Classical Criminology Concepts - Assignment Example

Classical Criminology Free-Will (answer in relation to classicism) Classicism in criminology is concerned with the rights as well as liberties of the different classes as well as individual responsibility whether in law or administration. Free will was a concept born out of classicism and is all about liberty and spontaneity. Humans are assumed to be accorded with rationality as part of the free will but it sometimes fails and this is when crime is committed. Crime takes place when an individual breaks the law which is a form of contract (Fitzgerald, McLennan & Pawson, 2003). In determining the sentencing of the person or during a hearing in court, the liberty of the person which is broken during arrests is tried to be restored by determining whether the person was rational at the time of committing the crime. By trying to prove or establish rationality, classicism is being applied. This however is usually biased as it tends to favor a certain class of people majorly the rich whose wealth tends to cushion them from criminality sanctions which does not happen for the poor. When classicism is encouraged to prove rationality of an individual, spontaneity is failed to be provided and hence the free will of the individual ends up being curtailed. The two concepts cannot therefore be put together and biasness is avoided (Einstadter & Henry, 2006). The two concepts cannot therefore be put together and biasness be avoided. Determinism (answer in relation to positivism) Crime according to determinism is not caused by rationality but rather another mired of factors that can be observed and quantified. In determining criminal behavior, a series of scientific knowledge is sought and relied upon to not only identify the cause of the criminal behavior but seek ways to rectify them as well. While classicism criminology is purely based on free will and rationality hence more concerned with explaining crime, positivist criminology based on determinism is more grounded towards prediction of crime (Whitehead & Lab, 2015). The positivist determinists in this case seek to find the motivation behind people committing crimes or specific types of crimes. It is through identification of the motivator that they can be able to predict about a certain crime taking place even before it does as well as seeking the cause of the crime once it takes place. Determinists seek to identify the different forces that act together or alone in an individual and which might warrant them or drive them towards engaging in other crimes as opposed to others. This method of determining crime through causation and prediction is being sought in the recent past as a way to stop criminals from engaging in criminal behavior again as well as stop crimes from happening (Siegel, 2014). Individual Positivism Criminal behavior has its own set of characteristics and it is these characteristics that enable the differentiation between a criminal and a non-criminal. These characteristics lie on either biological or psychological factors as the main sources of individual pathology. According to this theory, crime is fully caused by an abnormality in an individual and is purely personal. The individual engaging in the criminal behavior violates moral and legal codes and the level or extent of violation depends on the personality as well as temperament of the individual (Siegel, 2014). This type of criminality causation explains the different sentencing people get once they commit the crime even though the crimes may be similar such as murder. It explains the argument or insanity as a plea where the judge may order psychological examination to determine whether the crime was caused by an anomaly in the psychological well-being of an individual. Since criminality has been established to be caused by biological or psychological factors, it can also be treated through usage of medicine, counseling as well as trying to re-socialize the individuals back into society as a way to make them normal. This theory assumes that once an individual is cured, they can be normal in the society and hence avoid committing crime (Fitzgerald, McLennan & Pawson, 2003). Pleasure Pain Calculus Before criminals engage in any criminal activity, they calculate the value of pleasure they will deduct from the activity and the pain as well. If the pleasure exceeds the pain, then they go ahead with the criminal activity. Using this same analogy utilized by criminals, punishment of the criminals should be aimed at enforcing more pain than pleasure (Einstadter & Henry, 2006). This should be as a way to deter the criminals from engaging in criminal activities in the future. The punishment or infliction of pain is much more effective based on appropriateness rather than severity. The pain provided should justify the crime committed by the individual. This is the principle that is used when formulating criminal laws in many nations and which ensure that capital punishment is eliminated and there is reduction of cruelty in the legal world. In measuring the amount of pain or pleasure, (Walsh & Hemmens, 2010) explains several measures that can be employed which are intensity, duration, certainty or uncertainty as well as propinquity or remoteness. Despite the infliction of pain in the sentencing, most criminals still ignore accounting this pain when calculating about engaging in criminal activity. They outweigh the pain with the pleasure they are likely to get and hence the reason most are repeat offenders. Correlational Analysis Correlational analysis is basically a statistical method used to determine the degree of relationship between two or more variables when carrying out research (McLaughlin & Muncie, 2013). This statistical method is used by criminologists to determine the relationship between several variables of an individual’s life that may provide an explanation of crime and engagement of criminal activity by an individual. An example of such as correlational analysis is evaluation of childhood experiences, personality as well as social circumstances among others to criminal behavior. Even though correlation does not equate to causation, the collection of various variables that are related to each other are put together and a path analysis drawn which will provide an indication of a pattern of behavior which can then be deduced to be the cause of a criminal behavior. An example of this path analysis used in correlational analysis of criminal behavior according to McLaughlin & Muncie, (2013) is such that a likelihood of arrest of an individual is determined by the gender, the ethnic group, education and the parents among other variables. All these correlate to each other and they draw a pattern of criminal behavior which is likely to occur. This is purely based on statistical analysis. Differential Association Criminal behavior does not take place in all individuals but is rather heavily