Posted: February 14th, 2023

Criminology theories explain the motivation behind crimes

In this paper, you will apply criminological theories to your own experiences. This paper requires you to use critical thinking skills to apply abstract theories to personal experience and to complete a critical self-analysis of your own behavior. Using one theory, explain why you have or have not engaged in past criminal behavior. It is not necessary that the crime theory fits perfect. If you prefer not to reveal your behavior to me, choose someone you know very well
and apply the theory of crime to his or her (non) criminal behavior. (Be sure to protect your respondent’s confidentiality by altering identifying characteristics, names/places, etc.) Explain the theory in some detail. Why do people commit crime, according to this theory? What factors are most important in predicting if someone will commit crime? Using theory, explain why you have or have not engaged in criminal behavior. What factors led you to crime? Relate these factors directly to the crime theory. In other words, use the terms of the theory to explain/describe the behavior. Evaluate how well this theory works based on your personal experience. Why did you cease your criminal activity or why have you continued? Would the theory predict this? Explain. If you do use materials not assigned in class (not required), appropriately cite these materials in the text of your writing as well as in a reference page! Papers should be 5-6 pages double spaced, typed in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Number the pages. Your paper should be coherent, well-organized, and proofread for grammar and spelling.
Note to writer-I am giving you permission to write about whatever you want. You can explain why or why i didn’t grow up with criminal characteristics, I prefer not but its up to you, whatever is easiest! Thank you so much, If you follow the directions closely I will give you a very generous tip. The paper is due Thursday at noon
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Criminology

