Emerging Criminological Theories

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Emerging Criminological Theories

• If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the
  man who has so much as to be out of danger
  T.H. Huxley

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Introduction

• Collectively the theories covered may appear
  overwhelming and counterproductive
• BUT
• Many interrelated
• Share a common goal (crime control)
• Interest in (criminal/deviant) human behaviour
• Developmental criminology vs. integrating
  criminologies

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Evolution of Theories

• Knowledge is NEVER static (relative evolutive)
• ! History of juvenile justice
• Theories strive for
• Parsimony
• Logically sound
• Quantitative soundness
• Logical soundness
• popularity

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Routine Activity Theory (RAT)

• L. Cohen M. Felson 79
• Elements of deterrence, utilitarianism, and
  rational choice
• Bridges theory and practice
• Gives equal wgt to victim and offender
• variations of rational theoriesTable 8-1
• Major elements motivation, suitable target, and
  absence of capable guardian
• Intuitively strong and amenable to social action

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• CDN study RAT not account for peer pressure and
  cultural norms
• Overemphasis on role of victim

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Social Conflict-based Theories

• Long history heels of labelling theory
• Critical perspective with modern variations
• Conflict
• Marxism
• Peacemaking
• feminism

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Conflict Theory

• Inter-group conflict
• Modest support in N.A.
• influence of Archambault and Fateaux Reports
• Focus on ID sources of conflict and social
  processes leading to definitions of crime
• Policy ideas but minimal support

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Marxist Theory

• Conflict rooted in class differences
• Proletariat vs. bourgeoisie
• Inequality tends to increase crime
• Unclear as to structural causes
• Untestable
• spawned modifications

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Peacemaking Theory

• H. Pepinsky R. Quinney
• Humanistic approach
• to crime causation
• Can not punish the act,
• only the actor
• Promote a non-violent approach
• indulge in demoncracy
• Theorists ? But restorative justice!

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Feminist perspectives

• C. Lombroso vs. F. Adler
• Dominance of male based explanations
• Significant impact on theory and CJ
• Rape laws
• Redefining gender crimes
• Gender relations to criminology
• Broaden level of awareness

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Variations of Feminist Perspectives

• Liberalism equality and freedom of choice
• Socialism gender oppression and capitalism
• Radicalism patriarchy and male aggression
• Marxist capitalism the vehicle for oppression
  and exploitation

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Left-realism

• Shift from blaming the ruling class and
  capitalism
• J. Young and J. Lea
• Heavy reliance on victimization data
• SIX BASIC PREMISES
• Crime is a problem reality behind the
  appearance take crime seriously circumstances
  of offender victim policing conventional and
  non-conventional crime

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• Best strategy for crime control
• crime prevention
• e.g., community based policing
• victim compensation
• improve socio-economic conditions
• political response or criminological theory?
• ?able conception of working class
• operational issues

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General Theory of Crime

• A displaced theory?
• But multi-factor and integrated theoretical
  approach
• Overemphasis of self-control
• Roots in control theory
• Premised on notion that we are rational that
  sanctions can deter that certainty and severity
  works (Classical School)

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• M. Gottfredson and T. Hirschi
• beyond self-control
• integrated elements of bio-social, psychological,
  routine activity, and rational choice theories
• low self-control
• traits and child-rearing practices
• Box 8.7
• positivistic theory with focus on the processes
  of an act

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Bio-social Theory

• Tainted by controversy
• True interdisciplinary or an end-to-end model
• S. Mednicks approach
• the Danish link
• behaviour triggered by ANS but mitigated by.
• Socialization processes

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• H. Eysencks approach
• personality features inherited (introversion
  extroversion)
• ANS and central nervous system interact to affect
  response patterns
• role of conditioning

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T. Moffits approach

• Life course theory
• Congenital factors (e.g., heredity, prenatal
  complications, etc.)
• Longitudinal data from NZ
• Interaction of biology and social variables
• Both risk and protective factors (Figure 8-2)

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• Bio-social and guarded optimism
• How resolve conflict between LAW and SCIENCE?
• Risk/fear proactive legal intervention
• SUMMARY
• Growing number of integrated and
  interdisciplinary theories
• Jury still out
• Current shift towards individualistic approaches
  vs. voluntaristic

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• an important scientific innovation rarely makes
  its way by gradually winning over and converting
  its opponentswhat happens is that its opponents
  gradually die out and that the growing generation
  is familiarized with the idea from the beginning
  (Becker Selden, 85330)

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Have a good one