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CRIM 102: Theories of Crime Causation

The document discusses theories of crime causation. Historically, crime was explained through spiritualist notions, with influential theologian St. Thomas Aquinas arguing there is a natural law revealed by God that inclines people toward good. Aristotle also viewed humans as political animals destined to live in groups under government. Aquinas combined Aristotle's philosophy with Christian faith, stating God created nature and humans use reason, as per natural law, to guide their acts toward good and avoid evil. Early theories thus saw crime as violating both man-made law and natural law, making criminals sinners who damage their inherent humanity. A demonological theory also proposed criminals were possessed by demons compelling wicked acts beyond their control.

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515 views14 pages

CRIM 102: Theories of Crime Causation

The document discusses theories of crime causation. Historically, crime was explained through spiritualist notions, with influential theologian St. Thomas Aquinas arguing there is a natural law revealed by God that inclines people toward good. Aristotle also viewed humans as political animals destined to live in groups under government. Aquinas combined Aristotle's philosophy with Christian faith, stating God created nature and humans use reason, as per natural law, to guide their acts toward good and avoid evil. Early theories thus saw crime as violating both man-made law and natural law, making criminals sinners who damage their inherent humanity. A demonological theory also proposed criminals were possessed by demons compelling wicked acts beyond their control.

Uploaded by

Kristine Logan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CRIM 102

THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSATION


Theories of Crime Causation
Crime causation is a daunting and complex field.
Increasingly, research suggests that individuals are
unaware of the causes of other people’s behaviors as well
as the causes of much of their own conduct.
Crime does not evolve from any single source. There can
be several reasons behind a person’s criminal behavior or
multiple origins of crime. The theorists in criminology have
tried to explain these reasons through several theories.
Theories of Crime Causation
There is a wide range of criminal conduct that may
not always share the same source. For example,
the causes of violent crime can differ from the
causes of property crime.
Similarly, the causes of chronic and repeated
criminality can differ from the causes of one-time or
infrequent criminality.
Theories of Crime Causation
The explanations for crime are not simple; we live in a
complex society, and the causes of crime are as
complex as the society itself.
To grow a better understanding of crime and deviant
behavior, it is important to know these theories.
They provide different perspectives on crime. These
theories are important for understanding the sources of
motivation or circumstances which may lead to criminal
behavior.
Theories of Crime Causation
Some theories are not very common while others
have been changed over time. Criminologists take
into account psychology, biological aspects,
sociology and many other aspects.
THEORY
 Is said to be a set of assumptions, propositions,
or accepted facts that attempts to provide a
rational explanation of cause and effect (causal)
relationships among a group of observed
phenomenon.
In short, a theory is an idea or set of ideas that is
intended to explain facts or events.
CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY
A proposition/assumption that attempts to
explain criminal behavior (crime) and
behaviors of key actors of the criminal
justice system.
Theory in criminology refers to the efforts
to explain and understand crime causation.
THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSATION
Prior to the modern age, crime and criminal behavior in
Europe had been explained for over a thousand years by
spiritualist notion. The influential theologian St. Thomas
Aquinas had argued that there is a God-given “natural
law” that is revealed by observing through the eyes of
faith – the natural tendency of people to do good rather
than evil.
St. Thomas Aquinas
reconciled the political philosophy of Aristotle
with Christian faith.
Aristotle, who died in 322 B.C., was an Athenian
philosopher who wrote about science, ethics,
politics, and almost every other realm of
knowledge.
ARISTOTLE
In one of Aristotle’s works called The Politics, he
reasoned, "man is by nature a political animal." By this, he
meant that people were naturally destined to live in
groups, which required some sort of ruler or government.
According to Aristotle, only by living in a community "to
secure the good life" could human beings achieve such
virtues as courage, honesty, and justice.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Aquinas wrote his own commentaries on Aristotle, which included
reasoned propositions based on certainties revealed by God.
Aquinas went on to say that God created nature and rules the
world by "divine reason.“
Aquinas wrote most extensively about natural law. He stated,
"the light of reason is placed by nature [and thus by God] in every
man to guide him in his acts." Therefore, human beings, alone
among God’s creatures, use reason to lead their lives. This is
natural law.
NATURAL LAW
The master principle of natural law, wrote by Aquinas,
was that "good is to be done and pursued and evil
avoided." Aquinas stated that reason reveals particular
natural laws that are good for humans such as self-
preservation, marriage and family, and the desire to
know God. Reason, he taught, also enables humans to
understand things that are evil such as adultery, suicide,
and lying.
CRIM 102 - THEORIES OF CRIME
CAUSATION
Those who violates the criminal law are therefore
not only criminals but also “sinners” and thus crime
not only harms victims but also the offender
because it damages their essential “humanness” or
natural tendency to do well.
THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSATION
Central to the spiritualist was the demonology
(Demonological Theory), where it is proposed that
criminals were possessed by demons that forced
them to do wicked things beyond their control.

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