www.wordwebonline.com/.../SEXCRIME. [Accessed 17 May 2010] 4. Steffensmeier, D., 1996. Gender and Crime: Toward a Gendered Theory of Female Offending. Annual Review of Sociology 22: p. 459+. 5. Tangri, S., 1982. Sexual harassment at work: three explanatory models. J. Soc. 38(Winter):pp. 33-54. Read More