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Criminology refers to the study of the nature,
causes, and means of dealing with crime
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Classical theories on criminology came out of
the chaos of justice in the 18th and early
19th centuries
Some key thinkers:
◦ Cesare Beccaria
◦ Jeremy Bentham
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Famous for writing On Crimes and
Punishment
◦ Humans are driven by self-interest, but are
rational in their decisions
◦ Government should act on behalf of all citizens
◦ Citizens are prepared to give up some freedoms
in exchange for protection
◦ Existence of law should act as sufficient deterrent
◦ Punishment should be proportionately greater
than enjoyment received by disobeying
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Based his view on theory of utilitarianism
◦ Law should ensure the greatest good for the
greatest number of people
◦ Social contract between government and people,
each with clear responsibilities
 Government to make clear what was illegal and what
punishment would arise
 Citizens to follow laws as created
Those in group "A" are all shoplifters, "B" are swindlers, "H" are purse snatchers, "E" are murderers, etc
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Began in late 19th century
Focused on biological and psychological
factors to explain criminal behaviour
Based on the idea that criminals are born, not
made
◦ nature trumps nurture
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Generally discredited today
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Cesare Lombroso
◦ Studied cadavers of criminals
◦ Argued that criminals had distinct physical features
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XYY Theory
◦ Chromosomal abnormalities may explain criminal
behaviour
◦ Debunked when researchers proved idea incorrect
SOCIOLOGICAL
THEORY
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Focused on
biological and
psychological
factors to explain
criminal behaviour
rather than legal
system
◦ Lombroso “born
criminal theory”
◦ XYY theory
◦ Proposed by Emile
Durkheim
◦ Argued that as society
moved from rural to urban,
traditional values and
bonds that regulated
behaviour were weakened
◦ People would turn to crime
living in a big city, no
longer restrained by norms
of society
◦ Called this state of
isolation “anomie”
◦ Argued that criminal
behaviour was
encouraged or fostered
in certain environments
◦ Communities that
suffered from high rates
of poverty and social
disintegration were
more likely to condone
criminal activity than
affluent areas
◦ Consensus theorists
assume there is a
universal definition
of right and wrong
and that criminal law
reflects this
consensus
◦ Argue that criminal
laws prohibit
behaviours that
society agrees are
harmful
◦ Argues that people commit
crimes when they believe
they cannot achieve their
desires and goals through
legitimate means.
◦ The stress of goals of
acquiring wealth (success
and power), and the means
to achieve these goals
(education, economic
resources) are denied to
the economically
disadvantaged
◦ Suggests the key
influences leading to
criminal behaviour
are found in
upbringing, peer
groups, and role
models
◦ Argues that some human
traits such as intelligence,
personality, chemical and
genetic makeup may
predispose people to engage
in criminal behaviour
◦ Research suggests that the
following can cause a person
to become a criminal
 Poor diet (“Twinkie Defense”)
 Influence of hormones
(androgens)
 Exposure to drugs/alcohol in the
womb
◦ Focus on the study of
brain activity and
how neurological
dysfunctions are
connected with
criminal activity
 Twin studies