Theories of Criminality and their Relationship with Social Policy
Ideologies and actions are very closely related as they are influenced by one another. Theories of criminality have had tremendous impact on the laws and ideas humans have had about controlling crime. Religion was a great influence for people’s beliefs in spirits and possession being the cause of temptation and crime. However, during the Enlightenment, Cesare Beccaria’s Classical School theory protested against brutal punishments and focused on the individual’s ability to have choice. Later came Lombroso’s idea on dealing with crime, and this was the beginning of the eugenics movement, which was a newer idea on treating criminality. Finally, there were biological theories which …show more content…
In the 18th century when religion was the main authority, there were about 350 offences liable to be punished by death (Linden, 2012, p. 263). This theory aimed to remove the “barbaric system” and have the punishment fit the crime, having the focus upon the action, rather than the individual (Linden, 2012, p.263; 265). There was tremendous movement throughout Europe advocating against “the cruelty and inhumanity” of the criminal system currently set in place (Linden, 2012, p.262). This shows that there is a relationship between the ideas in theories and the actions that take place in the real world. However, these changes in actions aren’t always …show more content…
Sheldon argued that people had “particular types of personalities and temperament” that were the result of three body types, which he termed; Endomorphy, Mesomorphy and Ectomorphy (Linden, 2012, p.274). Goring’s theory was focused upon what he said was, “weakness demonstrated by low intelligence”, which was the cause for criminal acts (Linden, 2012, p.276). Both these theories do not examine social structure, and therefore did not have to examine issues such as racism or sexism (Linden, 2012, p.279). Since they have contradictory groupings of their data, these theories fall under the category of pseudo science (Linden, 2012, p.275). However, these ideas were still very influential in creating an image of your typical criminal for many years to
Ideologies and actions are very closely related as they are influenced by one another. Theories of criminality have had tremendous impact on the laws and ideas humans have had about controlling crime. Religion was a great influence for people’s beliefs in spirits and possession being the cause of temptation and crime. However, during the Enlightenment, Cesare Beccaria’s Classical School theory protested against brutal punishments and focused on the individual’s ability to have choice. Later came Lombroso’s idea on dealing with crime, and this was the beginning of the eugenics movement, which was a newer idea on treating criminality. Finally, there were biological theories which …show more content…
In the 18th century when religion was the main authority, there were about 350 offences liable to be punished by death (Linden, 2012, p. 263). This theory aimed to remove the “barbaric system” and have the punishment fit the crime, having the focus upon the action, rather than the individual (Linden, 2012, p.263; 265). There was tremendous movement throughout Europe advocating against “the cruelty and inhumanity” of the criminal system currently set in place (Linden, 2012, p.262). This shows that there is a relationship between the ideas in theories and the actions that take place in the real world. However, these changes in actions aren’t always …show more content…
Sheldon argued that people had “particular types of personalities and temperament” that were the result of three body types, which he termed; Endomorphy, Mesomorphy and Ectomorphy (Linden, 2012, p.274). Goring’s theory was focused upon what he said was, “weakness demonstrated by low intelligence”, which was the cause for criminal acts (Linden, 2012, p.276). Both these theories do not examine social structure, and therefore did not have to examine issues such as racism or sexism (Linden, 2012, p.279). Since they have contradictory groupings of their data, these theories fall under the category of pseudo science (Linden, 2012, p.275). However, these ideas were still very influential in creating an image of your typical criminal for many years to