Theories of Criminal Behavior
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Many theories attempt to explain criminal behavior. For this Assignment, you need to write a 2 to 3 page APA style paper on four theories of your ChoiceChoice. You need to select the theories and explain how this theory explains why people commit criminal acts. Make sure that you support your position with current research.
Criminal behavior in the community is a result of many factors. First, crime is committed as a result of socio-economic backgrounds associated with delinquency behavior. In the early centuries, criminal behavior was minimal due to a lack of technology and a stable economy. However, with the increase in technology and high unemployment rates, the rate of criminal behavior has increased rapidly. Also, there are several factors why criminals will engage in vices that have dire consequences to the community.
It should be noted that criminal behavior is not a genetic factor that drives criminals to be law-breakers. Therefore engaging in crime is not based on genes but rather specific factors. These theories include rational choice theory, biological theory, and biosocial theory, social learning theory. It should be noted that criminologists and experts have worked tirelessly to propose the above theories.
Rational ChoiceChoice explains how criminals engage in crime based on logical judgment. First, a criminal in this state will act on impulse thinking with no care of the consequences. Furthermore, it is influenced by emotions, which in turn, clouds reasoning. For instance, how adolescents commit crime differs from mature people (Piquero & Tibbets, 2001). Thus, committing a crime by rational choice theory is limited to a certain age. Correspondingly, peer groups engage in this theory by influencing each other in social gatherings like schools and parties. Eventually, when the youths grow older, they tend to stop delinquency behavior.
What is more, individuals in this category commit the crime with no sound judgment of events or outcome? More often than not, crimes committed in this stage are petty and require little skill with no force at all. Most of first –time, offenders apply this theory when committing a crime. Above all, the rational choice theory is a behavior that can be combated by severe punishment.
Biological and Biosocial theories state that people are “born criminals” who cannot be prevented from committing the crime at any given time. Moreover, criminals in this category cannot control their physical and mental state or moral behavior. On the other hand, biological factors are triggered by biosocial causes from the community. For instance, sociologists and criminologists have concluded that biosocial factors contribute rapidly to criminal activities. (Beaver et al., 2014).
Also, according to this theory committing crimes in the community is triggered by drug and substance abuse. Moreover, numerous biological factors are attributed to criminal behavior; genetics, hormones, and neurological deficits (Fox, 2017). Consequently, these factors are genetically transferred to children who engage in crime like their parents. Above all, biosocial criminologists are triggered by biological genetics individuals. (Fox, 2017). So, biological theory is a significant factor for biosocial criminals to engage in felonies in the community.
Social Learning Theory states that criminals engage in crime based on the social, environmental setting. The theory further asserts that interaction with criminals in the social cycle is the main influence of crime. Also, criminal behaviors are developed by the day –to –day activities among friends and family. Teens with genetic behavior of crime can socially interact with fellow youths and adopt criminal activities. (Fox, 2017).
Consequently, gangs will be formed between this group who end up walking together. On the other hand, domestic crimes and violence are attributed to the couples witnessing marital conflicts in their junior years (Mihalic, & Elliott, 1997). Therefore, what was witnessed in their parents is transferred to their present marriages. For example, if the father was abusive, chances are so high that the son will be abusive to the mother. Similarly, if the mother was a hindrance to the marriage, the daughter in question will regard her husband with contempt.
Labeling Theory proposes that an individual is always labeled as a criminal from the early years. However, this theory causes stigmatization in the social world of the person labeled. (Bernburg, 2019) for instance, if a child is labeled with names associated with criminal activities, the child will end up practicing felonies. For instance, in this case, a child will lose self-esteem and isolate themselves from the crowds. Correspondingly proper labeling is a result of a criminal being charged in the court of law. On the other hand, informal labeling is when a person has interacted with criminals or ex-prisoners. However, labeling theory is not an authentic way to prove criminals.
References
Beaver, K. M., Barnes, J. C., & Boutwell, B. B. (Eds.). (, 2014). The nurture versus biosocial debate in criminology: On the origins of criminal behavior and criminality. SAGE Publications.
Bernburg, J. G. (2019). Labeling theory. In Handbook on crime and deviance (pp. 179-196). Springer, Cham.
Fox, B. (2017). It’s nature and nurture: Integrating biology and genetics into the social learning theory of criminal behavior. Journal of Criminal Justice, 49, 22-31.
Mihalic, S. W., & Elliott, D. (1997). A social learning theory model of marital violence. Journal of family violence, 12(1), 21-47.
Piquero, A. R., & Tibbets, S. G. (Eds.). (, 2001). Rational choice and criminal behavior: Recent research and future challenges. Routledge.