The General Theory Of Crime Essay - 1772 Words

Main Body As the nineties began, the general theory of crime became the most prominent criminological theory ever proposed; furthermore, it is empirically recognized as the primary determinant in deviant and criminal behaviors. Known also as the self-control theory, the general theory of crime can most simply be defined as the absence or lack of self-control that an individual possesses, which in turn may lead them to commit unusual and or unlawful deeds. Authored by educator Michael R. Gottfredson and sociologist Travis Hirschi, A General Theory of Crime (1990) essentially â€Å"dumbed down† every theory of crime into two words, self-control. The widely accepted book holds that low self-control is the main reason that a person initiates all crimes, ranging from murder and rape to burglary and embezzlement. Gottfredson and Hirschi also highlighted, in A General Theory of Crime (1990), that low self-control correlates with personal impulsivity. This impulsive attitude leads in dividuals to become insensitive to deviant behaviors such as smoking, drinking, illicit sex, and gambling (p. 90). The extreme simplicity, yet accuracy, of Gottfredson’s and Hirschi’s general theory of crime (self-control theory), make it the most empirically supported theory of criminal conduct, as well as deviant acts. First off, there have been ample amounts of disapproval in relation to the general theory of crime, because many scholars feel that Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) failed to include theShow MoreRelatedThe General Theory Of Crime2462 Words   |  10 Pagesoffending in the General Theory of Crime, and more recent studies have applied the theory to victimization. In this paper, we will first discuss Gottfredson and Hirschi’s General Theory of Crime as it applies to criminality. Then, we will review the literature to see how their theory can be applied to victimization. The general theory of crime, also known as self-control theory, was developed by Gottfredson and Hirschi as an explanation for crime causation. The general theory of crime posits that self-controlRead MoreGeneral Theory Of Crime And Delinquency919 Words   |  4 PagesGeneral Theory of Crime and Delinquency Many theories exist including biological, psychological, and sociological theories that have been proposed by many criminologists in the criminal justice field and have been closely studied by people (Agnew, Cullen, Wilcox, 2004). Most theories are proposed at the micro level meaning it tries to explain the criminal behavior of individuals and some are proposed at the macro level which tries to explain the crime rates in social groups, meaning micro focusesRead MoreEssay A General Theory of Crime2134 Words   |  9 PagesA General Theory of Crime (Michael R. Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi) Term Paper Soc 203 Prof. Ortiz 12th December 2002 Crime is a serious issue in the United States and research shows that it is running rampant, and its effects are felt in all socioeconomic levels. Each economic class has its own crime rates and types of crime. It is a mistake to think of crime as a lower class problem. Crime is a problem for all people. The lower classes commit crime for survival while the upper classRead More A General Theory of Crime Essay2067 Words   |  9 PagesCrime is a serious issue in the United States. Research shows that crime is running rampant and its effects are felt in all socioeconomic levels. Each economic class has its own crime rates and types of crime. It is a mistake to think of crime as a lower class problem. Crime is a problem for all people. The lower classes commit crime for survival while the upper class commits crime to supplement capital and maintain control. Research also highlight that middle class crime is the most popularRead MoreSelf Control Theory : A General Theory Of Crime1309 Words   |  6 PagesSelf-control theory hypothesizes that self-discipline explains a variance in the extent to which people are susceptible to specific urges, whether committing criminal or non-criminal actions. Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson gave rise to self-control theory in their book named A General Theory of Crime. Because its creators define the self-control theory as a â€Å"general theory of crime†, to them it is believed that this theory can be implemented to multiple behaviors where a person is not capableRead MoreUnderstanding The General Strain Theory On Crime3833 Words   |  16 Pages Understanding the General Strain Theory on Crime Codie Bastress University Wisconsin Oshkosh Abstract This paper explores Robert Agnew’s General Strain Theory by helping to explain what it is as well as research that has been conducted to support it. A majority of the articles used in this paper help try and explain or define what GST is as well as attempt to define its components. This paper will then help better understand some of the research that has been done regarding GSTRead MoreAriels Story : General Strain Theory And The Theories Of Crime1228 Words   |  5 Pagesstep-father before he began committing crime. He went to a juvenile corrections facility after hitting a kid in high school where his life of criminal behavior began to escalate. Criminologists have come up with various theories over the past decades to try and explain crime. There are several theories of crime that could be used to analyze and explain Corporan’s story. General strain theory, rational choice theory, attachment theory and control-balance theory all emphasize different parts of Corpora n’sRead MoreUnderstanding the Similarities to Strain Theory and General Theory of Crime3105 Words   |  13 PagesUnderstanding the similarities of Strain Theory, amp; General Theory of Crime Angela Sampson # 2396467 Sociology 345: Social Control Professor: James Chriss Cleveland State University April 30th 2012 Abstract: The purpose is to identify the similarities between Strain theories, and General Theory of Crime. Strain was developed from the work of Durkheim and Merton and taken from the theory of anomie. Durkheim focused on the decrease of societal restraint and the strain that resultedRead MoreAnomie and General Strain Theories of Crime Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesAnomie/Strain Theory Historical Background The theoretical framework of strain theory can be credited to sociologist Emile Durkheim. Durkheim research on formed a platform for other sociologist to further develop strain theories of crime. One of which is Robert Merton. One of Durkheim’s major works that opened the door to further research on strain theories was his book, Suicide. In this book Durkheim sough to understand the why led to one’s own self-destruction. Emile Durkheim studied suicide ratesRead MoreDifference Between Integrated Theory And Holistic Theory1200 Words   |  5 PagesAn integrated theory merges concepts, but it does not attempt to explain all criminal behavior from different concepts or assumptions. The difference between integrated theory and holistic theory is it does not attempt to explain all criminal behavior, but a holistic (general) theory of crime attempts to explain all forms of criminal behavior through a single approach.There are four examples of a holistic (general) theory of crime John Braithwaite’s theory of crime shaming and reintegration, Gottfredson