Kelly L. Gould

Choice Theory
Belief that youths will engage in delinquent behavior after weighing the consequences and benefits of their actions.

Trait Theory
The idea that youths engage in delinquent behavior due to aberrant physical or psychological traits that govern behavioral choices

Classical Criminology

How Are These Behaviors the Product of Rational Thought?

Street
Crime

Drug
Use

Violence

Deterrence

General Deterrence
Depends on fear of penalties; convincing potential offenders that the potential pain outweighs the potential benefits

Specific Deterrence
Focuses on the individual offender to convince him or her not to repeat their delinquent activity

Studies of General Deterrence

There is little clear cut evidence that the perception or reality of punishment can deter most crime

The certainty of punishment seems to have a greater influence on the choice of crime than the severity of punishment

Situational Crime Prevention

Foundations of Trait Theory (biological)

Biological explanation of delinquent behavior first became popular during the middle part of the 19th Century with the introduction of positivism.

Early positivists included:

Lombroso (belief in certain physical characteristics indicate a delinquent nature)

Ferri (belief in biological, social and organic factors as a cause of crime and delinquency)

Sheldon (belief in body type)

Debunking these early trait theories

Biosocial Theory:
Biochemical Perspective

Biochemical Considerations

Aggression and delinquent behavior have been linked to diet. Some believe sugar intake is one culprit. If this is true, to what extent is behavior voluntarily induced by these foods?

Biosocial Theory:
Neurological Perspective

Neurological Impairment

If the medical community tells us that neurological impairment was instrumental in the causation of an offense, can the offender be held accountable?

Genetic Influences

Is the cause of delinquency present at birth?

Is the cause of delinquency transmitted from one generation to the next?

Is delinquency immune to treatment efforts if it is genetically determined?

Biosocial Theory:
Genetic Perspective

Biosocial Theory:
Evolutionary
Perspective

Male Aggressiveness and Evolutionary Theory

This explains the existence of aggression and violent behavior as positive adaptive behaviors in human evolution; these traits allowed their bearers to reproduce disproportionately, which has had an effect on the human gene pool.

Psychological Theory:
Psychodynamic Perspective

Social Learning Theory

Sociopaths

Beliefs and Crime Policy

Should there be a valid relationship between law makers’ beliefs about crime and research regarding crime causation?