Crime Theories and Explanations

These flashcards cover key theories and explanations of crime, including the theorists, summaries of their ideas, and real-world examples.

Neurochemical Explanations

Chemical imbalances (e.g., serotonin, dopamine) influence aggression and criminality.

Bandura’s Social Learning Theory

Crime is learned through observation and imitation of role models, as demonstrated by the Bobo doll experiment.

Formal Social Control

The use of laws and sanctions by government and police to control behavior, such as prison sentences for theft.

Informal Social Control

Social pressure and expectations from family, peers, and community that guide behavior, such as parental discipline.

Marxism and Crime

Crime results from capitalist inequality and exploitation, exemplified by corporate crime by the wealthy.

Eysenck’s Personality Theory

Certain personality types, especially those high in neuroticism and extraversion, are linked to a higher propensity for criminality.

Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory

Crime results from unresolved childhood conflicts, with harsh parenting linked to violent offenders.

Merton’s Strain Theory

Crime occurs when people are unable to achieve societal goals through legitimate means, leading to actions such as theft due to poverty.

Interactionism and Crime

Crime is viewed as a social construct; labelling leads to deviance, illustrated by the 'self-fulfilling prophecy' in school exclusions.

Left Realism

Crime is caused by relative deprivation, marginalization, and subcultures, such as inner-city youth gangs.

Right Realism

Focuses on crime prevention through strict laws and zero tolerance policies, with examples like 'broken windows' policing in NYC.

Functionalism and Crime

Crime is seen as inevitable and can even promote social change, illustrated by Rosa Parks breaking segregation laws.

Brain Injury and Crime

Brain injuries can impair judgment and impulse control, as evidenced by the personality change in Phineas Gage.

Diet and Crime

Poor diet may contribute to aggressive behavior, supported by studies linking junk food consumption to youth violence.

Genetic Theories

Certain genetic factors, such as the MAOA gene, may predispose individuals to violent behavior, indicated by studies of twins.