Crime Theory

The field of criminology is basically described as the study of crime through which the causes, prevention, and correction of offenses are examined. While this process can be extremely difficult, especially for students, the analysis of the causes of crime is significant to sociology and criminology. The difficulties associated with the study of crime originate from the numerous challenges in developing theories that explain human behavior. In relation to crime, human behavior varies because participants differ in backgrounds, experiences, and characteristics. However, several criminologists and other social scientists have made important contributions in explaining criminal behavior. These contributions have mainly involved the establishment of several theories on crime that focus on various aspects of criminal behavior. Some of the major theories on crime include classical, positivist, individual trait, sociological, and integrated theories.

In the United States, from an early age we are taught that individual wealth is a measure of personal success. Wealthy people are viewed as powerful, happy, and successful. They are also viewed as having access to educational and occupational means that provide them with opportunities to increase their wealth. Strain theory as it relates to digital crime involves the feeling of people in the lower and middle social classes that they do not have equal opportunities or access to those same educational and occupational opportunities. Instead of pursuing legal means to increase their wealth, some of the people who commit white collar crimes are those from the lower and middle classes who are stressed and strained due to finances and their

certain expectations or goals could be factors in the decision in committing a crime. This type

P3 – Describe two theories of criminal behaviour and the factors that contribute to them

There is a wide array of theories about the cause of crime ranging from predisposition to environmental factors. Research and development of these delinquency theories have progressed and been categorized by biological, psychological, and sociological theories. A major biological theory is Richard Dugdale’s theory of inheritance. There are several psychological theories with two of them being intelligence theory and Sigmund Freud’s personality trait theory. Sociological theories includes Emilie Durkheim’s functionalist theory and Edwin Sutherland’s differential association theory. Overall, there are a wide range of theories and theorists that try to determine what factors influence deviance and why deviance occurs in society.

Theory is based off of an idea or a thought. It is composed of carefully collected data, and several hypothetical tests or experiments. Creswell, (2009) , theory differs from a hypothesis in that it is a set of scientific method, a process of asking and answering questions based on experiments. A theory not only explains proven facts; it also allows researchers to make predictions based on what they observe if a theory is proven or said to be true ( Laureate Education Inc., 2009).

The Role of Theory: Criminologists have uncovered information concerning a different and more applicable inquiry.

A theory is a statement that rationalizes the relationship between variables, within a set of assumptions. It is a proposed justification for the complexities of the world around us. So a notion that provides an answer to the question ‘why’ is a theory. It could be connections between different phenomena, why something occurs or does not occur, with a set of logical arguments.

- “The purpose of a theory: in scientific disciplines is to guide research to enhance the science by supporting existing knowledge or generating new knowledge”. A theory not only helps us to organize our thoughts and ideas, but it may also help direct us in what to do and when and how to do it. The use of the term theory is not restricted to the scientific world, however. It is often used in daily life and conversation. For example, when telling a friend about a

According to Haralambos and Holborn (2008), a theory is a set of ideas which attempts to explain how something works.

A theory, according to Lahey (2003), is a tentative explanation of facts and relationships in Science. Mylers (1995) also defines a theory as an integrated set of principles that organize and predicts observable behaviours or events. Also a theory is a comprehensive explanation of natural phenomena which leads to accurate prediction. In Psychology, there are various theoretical perspectives. They are the learning (behavioral) theory, Psychoanalytical theory, Humanistic theory, Cognitive theory, Biological theory, Evolutionary theory and Socio- cultural theory. Helping behaviour is a desirable behaviour in the society. We can use the various perspectives to explain

Criminology focuses on the causes, incidences and control of individual and group criminal behaviour. In criminology, there are many theories that focus on causal analysis of the crime. They are termed as the crime-causation theories. These theories aim at coming up with certain generalization as to be able to explain the causal connection between the factors which may lubricate or lead to the existence of crime in our society and crime itself. The debate on why people commit crime is a difficult one to settle down. Causation theories in criminology are important as their understanding will help us to

Theory : “a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained”.

We might want to supplement Sutherland 's differential association theory with another theory in the symbolic interactionist tradition, namely labeling theory. Which states that the theory of how the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined or influenced by the terms used to describe or classify them? It is associated with the concepts of self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotyping. Labeling

theory is, one must understand exactly what natural science involves, as well as its purpose and its