3 RR causes of crime

3 causes of crime

1. Biological differences (biosocial theory)

2. Socialisation and the underclass

3. Rational choice theory

Biosocial theory (🧬) - Wilson & Hernstein (1985)

• Biological differences mean some individuals are more predisposed to commit crime

• Traits that are biologically determined

  • Aggressiveness

  • Extroversion

  • Risk-taking

  • Lack of self discipline or impulse control

🧬 - Hernstein & Murray (1994)

• Low intelligence is also biologically determined

🧬- similar to

• Lombroso’s phrenology

  • Idea that skull shape impacts on areas of your brain and therefore makes you more/less intelligent

CRITICISM of 🧬

• Outdated

• Disproven

Socialisation and the underclass

• Inneffective socialisation → lack of self-control or internalisation of moral values of right and wrong

Socialisation and the underclass - Murray (1990) - cause of an increasing underclass

• Fewer marriages → less responsibility for children taken by men → more single-parent families → more welfare dependency (as women able to live off benefits) → increasing underclass

Socialisation and the underclass - Murray (1990) - consequence of an increasing underclass

• → poor socialisation (esp by women) → boys turning to delinquent role models → more crime

Socialisation and the underclass - Bennett et al (1996)

• Growing up surrounded by delinquent adults in a criminogenic environment → crime

Rational Choice Theory (🐀)

• Assumption that individuals have free will and power of reason to make decisions (e.g. whether or not to commit crime)

🐀 - Clarke (1980)

• Crime = choice based on rational calculation of likely consequences

🐀 - Clarke (1980) - costs and rewards

• Perceived rewards of crime > perceived costs of crime (therefore crime is committed)

• Low perceived costs due to

  • Low risk of being caught

  • Punishments lenient

🐀 - Wilson (1975)

Low supply and value of legit opportunites (jobs) + low cost of illegti opportunities (fines, jail terms) → teenager concluding it “makes more sense to steal cars than wash them”

🐀 - Felson (2002) - 3 things crime needs to occur

1. Motivated offender

2. Suitable target

3. Absence of capable guardian

• If there were one, offender would be deterred due to their rationality