| INDIVIDUAL (MICRO) APPROACHES TO CRIMINOLOGY The context of early criminology (mostly in Europe) - peasants were forced out of rural/agricultural areas and into towns to work in factories under horrible conditions, and this led to much crime and violence. Early criminologists were "philosophers" from the literate elite trying to explain what was wrong with "them" (former peasants) - why they were crime and violence prone. "Their" presumed inferiority justified both their exploitation in the factories and their punishment when they rebelled or resisted or just became troublesome (e.g., surplus). The Consensus Model of Social Organization (the "political science" model that underlies/justifies individual approaches) >> Law reflects consensus (general agreement) about right and wrong (involves no critical analysis of law). >> Lawbreakers are different from other �normal� people (stereotypes of "criminals"). >> Lawbreakers commit crimes instead of doing other (legitimate) behavior ("they" choose to commit crime). >> Focus should be on punishment/treatment of individual �offenders.� The Key Criminology Question: Why do particular people (or types of people) commit crimes? The Classical Approach (assumes that behavior is based on �free will� + responses to �pain and pleasure�). >> Nonscientific - we don�t know why they do it but we can stop it with punishment (fear, terror). >> Punishment should fit the crime, and law should reflect this. Biological Approaches (behavior biologically determined -- inherited, intergenerational) >> The positivist school (early "scientific" view that behavior is caused/determined, not �free� ) >> Punishment should fit the criminal, not just the crime (background & circumstances). >> Criminology (and punishment/treatment) should focus on characteristics of offenders. Some examples of biological criminology >> The �born criminal� (evolutionary �atavism� - subhuman lower on the evolutionary scale). These views were closely linked to 18th and 19th century racist theories. >> Defective intelligence (e.g. "feeblemindedness", low IQ, etc.). Also linked to racist theories. >> �Somatotypes� (body build types). Stocky, muscular men are prone to violence/crime. >> Twin and adoption studies that suggest some kind of genetic link (inherited criminal tendencies). >> The XYY chromosome (an extra male chromosome makes some men more aggressive). >> Sociopathy (biological need for extreme stimulation + inhibited fear response). >> �Raging hormones� theories � testosterone, PMS, PTSS, puberty, junk food, etc. Psychological Approaches (behavior caused by personality structure/traits - e.g. the �criminal mind�) >> Sigmund Freud - childhood trauma and/or problematic socialization lead to unconscious neuroses. Directed inwardly, cause personality problems; directed outwardly, cause crime/violence. >> Stanton Samenow - the �criminal mind� or immature & manipulative personality; sociopath/psychopath. >> Learning theory/behavior modification - criminal personality shaped by rewards & punishments. General problems with individual approaches >> The consensus model of social organization is inadequate, especially in modern societies. There is actually little agreement even on basic values (e.g., abortion, death penalty, suicide, etc.). >> "Sample selection": lower class crime & caught offenders; ignores corporate/government/organized crime. >> Ignores social aspects of crime � crime trends/rates, discrimination patterns, the criminalization process. >> Ineffective as basis for crime policy. Doesn't address the problem of different crime rates. |