Criminal psychology of why do people commit crimes Free Essay Example, 2000 words

â€Å"Urinalysis of subjects in the Dutch study, all of whom was related and demonstrated aggressive and antisocial behavior, showed abnormal levels of metabolic products associated with the enzyme† (Vinces, 1996). These persons did not have the ability to produce this enzyme. This genetic defect may be at least a contributing factor leading to deviant behaviors. One of the early theories, the Chicago theory, was presented in the 1930’s. The Chicago theory did not take biological reasons into consideration as the science itself was in its infancy at the time, nor did it consider personal characteristics. It proposed that a dysfunctional social environment was the reason for criminal behavior. The communal surroundings within which one develops presents distorted values that determine behavior. Urbanization and poverty had resulted in the breakdown of fundamental family and social institutions. As personal values and standards became disjointed, definitions regarding ap propriate behaviors become distorted leading to misbehavior. â€Å"Disorganization is more prevalent in the center of the urbanized city, and decreases with distance thus, crime developed through frequent contact with criminal traditions, goals and values that have developed over a period of time in disorganized areas of the city† (Shaw, 1931). We will write a custom essay sample on Criminal psychology of why do people commit crimes or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now During the past couple of decades, there has been a resurgence of attention focused on what is now referred to as social disorganization theories. This ‘contextual movement’ endeavors to establish a link between what affects a negative physical social setting and what motivates deviant actions. One such theory involves the relationship between crime and the social process. The Socialization Theory dictates that criminal behaviour is a learned response because of long-term associations with groups or persons who habitually practice criminal activities. This theory is normally more suitable to forms of deviant crimes such as drug use and prostitution. Differential Association, one of the most prominent of the socialization theories, maintains that deviant behaviour is learned as are compliant behaviours. According to the theory, â€Å"each person is surrounded by people, definitions, norms, and behavior patterns that differ in that some are favorable to law violation while others are not. Whether or not a person becomes deviant will be a function of the relative mixture of these pro-criminal and anti-criminal experiences† (Petee, 1987). The Labeling theory is similar to the Socialisation Theory in that it emphasizes that deviance originates from interactions and relationships between people in society.