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Criminological Theories Essay

1992 Words8 Pages

Criminological theories are the backbone of understanding criminal behavior, and they provide insight into the reasons why individuals engage in criminal activities. Theories such as social disorganization, strain, and social learning theories, have been developed to explain criminal behavior, and these theories have played a crucial role in shaping the approaches to controlling crime. Despite the significance of these theories, there has been a tendency to overlook them in current approaches to controlling crime. My essay will explore the extent to which criminological theories have been ignored within current approaches to controlling crime. Criminological Theories and The Theories of Crime Criminological theories are explanations that attempt to understand and explain the reasons behind criminal behavior. These theories are divided into several categories, including the classical theory, biological theory, psychological theory, and sociological theory. Each of these theories has its perspective on the causes of criminal behavior and the strategies that can be used to control it. The classical theory of crime is based on the idea that individuals commit crimes out of their free will and rational choice. According to this theory, individuals weigh the costs …show more content…

One reason for this is the focus on punishment and incapacitation. Deterrence and incapacitation rely on the belief that punishment will prevent individuals from engaging in criminal behavior. While this may be true in some cases, it fails to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior. It assumes that individuals engage in criminal behavior solely because they choose to do so and not because of the social and environmental factors that may influence their decision (Hirschi, 1969). This can be attributed to several factors, including political, social, and economic

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