Psychology: concepts, theories, and applications

Criminal Behavior

I believe that the sociological approach to crime best helps one understand and explain the causes of crime and criminal behavior. The first reason that I believe this is that sociological explanations help determine what is labeled criminal behavior. Examining Scheider's list of the six ways of grouping criminological theories, it becomes apparent that sociology plays an important role in several of those groups, including: normative violations because the surrounding culture determines what behavior is normal and abnormal; cultural deviance because in order to deviate from a culture, there have to be established cultural norms, which can be explained by sociology; criminalization because it defines deviance from a sociological perspective; and broader human behavior (2002). In fact, only sociological perspectives can explain what behavior is considered deviant, and, therefore, eligible to be labeled criminal (Burkhead, 2006).

The second reason that I believe the sociological perspective is the appropriate way to explain crime is that the sociological perspective informs other approaches to crime. The evidence seems clear that some innate biological factors help influence things such as impulsivity and aggression, which are both linked to criminal behavior (Bartol & Bartol, 2012). Furthermore, even the psychological approach considers sociological factors, as all of the psychological theories discuss how the criminal interacts with his environment (Bartol & Bartol, 2012). Therefore, even if other explanations may help explain why a particular individual may be predisposed to behavior that society has labeled deviant, only the sociological approach can explain why society considers that behavior criminal and what type of things elicit that type of deviant behavior from individuals.

Week 1: Discussion 2: What is Crime and Who is a Criminal?

Determining who is a criminal is informed by sociological factors. The type of behavior that is consider a crime is determined by the social norms of a group. Behavior that deviates from those social norms is considered deviant behavior, and behavior that is extremely deviant may be labeled criminal. However, not all behavior that is considered extremely deviant is considered criminal and not all behavior that is criminal is considered extremely deviant. Take, for example, homosexual sexual behavior. At this point in time, roughly half of all Americans consider homosexual sexual behavior to be extremely deviant. However, while that behavior was criminalized in many locations up until relatively recently, it is no longer considered criminal behavior in America. Likewise, full-body tattoos are considered deviant behavior and people who are completely tattooed are ostracized from some elements of society, but that behavior has never been considered illegal. In contrast, most people do not consider jaywalking or speeding to be extremely deviant behavior. On the contrary, most people have probably engaged in these criminal behaviors and may even be habitual offenders, but one would be unlikely to label them as criminals.