influenced by learning and through interaction all while in the process of communication. When an individual has constant associations with a group of people that are criminals, they are likely to influence him or her to commit crime even though not directly. This will take place through their motives, attitudes as well as rationalization of crime which socially influences the new party to engaging in crime as well and this is what is referred to as differential association (Walsh & Hemmens, 2010). The differential association according to McLaughlin & Muncie, (2013) varies depending on factors such as intensity of the conversations, the frequency and duration of the rationalization and interaction with the group of criminals as well as the priority the crime is given in the group discussions. When the innocent individual spends a lot of time or constantly interacts with the group of criminals who spend majority of their time rationalizing and justifying committing of crime, he or she is likely to be influenced to learn about crime and conform to the criminal characteristics and hence eventually though differential association becomes a criminal himself and not because he had planned to. Strain Theory Strain theory explains how it is the strain the society inflicts upon a person that drives them to commit crime. This strain refers to examples such as financial strain, violence and harassment among many others which in a bid to escape them, they engage in criminal activity directly or engage in illicit drugs that drive them to commit crime through having impaired judgment. It is through engaging in criminal activities as a way to escape from the strain that makes them feel better (Einstadter & Henry, 2006). According to these types of criminals, the engagement in crime is as a way to rebel against the cause of the strain or the structure that contributes to the strain. An individual who is lowly paid in a company experiences financial strain. As a result, he steals valuables from the company or damages property or even sets the place on fire as a way of rebelling and retaliating from the low wages paid. This is committing crime which has been driven by the stress and strain the company has inflicted upon the individual. This act of vandalism majorly takes place after the individual becomes drunk and is therefore not in the right mind to reason and think about the consequences of the actions. Personality theory Personality is all about an individual’s beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors and how they interact with others all of which are generally known as characteristics. There are individuals who are shy and others are bold and go getters who are not afraid to stand for what they believe in or even engage in risky behaviors. According to Fitzgerald, McLennan & Pawson, (2003), individuals that score highly on neuroticism and extraversion are more likely to engage in criminal behavior and activities. This is so because of their personality characteristics such as being impulsive, lacking concern and empathy for others and only thinks about them. They are impersonal, anxious, depressed and even have low self-esteem but they sometimes mask these characteristics. Other personality traits associated with criminal behavior or likely to engage in criminal activities are impulsiveness, excitement seeking and assertiveness as opposed to being dutiful and modest. Most take engaging in criminal behavior of whatever magnitude as a way to seek thrill and pleasure and avoid the pain in their lives which most are masking. They do not consider the consequences of their personality but rather live for the moment which includes engagement in vandalism, theft and other criminally delinquent behavior (Whitehead & Lab, 2015). Anomie An anomie is a personal state that results from lack of moral standards, anxiety and social control or regulation. When it comes to criminology, an anomie is an individual who engages in criminal activities simply because the person feels alienated and worthless and his or her efforts to engage in other things have proven fruitless and the only thing left to do is engage in criminal activity. These people lack purpose to live or continue they are desperate and feel worthless and hence decide to be deviants in society which according to them has failed them considerably. Einstadter & Henry, (2006) indicates that anomies in society are brought about by the strict emphasis on cultural goals, norms, and institutions, social and economic forces. All these put pressure on individuals to be what they are not and hence end up causing the anxiety, desperation and frustrations mentioned above. These people are driven to crime to retaliate against the system and to seek a way out of their current situation that is inflicting too much pressure on them. The most common of the deviant behaviors they engage in especially the juveniles are suicide, illicit drugs, theft and vandalism among others all which constitute crimes under the law (Whitehead & Lab, 2015). Social Disorganisation Social institutions and organizations in society have their own specific functions and roles which contribute to order and routine in society. When they fail to carry out their roles accordingly, they lead to disorganization which upsets the order in the community or society hence leaving room for criminal behavior to creep in. Lack of order in society is a motivator for criminals to engage in criminal behaviors such as looting, political crime and other delinquency behaviors (McLaughlin & Muncie, 2013). The lack of social organization leads to creation of anomie which as explained above leads to criminal activities as a result of the anxiety people face. The lack of social organization brings into light the lack of social control and when people have no social control, they tend to engage in actions that are not diplomatic. They join hands as a group and engage in mass destruction of property and even people and this is another example of the criminal behavior. Levels of aggravations tend to be on the increase when there is no order in society and people start adopting impulsivity, lack modesty and orderliness and these are signs that trouble is looming and criminal activities will most likely take place (Walsh & Hemmens, 2010). Reference Einstadter, W. & Henry, S. (2006). Criminological Theory: An Analysis of Its Underlying Assumptions. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. Fitzgerald, M, McLennan, G. & Pawson, J. (2003). Crime and Society: Readings in History and Theory. New Jersey: Routledge. McLaughlin, E. & Muncie, J. (2013). The SAGE Dictionary of Criminology. New York: SAGE. Siegel, L. (2014). Criminology: The Core. New York: Cengage Learning. Walsh, A. & Hemmens, C. (2010). Introduction to Criminology: A Text/Reader. New York: SAGE. Whitehead, J. & Lab, S. (2015). Juvenile Justice: An Introduction. New Jersey: Routledge. Read More