Rational Choice Theory (This theory is completed for you as an example of how to complete the remaining theories) / According to this theory, crime is a matter of personal choice and the criminal makes a rational decision to commit the crime.
This view is that If a person is motivated, considers the choices, and they believe crime will benefit them without risk. (Siegel & Worrall, 2013, p. 45)
This view is that for the criminal, the profit outweighs the punishment. / One sub-category is the “Deterrence Theory” which aligns itself by indicating crime would not be a “rational choice” therefore not chosen if there was a strong enough fear of punishment, acting to deter the criminal activity. (Akers, 1990, p.2) / One real life case was that of Ariel Castro. This is the nationally televised case of a man who kidnapped and held three (3) women captive in his Cleveland, Ohio home for over 10 years, during which he physically and sexually assaulted, fathered a child and kept these young women captive until one managed to escape 2013. Castro pleaded guilty to 937 counts including murder, rape, and abduction, to avoid Ohio’s death penalty. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole + 1,000 years by Judge Russo, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland where the crimes were committed. After being in prison only 30 days in Franklin County, Castro hung himself in his prison cell, ending his own life. I believe it relates to rational choice theory, Castro made a calculated choice to kidnap the missing teens and commit these crimes for over a decade, while working and interacting in the community. His motivation for the benefit of committing these crimes over a decade was stronger than fear of getting punished.
Biosocial Theory / This is an interdisciplinary field of theory that explains criminology. This theory explores biological factors as well as environmental factors. If someone grows up in a disadvantaged environment, the result that is that they will have an “antisocial gene expression” (Beaver & Walsh, 2011). / Sub-categories include the environment as mentioned previously in summarizing the theory. Genetics is also another sub-category that links with the heredity factor of those who commit crimes (Beaver & Walsh, 2011). Another aspect of the sub-categories is neurophysiology. This is associated with how neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine are involved (Beaver & Walsh, 2011). The last sub-category for this theory is evolutionary psychology. This theory purports that males are more aggressive due to their lack of evolutionary psychology for producing children (Beaver & Walsh, 2011). This would result in the understanding of why males tend to commit more crimes than women. / One real life case is that Ernesto Ibarra Lee who was killed by his wife and five other accomplices. Since women rarely commit these sorts of crimes, a biosocial theory based on genetics could explain why the wife who is accused of the crime killed her husband.
Psychological Theory / This theory is also referred to as criminological psychology. This is the study of the motivations behind criminal behavior (Kocsis, 2009). / Some of the sub-categories include criminal anthropology. Criminal psychologists are often witnesses in court and aspects of looking at the motivations behind why people commit crimes is used in psychiatry (Koscis, 2009). / A real life crime situation is when the notorious killer Ted Bundy killed all of those women in the United States during the 1980s and the 1990s. Many criminal psychologists were baffled as to why someone such as Ted Bundy who is a good-looking man and had many things going for him would hunt down and kill all of that number of women. Getting behind the motivation behind Bundy’s action basically understands that Bundy was a deep-hearted misogynist who absolutely hated women and used his good looks and his charms in order to kill innocent women.
Social Structure Theory / On the contrary to the case of Ted Bundy just used in the previous example, the social structure theory puts an emphasis on lack of money, lack of job skills, and basically being a disadvantaged individual or group of people when it comes to committing crime (Siegel, 2000). / One sub-category of this theory is the Marxist theory for crime. This sub-category explains how when people do not have their basic needs met; they will commit crime (Siegel, 2000). / Real life examples of crime that would be associated with this theory would include all those people who delve in drug trafficking, human trafficking and are involved in gang activity.
Social Process Theory / This theory is a positive review towards reducing crime. It purports that by emphasizing strong and ethical socialization factors, this will reduce crime. The theory was developed by Ivan Nye in 1958.This theory is also known as the social control theory. / There are four types of control:
- Direct
- Indirect
- Internal and,
- Control through needs satisfaction
Social Conflict Theory / This theory is based in Marxist theory that one must understand that crime in any given society is a result of a wealthy elite class. / There are really not any sub-categories of this theory; however there are theorists who have built on Marx’s work. They are:
- Thorsten Sellin
- George Vold
- Austin Turk
Developmental Theory / Juvenile delinquency is often understood through a developmental theory of crime (Siegel & Welsh, 2011). / One sub-category of this theory is mental/conduct disorders which is based on psychiatry and the juvenile is then understood to have committed the crime based on a mental disorder. / A real-life example comes from CNN on July 17, 2016. An 8-year-old boy found a handgun in the home and was not developmentally aware enough to know that the handgun could kill him, so he ended up shooting himself with the handgun.