Positivist criminological theory emerged within the nineteenth century, primarily focussing on explanations of crime by examining the forces and aspects outside an individual’s decision-making capability. The capacity of positivist criminology to explain reasons for violent crimes, particularly family violence, has resulted in a multitude of theories and definitions aiming to explain their impact on society. Family violence incorporates violence between family members and intimate partners, while also encompassing links with psychological child abuse as a secondary victim (Department of Human Services, 2015). Although positivist criminological theory has the ability to explain the psychological and biological factors that may result in domestic
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The presences of personality traits, or the underlying tendencies to act a certain way in a particular situation have been a key concern amongst criminological research within this area (Caspi et al., 1994). Sigmund Freud likened male criminality to relief from guilt; offending only because the action was forbidden and the performance of this task would mentally relieve the guilt (Freud, 1997). Alternatively, psychologist Hans Eysenck approached criminal personality traits through a three-factor theory of crime. Eysenck used super traits, encompassing psychoticism, extraversion and neuroticism, to categorise particular personality traits that may predict behaviours both criminal and otherwise. Crime was said to be associated with dominance, sensation seeking, anxiety, guilt and aggressiveness, with negative emotionality being the driver of behaviour (Wortley, 2011). Eysenck’s theories have, even today, held relevance in the explanations of male violent criminality with similar studies outlining the pattern in neurotic, extroverted and psychotic inclinations in male offenders. A study analysing typologies of male domestic violence offenders (Relationships Australia, 2014) used updated theories on personality traits to determine a psychological profile of previous domestic violence offenders versus non-violent men. Here …show more content…
The idea of a ‘cycle of violence’ by which children are more likely to partake in violent behaviours when experienced during childhood is embraced and accepted by many professionals (Maxfield, 1996), outlining the psychological impressionability of a young mind. Generally, twin studies (Jaffee et al., 2002) (Forsman and Långström, 2012) have found weak links between twin genetics and violence. As such, theories of positivism have trouble explaining environmental factors that may account for reasons of twin violent offending, in which a violent household atmosphere affects a child, regardless of a twin, more than a genetic predisposition. Although young people experiencing acts of family violence are likely to suffer from behavioural and emotional problems, positivist criminology may generalise such an effect and liken this to an inclination to domestic violence offending. This would mean that as young people grow they would be more likely to accept violence as part of their own lifestyle. While a clear association is made between experiences of domestic violence in adulthood and later perpetration, reports – such as that of the White Ribbon Foundation (Flood and Fergus, 2008) – aim to expose the danger of false positives and negatives; removing the oversimplification of apparent fateful childhood conditions
The presences of personality traits, or the underlying tendencies to act a certain way in a particular situation have been a key concern amongst criminological research within this area (Caspi et al., 1994). Sigmund Freud likened male criminality to relief from guilt; offending only because the action was forbidden and the performance of this task would mentally relieve the guilt (Freud, 1997). Alternatively, psychologist Hans Eysenck approached criminal personality traits through a three-factor theory of crime. Eysenck used super traits, encompassing psychoticism, extraversion and neuroticism, to categorise particular personality traits that may predict behaviours both criminal and otherwise. Crime was said to be associated with dominance, sensation seeking, anxiety, guilt and aggressiveness, with negative emotionality being the driver of behaviour (Wortley, 2011). Eysenck’s theories have, even today, held relevance in the explanations of male violent criminality with similar studies outlining the pattern in neurotic, extroverted and psychotic inclinations in male offenders. A study analysing typologies of male domestic violence offenders (Relationships Australia, 2014) used updated theories on personality traits to determine a psychological profile of previous domestic violence offenders versus non-violent men. Here …show more content…
The idea of a ‘cycle of violence’ by which children are more likely to partake in violent behaviours when experienced during childhood is embraced and accepted by many professionals (Maxfield, 1996), outlining the psychological impressionability of a young mind. Generally, twin studies (Jaffee et al., 2002) (Forsman and Långström, 2012) have found weak links between twin genetics and violence. As such, theories of positivism have trouble explaining environmental factors that may account for reasons of twin violent offending, in which a violent household atmosphere affects a child, regardless of a twin, more than a genetic predisposition. Although young people experiencing acts of family violence are likely to suffer from behavioural and emotional problems, positivist criminology may generalise such an effect and liken this to an inclination to domestic violence offending. This would mean that as young people grow they would be more likely to accept violence as part of their own lifestyle. While a clear association is made between experiences of domestic violence in adulthood and later perpetration, reports – such as that of the White Ribbon Foundation (Flood and Fergus, 2008) – aim to expose the danger of false positives and negatives; removing the oversimplification of apparent fateful childhood conditions