Theories Of Crime Causation

ProSeminar in Criminal Justice Studies CRJS300
Explain the Various Theories of Crime Causation
Dr. Victor Anyanwu
Fidel Bello
American InterContinental University
May 02, 2011



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Abstract
Our legal system is based upon principles of free will and individual responsibility. Until now, crime has been studied empirically and thosestudies can postulate the existence of biological theories, psychological theories, social theories, and legalistic theories.



















Theories of Crime Causation

Human behavior has been a theme that has interested scholars, especially the study to see what motives lead specifically to criminal behavior. What are the various theories of crime causation? Is a humanbeing, by nature and instinct, inclined to be good or inclined to be evil? For centuries, scholars have wanted to find the nature and causes of delinquency because they want to prevent this from happening. As a result, criminology, a science that studies crime, is utilized. Our legal system is based upon principles of free will and individual responsibility. Until now, crime has been studiedempirically and those studies can postulate the existence of biological theories, psychological theories, social theories, and legalistic theories.
Crime is considered to be inevitable phenomenon, an integral part of our lives, and a normal factor. There are a few reasons for criminal behavior corruption, destruction of personality, psychic trauma, familiar destruction, and violent death.These results can lead to an impact on the community because of the crime.
Biological theory
We are living in a crucial, historical time when new technology should help us to understand the nature of crime. With clear and convincing evidence, the true spectrum of variables in biological, organic, congenital and inherited theories of crime causation can be made clear (B. Larry, n.d). To startwith, one of the theories of crime causation is the biological theory. The biological theory refers to physiological, neurological, chromosomic, and anatomic conditions of the offender that could determinate some of the causes of his/her criminal behavior (Shmallenger, 2009).
Frank Schmallenger (2009), a distinguished Professor Emeritus of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, mentionsa few biological theories of crime causation “the brain is the organ of the mind and the locus of personality”. One of the biological theories mentioned by Nijihoff (1988), is that some criminals were conceived under the influence of alcohol, thereby causing brain damage. According to Nijihoff, murderess who were conceived under the influence of alcohol “reflect anomalies in neurocognitivedevelopment which are in turn related to personality and psychopathology disorder” Another consequence of this is mental retardation, epilepsy, brain injuries, dementia, alcoholic induced abnormalities in the frontal lobe or temporal lobe, child abuse, and sexual abuse. Schmalleger emphasizes that these consequences are “particular aspects of personality associated with specific locations in thebrain” (Schmalleger, 2005). Another example of biological theory advanced by Frank Shcmallenger is “the shape of a person’s skull corresponds to the shape of the underlying brain and is therefore indicative of the personality” It is necessary to make a clinic and medic evaluation of criminals, to see their qualities, free will and reasoning. Criminals are usually members of gangs, are connected to...