When news media outlets report about violent crimes throughout the nation, many people have become de-sensitized to the fact that violence has become a part of everyday life. But how do people feel when a child escalates to a level of unthinkable violence? In August of 1993, Eric Smith was accused, tried, and convicted for the murder of 4 year old Derrick Robie. The community of Steuben County, New York were in shock and disgusted but were unaware that Eric Smith, who was 13 at the time, committed this heinous crime. Derrick Robie was lured by Smith into a wooded area where his was strangled, sodomized, and bludgeoned with two large rocks, causing his death. The crime in itself is extremely horrifying to the point where questions begin
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Psychologist John Dollard developed his frustration-aggression theory on the basis that different forms of aggressive behavior are a result from frustrating events. Dollard also further explained that aggression towards others will likely be the main result of frustration towards others. Dollard’s theory is applicable in everyday life. When humans become frustrated with even though most menial tasks or demands, aggressive manners become prevalent while self-control takes a back seat. Smith’s excessive manner in the way he killed Derrick Robbie is an example of Dollard’s frustration-aggression …show more content…
The Rational Choice Theory states that a person is giving the free will whether or not to commit a crime. With free will there is an underlying factor of does the benefit of the crime outweigh the cost of breaking the law? Eric’s decision to kill Derrick was out of his own personal free will. There was not benefit to commit the crime or a defense to murder Derrick, just an opportunity in Eric’s mind. Many theories can be used to explain or even excuse criminal behavior, but in the end Eric Smith had the final say in whether or not to commit murder or not. Criminologists have developed many theories to help explain why juveniles commit crimes. Theories are not concrete solutions to why crime occurs, but it helps to give an understanding to why juveniles commit crimes and who may be predisposed to a life of crime. In the case of Eric Smith, Eric can be associated with a variety of theories developed by professionals in the fields of criminology and human
Psychologist John Dollard developed his frustration-aggression theory on the basis that different forms of aggressive behavior are a result from frustrating events. Dollard also further explained that aggression towards others will likely be the main result of frustration towards others. Dollard’s theory is applicable in everyday life. When humans become frustrated with even though most menial tasks or demands, aggressive manners become prevalent while self-control takes a back seat. Smith’s excessive manner in the way he killed Derrick Robbie is an example of Dollard’s frustration-aggression …show more content…
The Rational Choice Theory states that a person is giving the free will whether or not to commit a crime. With free will there is an underlying factor of does the benefit of the crime outweigh the cost of breaking the law? Eric’s decision to kill Derrick was out of his own personal free will. There was not benefit to commit the crime or a defense to murder Derrick, just an opportunity in Eric’s mind. Many theories can be used to explain or even excuse criminal behavior, but in the end Eric Smith had the final say in whether or not to commit murder or not. Criminologists have developed many theories to help explain why juveniles commit crimes. Theories are not concrete solutions to why crime occurs, but it helps to give an understanding to why juveniles commit crimes and who may be predisposed to a life of crime. In the case of Eric Smith, Eric can be associated with a variety of theories developed by professionals in the fields of criminology and human