Through out the years Criminologists has conducted a great amount of research and through that research Criminologist has developed different theories in order to better understand and explain criminal behavior. Theories try to help make sense out of many observations that are conducted presenting the facts of the principal that connects and explains the theories. If good theory has been developed; then it becomes very valuable to Criminologist, because it shows the knowledge that is beyond the facts that has been presented; which will show Criminologist how to predict how others might behave (Andrews, D and Bonta, J., 2010).
Biological explanations of crime assert that particular individuals are more prone to deviance than others because of their genetic makeup (Haralambos, van Krieken, Smith & Holborn, 1996 p.514).
These explanations of human behavior became popular in the nineteenth century. An Italian army doctor; Cesare Lombroso was one of the first writers to link crime to human biology. Psychological theories of criminology share several similarities with biological theories. Firstly, they see criminals as different from the population as a whole. Second, the criminal is abnormal in a normal population. Third, the criminal’s abnormality predisposes him to crime (Harambolos & Heald, 1980, p. 409).
However, they differ in the respect that psychological theories of criminality claim that the criminal’s abnormality is learned as opposed to being genetically determined. They see abnormal experience rather than abnormal genes as the basis for crime (Scully, 2012).
The Essay on Criminal Justice theory of crime
There is no single cause of crime, it is rooted in a diversity of casual factors and takes a variety of forms, depending on the situation in which it occurs. Nonetheless, some theories of human behavior help us understand why certain people engage in acts that society defines as criminal or deviant, while others do not. A theory is a kind of model. Theories posit relationships, often of a casual ...
Strain theories contend that human beings are fundamentally conformists who are strongly influenced by the values and attitudes of the society in which they live. According to strain theory, American society advocates that the accumulation of wealth or status is all important and represents the symbols that that all members of society should strive for (Scully, 2012).
Furthermore it states that humans, being conformists readily buy into these notions. However, access to the means for achieving these goals is not equally available to everyone. Some have the education, social network and family influence to attain these goals. The socially and economically disadvantaged do not have the opportunity, education or necessary social network for attaining material wealth and economic or political power. Thus the strain theory predicts that crime occurs when there is a perceived discrepancy between these goals and the legitimate means for reaching them. Individuals who experience a high level of this strain are forced to decide whether to violate laws to achieve these goals, to give up on the goals pushed upon them by society, or to withdraw or rebel.
Interactions theories stress the socially constructed nature of identity and the consequent importance of labeling processes for some persons and groups becoming deviant (Scully, 2012).
Control theories stress the significance of controls against deviance. They are often divided into those of social kind; for example when accompanying children to school or keeping tabs on who they are playing with, and those of a situational kind; for example locking our doors at night. Instead of specifying different motives to account for crime or concentrating on the adverse effects of labeling, control theories contend that without rules or laws that draw punishment or retaliation if broken, humans would commit crime indiscriminately. They suggest that all people have the potential to commit crime (Scully, 2012).
Research in criminology is conducted for the purpose of understanding criminal behavior. If we can understand the behavior, we will have a better chance of predicting when it will occur and then be able to take steps to control, eliminate or prevent the behavior. Good research has a specific question and seeks to assess factual evidence before coming to conclusions. In order to achieve these aims, it is necessary to have sound research procedures and the ability to accurately analyze the material (Scully, 2012).
The Essay on Albert Einstein Unified Field Theory
Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Wurttemberg, Germany. He died April 18 1955 in Princeton, NJ. When Einstein was five years old his father showed him a compass. He was very impressed by the behavior of the needle of the compass, which kept pointing in the same direction no matter which way the compass was turned. He later said he felt that 'Something deeply hidden ...
This may sometimes be mainly an area of factual ignorance; therefore research is conducted to fill in the gap in our understanding . There are numerous scientific methods that can be applied to hypotheses about crime or criminal behavior. Criminological research has four main methods, namely field work, surveys, documentary research and experiments.
Field work, as the name implies is conducted in the real world; where the researcher spends lengthy periods of time with the group being studied. Field work has an advantage over research conducted in a laboratory setting in that, results from field work, being conducted in the real world, if valid can be applied in other similar situations. This may not be the case for laboratory experiments. However, research conducted in a laboratory setting has the advantage of being able to more closely control variables. Field experiments have played a central role in the evaluation of policies of crime control, prevention and treatment (DeMelo. 1999).
Often field work and survey research involve some scrutiny of documentary material. Documentary research is the systematic use of printed or written materials for investigation and is, in one form or another, one of the most widely used of all methods of gathering sociological data. Experiments try to determine whether there is a causal connection between variables by creating conditions in which the only difference between groups is experience with the independent variable. As was noted before, experiments have major advantages over other research procedures in that the experimenter can directly control the relevant variables. Once the method of research has been selected and carried out, the results of the research must be interpreted. The gathered material needs to be analyzed and related back to the problem which prompted the study. Working out the implications of the collected data and relating them back to the research problem is often not easy and sometimes not conclusive (DeMelo. 1999).
The Essay on On Social Theory In Social Work
We know where we have been, where we are now and where we need to go – but how do we get there? A map. Theory is a map. It notes any number of known landmarks (previously achieved or applied solutions) and obstacles (issues or problems) and gives us direction so that we are able to navigate intelligently and arrive safely (minimal discomfort to all) at our destination (desired outcome/s). ...
Conclusion
Criminologists develop theories and conduct research in an attempt to find an explanation for criminal behavior. Theories organize individual observations and facts and puts them into a context that gives them special meaning and relationship to one another. Theories may arise from many sources, including a criminologist’s personal observations or hunches, empirical findings from prior studies or even extensions of another theory, but there is no one grand criminological theory that will explain criminal behavior which will in turn be able to prevent it. The variety of method in criminological research is partly due to the wide range of theories that are existent today (DeMelo. 1999).
