The General Theory of Crime and the Psychoanalytic
Why is crime such a large part of our everyday society? Since the beginning of time, crime has been a large part of history, which gradually increased throughout the years, and continues today in everyday life. Crime is something that people do out of either force, impulse, fun, by accident, or their environment. Some people have been raised since childhood in areas where crime rates were at an high and maybe that caused them to follow what they learned while growing up and pursuing crimes as well. Malcolm Gladwell, author of Power of Context: Bernie Goetz and the Rise and Fall of New York City Crime, mentions how these key concepts shape the way in which crimes are performed through their involvement with their environment and communities.
The social deviance After watching multiple television shows, I noticed a connection of deviant behavior portrayed within fictional television. For example, the Dexter show. The Dexter show is about a man that is a blood analyst for the Metrolina police Department. Who has a family, yet is a serial killer at night targeting proper traders that has never been caught for their crimes by the law. For instance, in episode “Hello, Dexter Morgan”.
This theory suggests that the motivation behind crime for a control theorist does not center on pressure resulting from negative affective states but rather the absence of important relationships (Hirschi 1969). With the absence of that relationship one is more prone to be involved in crime (Hirschi 1969). The absence of an important relationship in this case would apply to Aaron Hernandez and his father. Prior to his father’s death Aaron Hernandez never used nor abused any form of drugs. Aaron’s father was his world and kept him headed on the right path.
Within the past couple of decades, criminologists have developed different criminological theories that apply to the social behaviors and decisions of criminals. One of the earliest theories developed regarding criminality is the rational choice theory, in which describes the rationalization of determining if the rewards from committing the crime outweigh the consequences. In Scarver’s case, his decision to engage in criminal activities outweighed the potential consequences, or the other alternatives if he did not engage in such criminal activities. In addition to the rational choice theory, Scarver’s criminality can be related to the social disorganization theory, which describes the influence of one’s social and physical environment on one’s decision to commit a crime. Lastly, the strain theory can be related to Scarver’s criminality as well, as it is used to describe an individual who lacks the means to obtain such goals, and aspirations, so therefore, he or she engages in criminal activities to acquire the goals.
Criminal and conflict gang whose primarily intent of crimes for tangible gains. Social structure theorists consider that the main components to illegal behavior are the ascendancy of social and economic influences that are distinguished in rundown communities where the population is predominantly lower-class citizens (Siegel, 2010). This following theory goes into helping us comprehend ways the human behavior, is the result of physical
The allure of economic gain, coupled with limited opportunities for legitimate advancement, leads individuals to resort to illicit means to survive or thrive. Additionally, repeated exposure to adverse circumstances can foster criminogenic dispositions, such as mistrust of authority, resentment towards societal norms, and a skewed perception of risk and reward. The analysis of these factors reveals how they intersect to limit the extent of blame society can place on the disadvantaged. While individuals are ultimately responsible for their actions, the structural barriers and coercive influences they face complicate the attribution of moral culpability. As such, the blame directed towards the disadvantaged may be mitigated by acknowledging the broader social context in which their actions unfold.
Consequently, as the effects of homelessness, neglect and abuse become apparent; a person will be more likely to commit a crime. Through interactions within an imposed economic class; subcultures, frustrations about poverty and deviant values are exposed. These can influence people to commit violent crime.
A person’s attitude towards crime includes social, economic, genetic, and political and self-interest. John Travers was brought up in poverty in Blacktown, New South Wales. Travers was smoking marijuana at the age of 12 and an alcoholic at the age of 14. Travers was expelled from school in year 10. His family life wasn’t steady his father with whom he had a close relationship walked out in 1981 and that’s when Travers started to rely on crime to provide clothes, and he would steal animals including chickens to provide food.
This theory suggests that certain subcultures may promote and legitimize criminal behavior as a means of achieving success or respect within the group. In the context of middle-class crime, the theory might suggest that some individuals from middle-class backgrounds may be influenced by a subculture that values material success and status above all else and views engaging in white-collar crime as a means of achieving these goals. These individuals may view illegal activities such as fraud, embezzlement, or insider trading as a way to gain financial success or maintain their social status.
Thank you for your response to my post. I agree Abby is an amazing role model for not only gender identity but diversity and oppression overall. Abby easily articulates how diversity and oppression are intertwined in all cultures and belief systems. Abby seems to have a natural ecological or systems perspective that has been developed through her own experiences which she easily transfers to highlight ongoing structural and cultural practices that are oppressive. I feel that Abby’s worries for her son were not about self-stigmatization but more about the freedom to be who you are despite culture beliefs and oppressive structures such as the gender stereotypes and segregation in the Hasidic community she grew up in.
Humankind lives in a world of crime and deviancy. We see crime on television, throughout newspapers, and some of us see it in our own backyards. Individuals are taught at a young age what is considered to be bad or good, and are also taught the various consequences of actions they may take. What may be classified as a crime in one society can be the complete opposite in another. We are also raised to understand that some punishments are less severe that others.
There are many theories that suggest that crime is constructed socially, or is a product of the society in which the crime is committed. One such theory, proposed by Robert Merton, is known as strain theory. While strain theory is a useful model for explaining how societal values can drive people to commit crimes, it has several flaws and does not focus on how laws are made and how this contributes to the formation of crime. While Merton suggests that laws are created from consensus within a society, it will be argued that strain theory can also support the idea that laws are a “product of conflict” (Hagan 5). Strain theory is founded on the idea that the goals of a society and the accepted means of achieving said goal causes strain that can
Social Disorganization Theory Name Institutional Affiliation Crime in our societies is a widespread social phenomenon dating back centuries ago and ranges from low-level delinquencies to high-level offences. Chances are high that one would be involved in crime during their lifetime, either as a victim, or as an assailant. Nevertheless, what really motivates individuals to commit crime? Studies have shown that in different political, economic, and cultural backgrounds, crime occurs in diverse patterns making it a serious social problem. Hence, criminology and sociology experts have examined numerous aspects of crime in an attempt to elucidate why individuals commit crime, and cogently explain its social context.
responsibility of the individual committing or partaking in the crime. Though this is a common thought it is simply untrue because it eliminates many of the social and environmental factors that encourage deviant behavior. The truth is, society plays a significant role in whether or not deviant behavior stops or continues for a specific individual who has already committed a crime. Ideas and concepts under the Labeling theories emphasis society’s roles and states that, “efforts [of] social control (…) ultimately trigger processes that trap individuals in criminal careers” (Cullen, Agnew & Wilcox 2014). Essentially, society forces invasive labels and social reactions that then cause many Individuals with criminal past to create self-fulfilling
