Discussion Chapter on "Criminology Theorizing Across Multiple Units"

Discussion Chapter 4 pages (1101 words) Sources: 2

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Crime is complex and certain social and individual factors interact to influence an individual's behavior. Traditionally, the world of crime has had explanations from as single level of theoretical perspective. These theories are at either at macro-level or micro-level. Integration of criminological theory occurs after combination of two or more crime theories especially competing theories in order to explain a crime activity in a broader manner. All the theories try to explain certain crime activities. Micro-macro theoretical integration is one of the main integrated theories, which has its achievements and failures. The micro-level focuses on a person's character while a macro-level deals with factors outside an individual such as the social aspect. This integration theory deals with both an individual's character and the social perspective influencing people's behaviors hence combining both theories.

Micro-macro theoretical integration combines the macro and micro theories. The macro theories operate on three major assumptions. One is that the individual's immediate environment influences or rather inspire an individual to either commit or not commit crime. The immediate environment structural meaning that it's most significant traits, in terms of their influence on the individual's reaction, in relation to the broader structural features of social Institution. Criminals are essentially similar to the normal people in the society in the state by which they relate with the immediate surrounding and in the intentions that guide their choices to commit crime activities. The micro theories are also as follows: the differences in an individual's character will influence the variation in likelihood of taking part in crime. An individual's trait relates to how one interacts with others. The criminals are different from non-criminals since their traits differ (Bernard, 1996).

A good example is that when an individual commits a crime, it can be from the surrounding environment. The surrounding may lack social morals and principles resulting to deterioration of a person's behavior. On the contrary, an individual's traits, probably from birth, may influence his behavior. Incase an individual's behavior is not molded from young age, this situation will occur. The main cause for this is usually neglecting parents who do not take up the responsibility to build positive characters in their children. This is due to the traits acquired from birth or early life and not because of his social surrounding. The macro and micro theories combined in the integration do not dispute unlike the other theories. Integration disputes the weaknesses in both theories. This form of integrating theory also helps in reduction of the existing theories. The many theories lead to contradiction among scientists and other researchers. The combining of these theories will also reduce the state of confusion and misinterpretation. The main limitation of this theory is that a few expertises have made efforts to integrate this theory. Most of them are unaware while some are unable to implementing the task. The strengths associated with the integrated theory outweigh the limitations involved. This type of integrated theory is very effective in determining the causes of crime activities.

References

Bernard, Thomas J., Jeffrey B. Snipes, & Alexander L. Gerould. (2010). Vold's Theoretical

Criminology (6th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Cullen, Francis T., & Robert Agnew. (2011). Criminological Theory: Past to Present. Essential Readings (4th ed.). New… READ MORE

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