Theories rooted on classical school thinking
Theories rooted on positivist school thinking
Developmental theory
Integrated anti-social personality theory
Theory of criminal personality
Critical race theory
Conflict theories
Consensus theories
Social cognitivism
Left realism
Personal, interpersonal, community–reinforcement theory
Argue that race is a social construction — a label, stigma, or symbol that society places on an individual that affects his or her life opportunities.
There are 3 key personality traits: Extraversion (E) , Neuroticism (N) and Psychoticism (P). People high in E, N, and P are the most likely to become criminals.
There are 2 types of offenders life-course-persistent and adolescent-limited. Most offenders can be classified under the later. They only offend during their adolescence, joining offenders who engage in crime throughout their lives. This temporal lapse is related to developmental issues.
Influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx. Essentially argue that there is an unequal distribution of power and the most powerful use the laws and the criminal justice system to exercise and maintain their dominance over the rest.
Based on the notion that human behaviour is determined by individuals' genetic makeup. Treatment is viewed as the solution to crime problems.
Behaviour can be learned through observation or vicarious learning and is more likely to be imitated if the model's behaviour is rewarded and the observer shares an important relationship with the model.
Influenced by Emile Durkheim's thinking. Argue that society is rooted in shared beliefs and values.
Starts from the position that crime is a serious problem, that crime is rooted in social conditions, and that criminologists should offer practical solutions to the crime problem. It proposed the “square of crime” (the victim, the offender, the state, and informal social controls).
Are based on the notion that offenders are free-willed individuals and that human behaviour is governed by a hedonistic calculus. Deterrence is viewed as the solution to crime problems.
There 2 types of anti-social potential: long term (determined by impulsivity, low IQ, low empathy, delinquent associates, weakened social bonds, low SES) and short-term (related to environmental and immediate situational factors).
Argues the four predictors of criminal behaviour are d) Anti-social attitudes, anti-social associates, a history of anti-social behaviour, and an anti-social personality pattern.
