Essay on "Violent Crimes"

Essay 4 pages (1249 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

human nature. How do they relate to the analysis of violent crime and criminal behavior? What are the three (3) categories of risk factors associated with criminal behavior? Finally, discuss one (1) theory of criminal behavior that you learned about.

The Hobbesian perspective assumes that human beings are basically undisciplined, self-interested creatures who instinctually seek to dominate other creatures. According to this view, human beings would commit crimes indiscriminately if there were no political organization in place to constrain them. In our society, these constraints come in the form of rules, regulations, and the policing power that enforces them.

The Lockeian perspective sees human beings as born basically neutral, what Locke called a "blank slate." Human beings acquire virtually all of their behaviors, beliefs and tendencies from their social environment. According to this view, criminal behavior is learned through social interactions with other people, just as all social behavior is learned. Thus, preventing criminal behavior is a matter of altering the social environment of an individual.

The Confucian perspective views humans as naturally compassionate but weak. Human beings do not naturally wish to harm others but are led to do so through the influence of self-interest. Being social creatures, they are also influenced by the values and attitudes of the society in which they live. According to this view, criminal behavior is learned as just another method of securing one's own interests, a method informed by social values and attitudes. Thus, preventing criminal behavior is a matter of convincing an individual that she can secure her interests without harming the interests of other people.

b. There are personal risk factors, such as aggressiveness. There are social risk factors, such as growing up in a broken home. Also, there are biological risk factors, such as excessive levels of adrenaline and dopamine.

c. Social conflict theorists believe a person, group, or institution has the power and ability to exercise influence and control over others. Conflict theorists are concerned with the role that political and economic structures play in the prevalence of crime. It also critically evaluates the prevalence of bias in the operation of criminal justice systems as well as the influence of powerful groups in the shaping of criminal law.

Describe the process of operant conditioning and give an example of how criminal behavior is acquired. What do you believe is the most powerful origin of criminal behavior? Why? Explain your answer using information you have learned in the first half of class.

a. Operant conditioning is a form of learning during which an individual modifies her own behavior due to the association of the behavior with a stimulus. Operant conditioning promotes the increase of behaviors through reinforcements and decrease of behaviors through punishments. It can increase criminal behavior when such behavior is followed immediately by positive or negative reinforcement.

Take the example of a drug addict who is craving another dose but cannot get one for lack of money. He feels anxiety over his lack of money so he threatens a random pedestrian with a knife and the pedestrian gives him his wallet. The addict takes the money from the wallet and buys his next dose with it. The addicts' behavior is positively reinforced by acquiring money and negatively reinforced by the alleviation of anxiety over not having money. He has learned to satisfy his cravings and by robbing people through operant conditioning.

c. The most powerful origin of criminal behavior is the feeling of lack, a poverty of the soul. Traditional poverty, financial poverty, is what drives a poor person to want to take from other people. However, it does not explain why a rich person would seek to take from other people, even those poorer than him. A rich person,… READ MORE

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