Transcript Other Theories for Why Crime Happens

Other Theories for Why Crime
Happens
Psychological, Biological,
Sociological, Classical
What is the difference
between Mass and Serial
Killing?
GENERALLY –
serial killing is over
time and mass
murder is
considered four or
more victims at one
time (or within
hours).
Mass Murderers Fall into 3
Types
Family Annihilators
Individuals with
mental defects
Disgruntled Workers
(going postal)
Mass Murders
Different sources will
say that genocide
qualifies as mass
murder.
So what was Charles
Starkweather?
Psychopath or Mass
Murderer?
Other Psychological Theories
Behavioral
conditioning

The right rewards
and punishments
must be offered to
get the desired
behavior.
Behavioral Conditioning
Crime is the result of
inappropriate
behavioral
conditioning.

We can condition
people to act another
way.
Bedford, New Hampshire
2006
Crimes Associated With
Behavioral Conditioning?
Domestic Assault
Burglary / Theft?
Gang-related?
Classical Theory – Another
Psychological Motivation for
Crime
Crime is caused by
individuals free will.
It is a choice people
consciously make.
Punishment must be
swift and certain to
stop the behavior.
Classical Theory and Types of
Crimes
Theft / Burglary /
Assaults?
Juvenile Crime?
Domestic Violence?
DUI offenses
Drug offensives
Prostitution /
Panhandling?
Classical Theory Believes that
ONLY punishment deters
crime
Crime is only
deterred IF
punishment is more
painful and swifter
than any potential
reward or pleasure
that was expected.
Two Types of Crimes in
Classical Theory
Instrumental Crimes

Murder, Burglary, Fraud

PLANNING and
financial rewards seen
Expressive Crimes

Murder, Rape, DUI,
Drugs

Where pleasure is the
primary goal
Which should receive a
harsher punishment?
Biological Reasons for Crime
“Criminal genes”
cause deviant
behavior???
Chromosome
Theory – XYY
Syndrome
Environmental
contaminants
influence on body.
Biological Reasons for Crime
Hormonal changes,
nutrition and
physical trauma
reasons for crime.
Sociological Reasons for
Crime
The structure of
society creates
crime.

Rich v. Poor


Higher crime where
rich / poor mix.
Laws created to
protect rich from
poor.

Michael Milken v.
Vernon Webster