Students Name
Institutional Affiliation

Criminology theories explain the motivation behind crimes. The theories are used by criminologists to study crime and find ways to prevent it (Lerman, 2009). The theories explain criminal behaviors that lead an individual to break the law. Criminal behavior exists in two main categories, namely; property and violent crimes. Property crimes include activities such as theft, while violent crimes include homicides, domestic violence, and robbery with violence cases. Other offending behavior includes public crimes such as drug dealing and white-collar crimes such as corruption offenses committed by public officials. Studies show that criminal behavior is embedded in the firsthand knowledge and experiences. The base of criminal behavior is acted upon from the psychology of the criminal. I have never engaged in criminal actions. People become criminals because of inadequate nurturing during their childhood development. However, growing up, my neighborhood was mildly violent. There were violent and property offenders and cases, but they were not directly perpetual to my daily activities. I could describe the crime as mild and usual incapacity.
The primary reason why I have never involved in criminal activities is that I had great parents. My parents played a vital role that shaped my views and behavior in life. My parents were available to hold conversations, thus offering good guidance and insight openly. Poor parenting and violent neighborhoods contribute to criminal behavior. The factors fall under the social disorganization theory (Jeffery,2005). The theory states that the social and physical environment can directly contribute to the choices a person makes. Neighborhoods with weak social structures such as high employment rates, poor schools, vandalized, and vacant buildings can influence young people into criminal activities early in life. According to (Quincy,2012), neighborhoods in Chicago, Detroit, and Atlanta have poor kids who are likely to get involved in crime, unlike children, like me, who grew up in Salt Lake City. The neighborhoods have high crime rates and violence. Students from Chicago were found to perform poorly in vocabulary after a homicide case occurred. Violent areas impact children’s development and criminal behavior (Quincy, 2012). Unlike my experience, school children who are exposed to crime and violence experience a tough time learning due to stress and depression compared to children who grow up in safe neighborhoods. Also, the theory suggests that individuals from criminal regions are likely to participate in the subculture, thus influencing criminal behavior. Such communities have a high population of school dropouts. Study shows that delinquent from such societies have a hard time being eloquent in their spellings and vocabulary, thus affecting their economic mobility.
According to rational choice theory, criminal behavior can emanate from individual self-interest. People can make criminal decisions basing on the potential risk. Individuals may make a decision o participate in crime by being rational on the punishment versus the rewards. I would never resolve to get involved in criminal activity because of the negative outcomes. I believe in karma; therefore, I would not engage in criminal activities regardless of the reward. The rational choice theory states that people have the power to choose their behavior in pursuit of pain or pleasure freely. Criminal behavior is influenced by rational choices where an individual gets perspective on whether or not to commit specific crimes. Some individuals may choose crime because of the satisfactory rewards, while some may avoid it because of fear of punishment. In this theory, severe punishment can be used to prevent crime because .heavy penalties can make the criminal evaluate before taking action. I had capable parents who taught me the value of hard work and the value of money and how to make it at a young age. Studies show that individuals with capable guardians can deter crime. Also, understanding that there are other alternatives to acquire the desired income can influence the individuals to make better decisions.
Individuals may get involved with crime due to a lack of similar abilities or opportunities to execute their aspirations. Strain theory states that when an individual cannot achieve their goal through hard work, they may resolve to make through crime. For example, people from violence and crime neighborhoods may experience scarcity that leads them to decide to crimes to fulfill their needs. Education is a fundamental tool that significantly contributes to success in life. Individuals from deprived neighborhoods who experience recurring homicides and assaults are hindered in their economic standing at their adult stage. (Lerman,2009) Found that children from violent communities like Chicago experience adverse outcomes in economic mobility as compared to Fairfax County. For instance, children that grew up during intense violence and the crack epidemic in Chicago had poor economic mobility. The strain in their environment meant that the children involved were less likely to attain financial success. People from such communities who lack the necessary opportunities may find it hard to live their aspirations, thus turning to criminal activities to fulfill their desires.
In my younger years, I spent the most time with my brothers, who were into business and sports. I learned a lot about business, focus, and discipline. Honesty is a valuable character in life, and I live by such values and influence from my older siblings. It is not in my nature to engage in fraud activities. Most of my costs were established through the social learning theory. Social learning theory states that criminally minded people are influenced by the people they associate with regularly. The behavior is integrated through and cognition behavior because of environmental influence. Theories suggest that people learn through symbolic communication, and they base their actions on those symbols. Children from particularly low-income communities who witness crime and violence may develop relationships with related attitudes (Feldman,2007). The exposure to such environments causes direct internalization and imitation that guide similar behavior in their adult experiences. For example, children who grow up in violent childhoods are at a higher risk of replication reality and getting involved in crime.
Labeling theory causes criminal behavior because labeling based on stereotypic assumptions can create self-fulfilling prophecies that can amplify deviance behavior. African Americans are stereotyped as criminals; thus, the self-prophecy manifests in the rate of crime in the demographic. Study shows that African Americans are over-represented in the arrests of homicide cases. An African American man is stereotyped to be dangerous compared to a white man, thus reinforcing a criminal outlook in the collective mentality (Quincy,2012). The neighborhood I grew up in was not the safest environment in the world, but it was not labeled as a dangerous neighborhood. The rate of crime in my situation was at a medium level. Thus I did not experience labeling that would steer me into crime to self-fulfill the prophecy. However, I have witnessed the effects of labeling on African American criminal behavior. The labeling affects policing because African Americans are likely to be stopped by police for frisking and questioning (Feldman,2007). The effects can escalate, leading to injuries and arrests. Theorists argue that the social background of individuals does not affect criminal behavior but rather the labeling by authorities. Labeling causes the individuals to view themselves as a product of their interactions with the police and specific individuals, thus resulting in more criminal behaviors. Also, integrationists argue that crime is a socially constructed theory. Deviant behavior came to e because others labeled them as deviant; thus, deviance is a product of society’s reactions to actions.
Criminal theories describe criminal behaviors based on social inquiry. People develop criminal behavior due to their psychological and biological responses to their immediate circumstances. Theories like social disorganization theory explain the origin of criminal behavior can come from a disoriented society. The social systems that do not support education and economic systems directly influence criminal behavior. Other theories, such as rational choice, labeling, and social learning theory, are all based on society’s influence on an individual. Criminal behavior emanates from poverty and violence society. Young people that are exposed to crime and violence are likely to replicate the behavior in their adult life (Quincy,2012). Therefore, better environments and parenting is significant in creating better experiences and opportunities for individuals.

References
Lerman, A. E. (2009). The people prisons make: Effects of incarceration on criminal psychology. Do prisons make us safer, 151-176.
Jeffery, C. R. (2005). Criminal behavior and learning theory. J. Crim. L. Criminology & Police Sci., 56, 294.
Quinsey, V. L. (2012). Evolutionary theory and criminal behaviour. Legal and criminological psychology, 7(1), 1-13.
Feldman, M. P. (2007). Criminal behaviour: A psychological analysis.