There are four major theories that are used when viewing and understanding crime. The theories include classical theory, biological theory, interactionist theory and sociological theory. Understanding these theories aids in one becoming successful in the legal profession. All these theories ensure criminal justice professionals aid in the identification of crime, dispute resolution and crime identification. Crime is a complex phenomenon that cannot be simply understood through one theory. This explains the emergence of several theories used to view and explain the causes of crime. Understanding the biological, classical and sociological theories will help in understanding crime and how best to apply the theories in solving and mitigating crime.
Classical Theory
The classical theory is a school of thought that offers the best insight to understanding the calculation a delinquent will make before committing a crime. The classical theory tries to explain the occurrence of crime through understanding the will of the offender. At its core, the classical theory postulates that a delinquent will weigh the pros and cons of committing a crime (Hagan & Daigle, 2018). They will then make a conscious decision to commit a crime, meaning that crime is committed through an individual's free will. The theory also understands crime to be an immoral form of human behavior that contributes to weakening society (Hagan & Daigle, 2018). Delinquents under this theory are aware of the consequences of their decisions but still commit the crime; thus, the reason it is believed to be caused by the individual's free will.
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Under this theory, delinquents are seen to identify certain benefits of committing a crime without taking into account the various external factors that may lead to committing a crime (Hagan & Daigle, 2018). Under the school of thought, punishment is seen to be a necessary evil that will deter crime. Proponents of this theory also agree that there are swift punishments that can curb crime while also agree on stiffer penalties reducing delinquents from committing a crime (Hagan & Daigle, 2018). An example of a crime under this theory is when an individual refuses to stop on a stop sign because there is no law enforcement officer watching or there are no CCTV cameras to document them breaking the law.
Biological theory
Under the biological theory school of thought, crime is believed to have its root in the genetic composition of an individual. The theory posits that there exists a relationship between certain biological conditions and one's increased tendency to engage in criminal behavior (Ilan & Walters, 2017). Proponents of this theory agree that the basic determinants of human behavior can be passed from one generation to another. The biological theory, therefore, posits that there are those who are born criminals and others who are not thus cannot commit a crime (Ilan, & Walters, 2017).
The biological theory looks into the neurophysiological conditions like brain damage which may lead to a learning disability or biochemical conditions like hormonal imbalance and poor diet and how they affect delinquency. The theory also looks into one's intelligence and genetic inheritance pattern and the impact it has on increasing an individual's predisposition to crime (Ilan, & Walters, 2017). This theory led to the sterilization of people with genetic defects and research into genes encouraging criminal behavior and medicine to control these behaviors. An example of such a crime would be when a child born of an incarcerated parent ends up committing a crime that may either lead to them being incarcerated or not.
Sociological theory
Sociological approaches to understanding crime are organized around the idea that a delinquent's criminal behavior is affected by external factors. Such factors can either be the neighborhood within which they live, their families or the or the peer group that they associate with (Zembroski, 2011). Theorists who agree with this theory posit that weak or broken relations with the school, family, or religion serve as catalysts to human behaviors. Proponents of the theory explain that delinquents choose to commit crime because they do not see any benefit of complying with social values (Zembroski, 2011). They view committing a crime as a means to elevating the social and financial conditions.
They also argue that those who commit crime are seen as criminals by other crime offenders, rejected by law-abiding individuals and labeled by the system as being criminals. This then results in them developing a self-concept of being a criminal which then facilitates their criminal activities (Zembroski, 2011). Theorists agree that there is a need for positive alternatives to divert people's actions from committing a crime such as social programs designed to bring about culture and social change. They also agree on getting government funding to alleviate poverty to reduce crimes committed (Zembroski, 2011). A good example of a crime committed under this theory would be when someone from a low-income family or an individual who earns a minimum wage robs a convenient store or jewelry shop.
Conclusion
Crime is a complex phenomenon that has been studied under different theories with different theorists. While the classical theory explains that criminals make the rational decision to commit a crime, the biological theory explains that there exist certain distinct differences that predispose someone to crime and the sociological theory explains that someone's external environment affects their involvement in the crime. Indeed, each theory tries to explain why delinquents will commit a crime; although each offers different reasons, they all contribute to helping criminal justice professionals in understanding the nature of the crime. This then helps them to find ways to mitigate and rehabilitate the delinquents back to society.
References
Hagan, F. E., & Daigle, L. E. (2018). Introduction to criminology: Theories, methods, and criminal behavior. Sage Publications. https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/87094_Chapter_3_The_Classical_School_of_Criminological_Thought.pdf
Ilan, J., & Walters, D. (2017). Biological theories of crime versus psychological theories of crime — Comparison and evaluation of their contributions to our understanding of crime and/or criminal justice. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331432407_Biological_theories_of_crime_versus_psychological_theories_of_crime_-_Comparison_and_evaluation_of_their_contributions_to_our_understanding_of_crime_andor_criminal_justice
Zembroski, D. (2011). Sociological theories of crime and delinquency. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 21(3), 240-254. https://sci-hub.tw/https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2011.564553
