Introduction
Criminal theories have a center place in the criminology field. Crime theories are building blocks of this field. Criminal theory can be defined as a theory that presents the set of ideas through which one can define the crime. These theories actually explain how an individual reacts in certain situations (Hayes & Prenzler, 2014). There are different types of criminal theories and some are explained below.
Conflict Theories Conflict, a state where two individuals are not having the same view on a situation. It is not just an individual who is having a different point of view, different groups in society can have their own way to react to a situation. There are always two sides of a coin, this is also true for crime, …show more content…
This theory tries to explain some of the behaviors are termed illegal and wrong. The theory treats deviants as effect and cause of the crime or illegal behavior. A social group creates some rules and imposes it on people and label them as deviants or outsiders. This explains that deviance is not an act that an individual commit, but it is just a consequence of the application of rules (Akers, 2013). Some of the theorists say that the people who have powers imposes the labels on the people who are less powerful. These powerful people decide what all behaviors are legal and what needs to be banned. There may be a possibility that a powerful person is excused of an illegal behavior and she or he is set free, but a less powerful person is labeled as criminal for the same act. There is a high probability that an individual would be labeled criminal based on his or her social status (Akers, …show more content…
In this the individual identity, values and attitude are seen in context of society, how an individual act, react and change with others. According to this theory, we become what we think that other people think about us. What other people think of us is communicated to us by applying labels, this means that people are labeled as criminals, crazy people, etc. if society thinks an individual is involved in deviant behavior (Sutherland, Cressey & Luckenbill, 1992). The weakness of this theory is that it ignores the primary deviance and also underestimates the impact of other circumstances that lead to illegal behavior. It is of very less important that what a person has done in deciding the label. The strength of this theory is its attention towards the consequences of social control. Labeling theory now no longer generates enthusiasm and acceptance it did as a dominant paradigm in the sociology of deviants and criminology (Sutherland, Cressey & Luckenbill,
Criminal theories have a center place in the criminology field. Crime theories are building blocks of this field. Criminal theory can be defined as a theory that presents the set of ideas through which one can define the crime. These theories actually explain how an individual reacts in certain situations (Hayes & Prenzler, 2014). There are different types of criminal theories and some are explained below.
Conflict Theories Conflict, a state where two individuals are not having the same view on a situation. It is not just an individual who is having a different point of view, different groups in society can have their own way to react to a situation. There are always two sides of a coin, this is also true for crime, …show more content…
This theory tries to explain some of the behaviors are termed illegal and wrong. The theory treats deviants as effect and cause of the crime or illegal behavior. A social group creates some rules and imposes it on people and label them as deviants or outsiders. This explains that deviance is not an act that an individual commit, but it is just a consequence of the application of rules (Akers, 2013). Some of the theorists say that the people who have powers imposes the labels on the people who are less powerful. These powerful people decide what all behaviors are legal and what needs to be banned. There may be a possibility that a powerful person is excused of an illegal behavior and she or he is set free, but a less powerful person is labeled as criminal for the same act. There is a high probability that an individual would be labeled criminal based on his or her social status (Akers, …show more content…
In this the individual identity, values and attitude are seen in context of society, how an individual act, react and change with others. According to this theory, we become what we think that other people think about us. What other people think of us is communicated to us by applying labels, this means that people are labeled as criminals, crazy people, etc. if society thinks an individual is involved in deviant behavior (Sutherland, Cressey & Luckenbill, 1992). The weakness of this theory is that it ignores the primary deviance and also underestimates the impact of other circumstances that lead to illegal behavior. It is of very less important that what a person has done in deciding the label. The strength of this theory is its attention towards the consequences of social control. Labeling theory now no longer generates enthusiasm and acceptance it did as a dominant paradigm in the sociology of deviants and criminology (Sutherland, Cressey & Luckenbill,