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Major theoretical perspectives in sociology
Major theoretical perspectives in sociology
Sociology theoretical frameworks
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On September 3, 1929, James “Whitey” Bulger was born into an Irish-American family in Dorchester, Massachusetts (biography.com, 2015). Being the first of six children, Whitey was usually not the center of attention, especially as he got older and his parents continued to have more children. As he and his younger brothers got older, it was clear that Whitey did not have the same intelligence level as the younger boys. When the younger boys started to get straight A’s and more accomplishments in school, Whitey was led to a life of street crime. Since he was not a particularly bright student (biography.com, 2015), his IQ was probably pretty low. This brings up the connection to the theory called IQ and Crime. Getting involved with street crime at such a young age, leads to the containment theory and who Whitey spent his time with and what he saw being done to people everyday. Also, since Whitey’s criminal record started so young, the social learning theory can also be applied. Though these two theories can explain Whitey’s life so well, there is one other possible reason to explain Whitey’s life of crime. The characteristics of Whitey could also lead to the general strain theory and some sort of mental illness. The general strain theory also relates back to Whitey’s family and school life and though it is not known if he has a history of mental …show more content…
It is evident that Whitey Bulger had some issues in school (biography.com, 2015), especially since his younger brothers did so well and Whitey was constantly compared to them. Whitey was first arrested at the age of fourteen (biography.com, 2015), a very young age. As stated earlier, Whitey Bulger most likely had a lower than average IQ and this is one reason why his life of crime began at such a young
However, living in wealthier areas can mitigate the crime causing effect of low IQ. Another factor from the video clip that ties well with the lecture materials about the cause of criminal conduct is personality. According to (Henning 2016, Criminology Perspective), the values that an individual believes in, his skills, his beliefs, etc. can all lead to the development of criminal conduct. For example, someone who does not believe in honesty, hard work, and transparency is likely to develop criminal conduct in the course of his/her
James “Whitey” Bulger was born on September 3, 1929. His life of crime began when he was fourteen years old. When he was fourteen he was arrested for larceny. Larceny is just a different word for stealing. Bulger had also joined the “Shamrocks” street gang by then. Not too long after he was arrested for theft, he got arrested for assault and armed robbery. The judge sent him to a juvenile detention center.
The first argument put forward to explaining female crime was by Lombroso and Ferrero. They argued that the explanation was biological, stating that criminality is innate, but due to biological differences, very few females born with this trait. Lombroso argued that criminals represented a reversion to a more primitive state, physical traits being – ears of an unusual size, a sloping forehead and asymmetry of the face. This theory of physical differences was late disproved by Charles Goring in the English Convict, 1913 who found insignificant statistical differences between non criminals and criminals.
Nature versus nurture has been argued in attempt to understand how criminals behave. The theory of what influences psychopath and serial killers’ violent and destructive pathways has not been agreed on till this day. Criminals such as psychopaths and serial killers have been researched for the past two decades. Scientists have found that genetics is a determining factor of who becomes a serial killer. It is important to understand the determinants involved within a serial killer, because if these social and environmental causes are discovered, they can be altered and controlled to reduce crime (Lykken, 1993). With more studies, we would therefore prevent mass murders and could assist in significant reductions of crime within society.
In criminology there are numerous theories as to the causes of different types of crime. These theories are extremely important in the continuous debate of the ways in which crime should be managed and prevented. Many theories have surfaced over the years. These theories continue to be explored individually and in combination, as criminologists search for the best solutions in ultimately reducing types and levels of crime. These theories include rational choice theory, social learning theory, and biology amongst many others. In this case study strain theory will be used to describe the reasons behind the white collar crimes of Charles Ponzi.
most wanted fugitives. Bulger started committing crime acts in his teenage years where he was
Both boys involved in the murder of James Bulger came from rough backgrounds. The city of Liverpool is known for its poverty. Robert Thompson lived with his single mother and six siblings. Thompson’s aggressive nature concerned teachers and other parents. Jon Venables was the youngest of three. He also disturbed community members. A teacher of his stated, “He would literally throw himself around the room, banging off the walls and furniture” (1). Both boys had a history of violence. Venables once attempted to choke another student with a ruler. Social alienation and financial stress from home may have led them to attack. When questioned by investigators, neither boy revealed a motive; however, Venables said to investigators, "No, I didn't really want to hurt him, I didn't want to hurt him or nothing cause I didn’t was to hurt him with strong things, only like light things... I deliberately missed..." (11, p.11). The boys may have been looking for an outlet for their feelings that led to such acts of violence. Thompson, throughout his interview with investigators and trial kept unusually calm. He seemed almost bored. Venables on the other hand, broke into tears frequently throughout the interview and even asked
Psychological theories of criminal behavior emphasize criminal thinking patterns or personality defects. These theories emphasize individual differences in behavior and the approaches to thinking, feeling, and decision-making that make some people predisposed to committing criminal acts.
