n 1848, Karl Marx issued the communist manifesto identifying the economic structures in society that control all human relations. According to Marx, class does not refer to an attribute or characteristic of a person or a group; rather, it denotes position in relation to others.

One of his key concepts is that of surplus value – the laboring class produces goods that exceed wages in value. Marx did not write on crime, but he mentioned it, seeing a connection between criminality and the inequities found in the capitalist system.

Engels portrayed crime as a function of social demoralization in which workers, demoralized by capitalist society, are caught up in a process that leads to crime and violence.

The theories in chapter nine share some common ground. First, a criminal career must be understood as a passage along which people travel. Second, the factors that affect a criminal career may include structural factors, socialization factors, biological factors, psychological factors, and opportunity factors.

The theories differ in their view of human development with life course theories suggesting people constantly change and latent trait theories claiming people are changeless due to a master trait.

Regardless of this difference, developmental theories have prompted multi-dimensional treatment efforts and strategies designed to target at-risk children.

Quiz 6 and 7

n 1848, Karl Marx issued the communist manifesto identifying the economic structures in society that control all human relations. According to Marx, class does not refer to an attribute or characteristic of a person or a group; rather, it denotes position in relation to others.

One of his key concepts is that of surplus value – the laboring class produces goods that exceed wages in value. Marx did not write on crime, but he mentioned it, seeing a connection between criminality and the inequities found in the capitalist system.

Engels portrayed crime as a function of social demoralization in which workers, demoralized by capitalist society, are caught up in a process that leads to crime and violence.

The theories in chapter nine share some common ground. First, a criminal career must be understood as a passage along which people travel. Second, the factors that affect a criminal career may include structural factors, socialization factors, biological factors, psychological factors, and opportunity factors.

The theories differ in their view of human development with life course theories suggesting people constantly change and latent trait theories claiming people are changeless due to a master trait.

Regardless of this difference, developmental theories have prompted multi-dimensional treatment efforts and strategies designed to target at-risk children.

n 1848, Karl Marx issued the communist manifesto identifying the economic structures in society that control all human relations. According to Marx, class does not refer to an attribute or characteristic of a person or a group; rather, it denotes position in relation to others.

One of his key concepts is that of surplus value – the laboring class produces goods that exceed wages in value. Marx did not write on crime, but he mentioned it, seeing a connection between criminality and the inequities found in the capitalist system.

Engels portrayed crime as a function of social demoralization in which workers, demoralized by capitalist society, are caught up in a process that leads to crime and violence.

The theories in chapter nine share some common ground. First, a criminal career must be understood as a passage along which people travel. Second, the factors that affect a criminal career may include structural factors, socialization factors, biological factors, psychological factors, and opportunity factors.

The theories differ in their view of human development with life course theories suggesting people constantly change and latent trait theories claiming people are changeless due to a master trait.

Regardless of this difference, developmental theories have prompted multi-dimensional treatment efforts and strategies designed to target at-risk children.

Continuation

Chapter 6 Quiz
This quiz consist of 10 multiple choice questions. Each question is worth 1 point for a total of 10 points. Click on the link above to access Chapter 6 Quiz.
Chapter 7 Quiz
This quiz consist of 10 multiple choice questions. Each question is worth 1 point for a total of 10 points. Click on the link above to access Chapter 7 Quiz.

continuation

Social structure theories propose that being in the disadvantaged economic class is the primary cause of crime and, as a result, lower-class crime is often violent and committed by gang members or marginally employed young adults. Social structure theorists argue that people living in equivalent circumstances behave in similar, predictable ways. The three branches of social structure theories are social disorganization theories, strai

This lesson deals with the association between socialization and crime. Social process theories argue that socialization, not the social structure, determines life chances. The more social problems encountered during the socialization process, the greater the likelihood that youths will encounter difficulties and obstacles. The relationship between family structure and crime is critical when the high rates of divorce and single parents are considered, but family conflict and discord are more important determinants of behavior than are family structure.

The effect of the family on delinquency has also been observed in other cultures. Educational process and adolescent achievement in school have been linked to criminality. Schools contribute to criminality in that when they label problem youths they set them apart from conventional society. Many school dropouts, especially those who have been expelled, face a significant chance of entering a criminal career.

Continuation

The roots of rational choice theory are contained in the classical school of criminology. According to classical theory, the purpose of the law is to produce and support the total happiness of the community it serves. Punishment is designed to prevent crime and if punishment cannot prevent crime then punishment is to convince the offender to commit a less serious offense.

According to rational choice theory, crime is an event and criminality is a personal trait. Several personal factors condition people to choose crime. Among these are economic opportunity, learning and experience, and knowledge of criminal techniques. Rational choice theorists propose that offenders choose the type of crime to commit, choose the time and place of the crime, and choose the target of crime.

The foundations of trait theory are found in Cesare Lombroso’s work and biological theory. Many criminologists reacted harshly to the crime-biology link; this reaction was called biophobia. Sociobiology developed later stressing that biological and genetic conditioning influence how social behaviors are learned and perceived. Sociobiologists argued that the gene is the ultimate unit of life that controls human destiny. Under this argument, since biology controls human behavior, it is responsible for a person’s choice to violate the law.

Modern trait theories are not overly concerned with the legal definitions of crime. Trait theorists focus on human behavior and drives and argue that traits do not produce criminality. Rather, crime involves both personal traits and environmental factors. Chronic offenders suffer some biological/psychological condition or trait that renders them incapable of resisting social pressures and problems.

The roots of rational choice theory are contained in the classical school of criminology. According to classical theory, the purpose of the law is to produce and support the total happiness of the community it serves. Punishment is designed to prevent crime and if punishment cannot prevent crime then punishment is to convince the offender to commit a less serious offense.

According to rational choice theory, crime is an event and criminality is a personal trait. Several personal factors condition people to choose crime. Among these are economic opportunity, learning and experience, and knowledge of criminal techniques. Rational choice theorists propose that offenders choose the type of crime to commit, choose the time and place of the crime, and choose the target of crime.

The foundations of trait theory are found in Cesare Lombroso’s work and biological theory. Many criminologists reacted harshly to the crime-biology link; this reaction was called biophobia. Sociobiology developed later stressing that biological and genetic conditioning influence how social behaviors are learned and perceived. Sociobiologists argued that the gene is the ultimate unit of life that controls human destiny. Under this argument, since biology controls human behavior, it is responsible for a person’s choice to violate the law.

Modern trait theories are not overly concerned with the legal definitions of crime. Trait theorists focus on human behavior and drives and argue that traits do not produce criminality. Rather, crime involves both personal traits and environmental factors. Chronic offenders suffer some biological/psychological condition or trait that renders them incapable of resisting social pressures and problems.