Criminal theories and perspectives

The classical theory of crime involves the principle of human behavior being fundamentally driven by free will based on weighing the amount of pleasure received from an action against the amount of pain received from the action (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).  The theory involves the idea that if punishment is dealt swiftly and sufficiently enough, the pain received will be greater than the pleasure that was sought.  The positivist theory of crime follows the idea of a person engaging in a criminal act is the result of prior experiences or influences that define his current behavior.  Free will is challenged and an emphasis is placed on the person’s social, psychological, and biological stimuli that can be used to calculate and avert their criminal behavior (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).

Human behavior is generally viewed from perspectives.  The three major perspectives each provide specific opinions of this behavior and can be applied to the theories of criminal behavior.  The conformity perspective assumes that humans are basically good, although they are strongly influence by societal standards and outlooks (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).  The nonconformist perspective assumes humans are undisciplined and impulse driven.  The learning perspective believes in a neutrality of human nature and assumes humans learn their behavior through social interactions that change over the course of their life (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).

Each of these theories and perspectives evolved from humans observing human behaviors and should be compared and contrasted with spiritual truths.  Paul reminds Christians what they were like before they were converted, “you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you formerly walked” (Ephesians 2:1-2, NASB).  Applying this scripture to the positivist theory of crime, we can relate being born sinners to the idea that this theory proposes of the criminal nature being a result of prior influences of stimuli on a person’s life through biological, societal, or psychological means.  We must also examine the ideas that although an act may not be against the laws of man, they can be very much in conflict with biblical truth:  abortion is currently legal in the U.S. but a sin according to God (Exodus 20:13, “Thou shall not murder”, NASB).

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Reference

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2014). Criminal behavior: A psychological approach. Boston: Pearson.