Social Psychological Theories Of Criminal Behavior

In the world of youth and delinquent, criminals advancing their activity into adulthood, social psychological theories help to develop the criminal justice field to better cope with what is faced by youths. â€Å"Social psychological theories of criminal behavior emphasize subjective life experiences, such as the development of one’s identity, cognitive and emotional processes, and the capacity to make choices.† (Listenbee, 2014 p.1.) Utilizing social aspects of the past and present criminal justice agencies can predict the type of life that may be lived by the young adult, whether it is a criminally active life-style or more conformed to the civilities of society. With knowledge of what may yet come in the life of a juvenile, it is possible to curve the criminal activity of the youth by placing them into detention centers or counseling programs to steer them into a positive direction. This would take the full complement of energy from all those that participate in the life of the youth to include parents, teachers, counselors and any other adults in the youths life. In utilizing social psychological theories information must be gathered and obtained so that a structure can be formed from those with experience in the development of morals to youths. Youth counselors are the most likely to be placed in the position to speak with juveniles either on a one on one basis or in a group scene. In concerns to the juvenile court system, it is easy for the officials of the courtShow MoreRelatedTaking a Look at Biological Criminology1240 Words   |  5 Pages He believed that criminals are born, not made. A â€Å"born criminal†, is a â€Å"defective individual†, whom has natural or instinctive tendencies towards low types of social life. (Biosocial and Psychological Theories, Feb. 11, 2014) Biological criminology believes criminals are genetically determined but face major shortcomings for being â€Å"simplistic, untestable, illogical, and often ideological† (Biosocial and Psychological Theories, Feb. 11, 2014). By the 1950’s, biological theories had almost been wipedRead MoreCriminological Theories Help Professionals Better Understand Why Individuals Commit Crimes1375 Words   |  6 PagesCriminological theories help professionals better understand why individuals commit crimes. The hope is that by gaining a better understanding of why people commit crimes, we can help prevent them better in the future. Currently, there are several different theories that individuals have claimed to be the reason for criminal behavior. Some of those theories include classical, neoclassical, biological, sociological, psychological, social, choice or strain. Each theory, while sometimes intertwinedRead MoreThe Theory Of Routine Activity Theory870 Words   |  4 PagesChoice theory (routine activity) or trait theories (bio social and psychological), which is responsible for more criminal activity? In order to det ermine which one causes more criminal activity, they each must be defined. Choice Theory (routine activity) Rational choice theory commonly known as choice theory is based off of beliefs from classic criminology, which believe that individuals freely choose their behavior and are motivated by the pursuit of gratification and the attempt to avoid painRead MoreThe Biological Theory Of Crime Causation1082 Words   |  5 Pagesmeaning of the concept of cause as it pertains to human behavior. Examining why people commit crime is very important in the ongoing debate of how crime should be handled and prevented. A few of the theories that have emerged and continue to be explored are biological, sociological and psychological theories. While individually and in combination, these theories of crime causation affect human behavior and actions. The biological theory of crime causation includes your genes, body type, and traitsRead MoreThe Theory Of Crime Causation871 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the important goals to criminology is to create valid and accurate theories of crime causation. A theory could be defined as a statement that explains why a certain circumstance does not happen. A valid theory should always have the ability to predict future occurrences of the circumstance in question and also have the ability to be tested (Siegel, 2013). Even though there was talk on the code of law and how crime should be handled from years ago, according to Siegel, the science of criminologyRead MorePsychological and Sociological Theories of Domestic Violence Essay1674 Words   |  7 Pagesproduct of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and any other forms of torture or torment that the particular abuser wishes to employ to gain control or power over their victims (Gosselin, 2005). Due to the complexity of this crime, ma ny criminologists and socialologists have studied its causes and the effects in order to determine social policies and additional theories to better understand the causation of domestic violence. The social policies and theories that are developed from this researchRead MoreA Study Of Crime Fell Into The Domain Of Metaphysicians, Penologists And Moralists1478 Words   |  6 Pagesfocus for the biological school of thought was that criminals do have physical characteristics that are well defined and are distinct when compared to people who abide by the law. In fact, Lombroso believed that born criminals had the physical, mental, and instincts of primitive man (earlier stage of human evolution), which meant these born criminals were unsuited for a civilized society and unless incapacitated they would inevitably violate the social and legal rules (Akers Sellers, 2013). EssentiallyRead MoreThe Theory Of Body Types, And The Y Chromosome Theory1194 Words   |  5 Pagesto Sociology March 26, 2016 Deviance Many different theories exist regarding deviance. Biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives have applied their different thought processes to produce many theories. Some of these ideas have been discredited, however some remain significant today. Sociological theories differ from biological and psychological theories by looking at external factors rather than internal ones. Biological theories on deviance are the result of looking for answers thatRead MoreIntroduction: There are many theories that attempt to explain the phenomenon of juvenile1000 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction: There are many theories that attempt to explain the phenomenon of juvenile delinquency and the factors that cause it. There is, and has been, a great amount of young people who engage in delinquent behavior throughout the nation and worldwide. What exactly is the catalyst that incites these young people to commit crime and stray from the ethical norm established in society? Are all youth susceptible to the temptation of deviant behavior or is it just some? Theories suggest different possibleRead MoreEffectiveness of the Individual Explanation in Comparison to Social Explanation of Crime937 Words   |  4 Pagesexplanation in comparison to social explanation of crimes, I will draw upon the theory of positivism and strain. There are controversies in which evaluation is the most effective. Unquestionably, both standpoints do have it limitations and strength, I will draw upon case examples and researches of both views in order to critically assess both effectiveness in explaining the oc currence of crimes. Individual explanation of crime is an approach ought to convey that criminal behavior is solely dependent on