Crime theories exist to explain the contributing factors to criminal behavior. Biological theories of crime explain criminal behavior through the perspectives of intelligence and genetics while sociological theories argue that crime is shaped by external factors (SCCJR, 2016). Forensic psychologists borrow on the assertions of the different crime theories to relate criminal behavior to the ideals of the jurisdictional considerations. Hence, an understanding of the various crime theories is crucial to the interpretation of evidence while performing various forensic psychology tasks.
Crime has existed since time immemorial hence the motivations to commit crimes have equally adjusted over time depending on the environment and sociological factors. Criminological theories strive to explain the causes of crime while relying on various factors contained within the traits of the individual or their environment. These adjustments imply that the forensic psychologist have to keep track of the changes to understand how behavior shapes criminal behavior. An understanding of these changes aids in the interpretation of behavior hence the making the evaluations successful in solving cases of crime. Consequently, knowledge of crime theories helps in discerning their applicability in various behavioral situations.
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Furthermore, knowledge of criminological theories aids the forensic psychologists to relate the environment of crime to the causative factors for the crime. Reliance on biological aspects when performing evaluations helps to shape the decision of the forensic expert according to the traits of the subject. Sociological theories link the crime to external factors such as rewards in the case of rational choice theory. Consequently, in cases where rewards were expected the expert can utilize this knowledge in solving the crime. Antisocial behavior is a significant motivator for criminal behavior hence the forensic psychologists analyses the behavior of the subject prior to commitment of crime (Patterson, DeBaryshe & Ramsey, 2017). As such, knowledge of criminological theories is fundamental to understanding criminal behavior.
References
Patterson, G. R., DeBaryshe, B. D., & Ramsey, E. (2017). A developmental perspective on antisocial behavior. In Developmental and Life-course Criminological Theories (pp. 29-35). Routledge
SCCJR. (2016). Theories and Causes of Crime . Retrieved on 22 November 2018, from http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SCCJR-Causes-of-Crime.pdf