they are currently in. A juvenile committing crime may the only way they know to display their anger and feelings of neglect.
Are serial killers born with the need to kill, or is it something that they learn to do as they grew up? There are many theories as to why people become serial killers, but most are associated with the Nature vs. Nurture Theory. Many side with the nurture theory believing that serial killers are created from horrible childhood traumas like unstable households and abusive parents. While other people choose the opposite side of the spectrum: biological factors. Psychologist try to examine the brain of a serial killer through the use of MRI scans, conversations, and genetics in order to find abnormalities in the brain. Whichever side of the theory one may take, one has to be aware that not all serial killers are the same. Serial killers are separated into three or more different typologies: psychopathic sexual sadist, visionary serial killer, and the mission serial killer (Miller, Part I, 2013).
What drives an individual to kill another human being? This complex question has no single answer. One might say out of greed, anger, revenge, a domestic dispute taken too far, or even through self-defense. Generally, these reasons can represent the underlying motive behind most killings; however, what about the motives of serial killers? Scholars have often debated what truly makes a serial killer. Several theories have been proposed by criminologists to explain the origin of a serial killer. These include popular theories such as the labeling theory, social structure theory, strain theory, differential association theory, or learning theory. This paper will analyze the violent phenomena of serial killing through the social control theory.
Trait theory views criminality as a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits. It is based on a mix between biological factors and environmental factors. Certain traits alone cannot determine criminality. We are born with certain traits and these traits along with certain environmental factors can cause criminality (Siegel, 2013). According to (Siegel, 2013), the study of sociobiology sparked interest in biological or genetic makeup as an explanation for crime and delinquency. The thought is that biological or genetic makeup controls human behavior, and if this is true, then it should also be responsible for determining whether a person chooses crime or conventional behavior. This theory is referred to as trait theory (Siegel, 2013). According to Siegel (2013), due to the fact that offenders are different, one cannot pinpoint causality to crime to just a single biological or psychological attribute. Trait theorist looks at personal traits like intelligence, personality, and chemical and genetic makeup; and environmental factors, such as family life, educational attainment, economic factors, and neighborhood conditions (Siegel, 2013). There are the Biosocial Trait theories an...
1. Cesare Lombroso applied the methods of natural science (observation, measurement, experimentation, statistical analysis) to the study of criminal behavior. Lombroso rejected the classical theory of crime, associated with Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, which explained criminal activity as freely chosen behavior based on the rational calculation of benefit and loss, pleasure and pain. Critically analyze both schools of thought and provide an opinion as to what theory you believe is more relevant.
In today’s society, one will find that there are many different factors that go into the development of a criminal mind, and it is impossible to single out one particular cause of criminal behavior. Criminal behavior often stems from both biological and environmental factors. In many cases criminals share similar physical traits which the general population do not usually have. For example criminals have smaller brains than properly adjusted individuals. However biological reasons cannot solely be the cause of criminal behavior. Therefore, one must look to other sources as to how a criminal mind is developed. Social and environmental factors also are at fault for developing a person to the point at which they are lead to committing a criminal act. Often, someone who has committed a violent crime shows evidence of a poorly developed childhood, or the unsuitable current conditions in which the subject lives. In addition if one studies victimology which is the role that the victim plays in the crime, it is apparent that there are many different causes for criminal behavior. Through the examination of biological factors, in addition to the social and environmental factors which make up a criminal mind, one can conclude that a criminal often is born with traits common to those of criminals, it is the environment that exist around them that brings out the criminal within them to commit indecent acts of crime.
Though inconclusive, there are numerous other socio-biological factors that present individual risks to criminality. These include gang related peer influence, low IQ levels and hormones; especially cortisol and testosterone.