Lecture Notes: Criminology Theories

Learning and Control Theories

• Learning Theories: Explain how individuals learn criminal behaviors from significant others.
• Control Theories: Focus on personal or social factors preventing antisocial behavior.
• Tabula Rasa: Concept of a blank slate.

Differential Association Theory

• Introduced by Sutherland (1930s): Criminal values are culturally transmitted.
• Key Idea: Delinquency arises from an excess of criminal definitions over non-criminal ones.
• Influence: Learning from significant others, not media.
• Classical Conditioning: Basis in Pavlov's theory; learning through associations.

Differential Reinforcement Theory

• Critique of Sutherland: Introduced by C.R. Jeffery (1965).
• Incorporates Operant Conditioning: Focuses on reinforcement and punishment after offending.

Bandura’s Theory

• Modeling and Imitation: Learning by observing others.

Control Theories

• Assumption: Natural tendency to commit crimes is restrained by social control.
• Early Theories:
  • Hobbes: Humanity's selfish nature.
  • Durkheim: Lack of internal controls leads to deviance.
  • Albert Reiss: Weak ego controls among juveniles.
  • Jackson Toby: "Stake in conformity" concept.
  • Nye’s Control Theory: Balance of freedom and control.

Reckless’s Containment Theory

• Pushes and Pulls: Social environment influences delinquency.
• Internal and External Containment: Combines personal belief and societal norms.

Modern Social Control Theories

• Matza’s Drift Theory: Offending occurs when social control is weakened.
• Neutralization Theory (Sykes and Matza): Techniques of neutralization and justifications for crime.

Hirschi's Social Bonding Theory

• Social Bonds: Strong bonds reduce crime likelihood.

General Theory of Crime

• Hirschi and Gottfredson: Low self-control as root of crime.

Labeling and Social Reaction Theory

• Labeling Theory: Social labels influence identity and behavior.
• Policies: Diversion, decriminalization, deinstitutionalization.

Marxist Theories of Crime

• Influence of Capitalism: Laws favor ruling classes.
• Bonger: Capitalism fosters selfishness and crime.

Conflict Theories of Crime

• Social Change and Conflict: Law reflects interests of powerful groups.

Social Disorganization Theory

• Ecological School: Urban development and crime.

Durkheim and Anomie

• Progression from Mechanical to Organic Societies: Impact on crime and norms.

Strain Theories

• Merton’s Strain Theory: Discrepancy between societal goals and means.
• Adaptations to Strain: Conformity, ritualism, innovation, retreatism, rebellion.

General Strain Theories

• Robert Agnew: Frustration from various life strains leads to crime.

Conflict Theory

• Power and Group Interests: Law as a reflection of power dynamics.

Critical Theory

• Marxism and Crime: Economic foundations of crime.
• Feminist Criminology: Gender inequality and crime.

Developmental and Life-Course Theories

• Developmental Theories: Criminal behavior over time.
• Sampson and Laub's Model: Importance of life events.
• Moffitt's Taxonomy: Differentiates between adolescence-limited and life-course persistent offenders.

Integrating Criminal Theories

• Integrated Theories: Combining multiple theories for comprehensive understanding.
• Examples: Elliott’s Integrated Model, Thornberry’s Interaction Theory.

These notes provide a summary of various criminological theories, focusing on the causes, influences, and societal impacts of criminal behavior, as well as the evolution of these theories over time.