Crystal Ross

320098852

The University of the West Indies St.Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Continuous Assessment #1

Wednesday 25th October, 2023

Introduction to Criminology
Introduction/Summary

Sociologist perspectives of crime imply that crime is shaped by factors external to the
individual, from their experiences within the neighborhood, the peer group and the family of
people's everyday movements through space and time. From that perspective, criminal
behavior is seen to be deeply rooted in a host of factors external to the person.

Literature Review

Sociologists perspects that crime is grown onto an individual rather than born with a criminal
mind. Crime is shaped onto individuals from the acts and behavior of their neighbors, family
and friends, which grows a negative influence on the individual to commit the guilty act.

A large number of studies examine the causes and the consequences of crime control at both
the micro and macro levels of analysis. This paper focuses on macro studies. Most macro
research on crime control is loosely organized and weakly linked to theoretical perspectives.
Studies are reviewed that relate to one of two general sociological perspectives—structural
functionalism and conflict; and these perspectives are contrasted with the economic
perspective. Empirical studies are employed both to specify more clearly and to evaluate the
causal structures and processes implied by the perspectives.

1
Response to Topic

Sociologists' perspective of crime suggests that crime is shaped by external factors, that being
society, behavior of family, friends or neighbors and could even be from being mistreated or
from struggling. These individuals are not criminals but persons that grew up with negative
influences or in a negative environment.

There are numerous hypotheses as to why people commit crimes. Some may think that
committing a crime is rational, with the offender considering the benefits and drawbacks of
doing so before the criminal activity. Others may hold the opinion that criminals are
inherently different from law-abiding people in terms of biology or psychology.

However, the one thing these two theories have in common is that they both emphasize the
role of the criminal. In other words, they view crime as an individual issue rather than one
that affects the entire community.

Sociology, on the other hand, argues that society shapes the circumstances in which criminal
activity occurs. Put differently, society influences people to commit crimes. Let's explore
what sociological theories of crime are, and what they address.

Émile Durkheim (1895) had a functionalist perspective on crime. He explained how people
conform to societal norms by socialization through education systems, family, and religion.
When growing up, people realize that if they don't conform, they may be excluded from
society or face lawful punishments.

Individuals are less likely to engage in crime when they have strong social bonds, such as
attachments to family, friends, and community, as well as commitments to conventional

2
activities, such as education or employment.These social bonds act as a form of social control
that inhibits an individual’s inclination to engage in criminal behavior.
One well-known social control theory is Travis Hirschi’s theory of social bond, developed in
the 1960s. Hirschi argued that individuals who have strong bonds to society, through their
attachments, commitments, involvements, and beliefs, are less likely to engage in criminal
behavior. For example, a study by Sampson and Laub (1993) found that individuals who had
strong marital bonds, such as being married and having children, were less likely to engage in
criminal behavior compared to those who did not have such bonds.

Labeling theory focuses on how social labels and stigmas can influence an individual’s
self-concept and behavior. This theory suggests that when individuals are labeled as deviant
or criminal by others, they may internalize this label and adopt a deviant or criminal identity.
Labeling theory also emphasizes the role of social reactions, such as formal and informal
sanctions, in shaping an individual’s criminal behavior.

One classic study that supports labeling theory is the research conducted by Howard Becker
in the 1960s. Becker argued that deviance is not an inherent quality of an act, but rather a
social construct that is created through the process of labeling. He found that individuals who
were labeled as deviant, such as being labeled as a “criminal” or a “delinquent,” were more
likely to continue engaging in deviant behavior because they internalized that label and saw
themselves as deviant.

Becker’s study showed that the labeling process can have a profound impact on an
individual’s self-identity and behavior. For example, when individuals are labeled as
criminals by society, they may face social stigma and discrimination, which can limit their
opportunities for legitimate employment and social integration. As a result, they may feel
excluded from mainstream society and may be more likely to continue engaging in criminal
behavior as a way of conforming to the label that has been imposed upon them.

3
Conclusion

In conclusion, Sociological perspective of crime suggests that crime is shaped by external

There are several different theories about why people commit crimes. On one hand, some
people believe that crime is a rational choice, and criminals weigh the pros and cons of
committing a crime before doing it. Others believe that criminals are biologically - or
psychologically - different from law-abiding citizens.

The one thing that both of these approaches have in common, though, is that they focus on
the individual. That is, they look at crime as an individual problem, not one that involves an
entire community. But sociological theories of criminology say that society creates conditions
under which a person commits a crime. That is, people are influenced by society to commit
crimes. The words 'sociological' and 'society' are linked, so you can remember that
sociological theories look at crime as a social problem, not an individual one.

4
Bibliography

Allen E. Liska
Department of Sociology, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222

https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/social-studies/crime-and-deviance/sociological-
theories-of-crime/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violent_crime

https://www.britannica.com/topic/labeling-theory

Akers, R. L. (1998). Social learning and social structure: A general theory of crime and
deviance. Boston, MA: Northeastern University Press.

Sutherland, E. H. (1947). Principles of criminology. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press

Sutherland, E. H., & Cressey, D. R. (1978). Criminology. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

Liazos, A. (1972). The poverty of the sociology of deviance: Nuts, sluts, and perverts. Social
Problems, 20(6), 605-619.

Lemert, E. M. (1951). Social pathology: A systematic approach to the theory of sociopathic

Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the sociology of deviance. New York, NY: Free
Press.

Sampson, R. J., & Laub, J. H. (2005). A life-course view of the development of crime.
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 602(1), 12-45.

Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford
University Press.

Coleman, J. Felson, M. (2006). Crime and everyday life. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publications

Merton, R. K. (1968). Social theory and social structure. New York, NY: Free Press.

5
Appendix

Benefits of doing this research-