Criminology

Criminological Theory

Scientific attempts to explain why people commit crime.

Classical Criminology

A paradigm in criminology advocating that individuals have free will, and that punishments should be swift, certain, and severe.

Cesare Beccaria

A classical criminologist who advocated for the social contract, presumed innocence until proven guilty, and rationality in offenders.

Jeremy Bentham

A philosopher known for advancing the idea of hedonism in criminology, stating individuals seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Positivism

An approach in criminology using the scientific method to understand the origins of crime, focusing on the criminal actor.

Cesare Lombroso

The originator of positivism, known for his theories about 'born criminals' based on physical traits.

Social Disorganization Theory

A theory positing that crime is influenced more by the environment rather than individual characteristics.

Social Learning Theory

A theory stating that people become criminal when exposed to criminal definitions, emphasizing the importance of learning positive definitions.

Social Bonds Theory

A theory developed by Travis Hirschi that suggests crime can be reduced by strengthening attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief among individuals.

Social Strain Theory

A theory by Robert Merton describing crime as a result of a disjuncture between societal goals and the means to achieve them.

Routine Activities Theory

A theory that posits crime occurs when a suitable target is available, there is a lack of capable guardians, and a motivated offender is present.

Modern Versions of Classical School

Includes theories like Deterrence Theory and Routine Activities Theory which have evolved since the 1970s.

Enlightenment's Impact on Criminology

Marked a shift from spiritualism and demonology to a focus on free will and rational choices in understanding crime.

Deterrence Theory

A modern theory suggesting that the threat of punishment can prevent crime, divided into General and Specific Deterrence.

Chicago School of Criminology

A school of thought established in the 1920s that linked crime rates to social environment factors like poverty and residential turnover.

Hedonism

The philosophy that suggests individuals seek pleasure and avoid pain, foundational to Bentham's view in classical criminology.