Offender Case Assignment

Assignment 2 Offender Case

In real life, humans are by nature born naïve persons, helpless and harmless; we are born with empty mental spaces unaware of crime or harm. However, criminal behavior and actions are gradually acquired based on our experiences and interactions in the environment. Cognitive, learning, and psycho-biological factors have done human kind good by providing a framework under which humans adopt terrorizing behaviors of crime (Brown, & Horvath, 2021). In particular, the cognitive theories of crime behavior analyse for faults in the human cognitive process that influence many to do immoral acts of crime while the behavioural theory of crime analyses the human behaviors of reward and punishment and how this influence people to do wrong as well as how people perceive crime behavior. Alternatively, the psychodynamic theory analyses how early childhood experiences of attachment impact an individual’s behavior and motivation. Overall, this essay analyses how the behavior of crime develops in man based on the above-mentioned theories.

Cognitive Theory of Crime

The cognitive theory of crime justify crime as a fault in the mental processes of criminals thinking, thought processing, and mental development. Specifically, the cognitive theory of crime behavior looks at criminals as individuals who are unable to make correct choices (Brown, & Horvath, 2021). This theory revolves around the process of a criminal’s personality, thought processes, actions, and to some extent the conditions that surround them. However, opponents of this theory challenge on the account that the theory overlooks the fact that someone’s criminal pattern of thinking can be changed through counseling’s or as a result of the criminal’s repentance. Instead, the cognitive theory of crime behavior majorly focuses on a criminal who is susceptible to committing crime as someone with some level of cognitive deficit which is related to their brain. As such, this faults restrains people from taking the right decisions; biologically, the theorist explains that the part of the brain which controls the cognitive function of the brain does not enable the criminal to make a correct decision after all they are unable to process the information correctly. On the contrary, someone with cognitive fault may view committing crime as satisfying action in which they achieve pride. The theorists adds that people with criminal cognitive deficits are equally unable to process their emotions well.

The cognitive theory of crime further explains that individuals with cognitive deficits avoid all sort of social behaviours. Often, such individuals have behaviours that are satisfying to themselves which unfortunately is often detrimental to their cognitive processing. When such individuals are faced with a punishment regardless whether it is legal or illegal, this does not affect them since many a time, these individuals live by calculating the cost of their action. In any case, an individual who has a cognitive deficit is unable to process information or reflect on the effects of their criminal actions. Brown and Horvath (2021) explain that individuals who are law breakers seek satisfaction from their dubious behaviors and mind less about the consequences of their actions.

Victims with a criminal cognitive deficit think the world is always against them and sometimes blame their victims for their behaviours. An individual with a cognitive deficit think when adverse things happen in their lives, control is lost and they react. When a person suffers from this deficit, they become psychopaths; criminals lose their feelings and emotions which in due course takes them on the course of criminal behaviours against innocent persons. In the end, they feel their behaviours are justified and beneficial when they satisfy their needs.

Kolberg explains moral development as a sequence process that develops through the stages of cognitive behavioural theories. Partly, Kolberg says moral development is influenced by the concepts of punishment, and reward in a process called conditioning (Sprouts Schools, 2019). As such reinforcement conditions of reward/relief occur when there is a positive stimuli while negative reinforcement will happen after a negative stimuli. According to Mervyn and Ashton (n.d), ensuring consistent reinforcement is thought to result into a positive response in the reinforced behavior. For example, if a parent punishes their child for engaging in an immoral act of theft, such a child is unlikely to engage themselves in acts of theft again or even steal in the future. Although the reinforcement is considered negative by the punished victim, it is intended to show to them that their act is unaccepted in society. A positive reinforcement in this case maybe rewarding a child not to engage in an immoral behavior for that case. Reinforcements are best implemented when a child is still young to nurture in them positive virtues which are the desirable behaviours in the society.

On the other hand, reciprocity is a probable cause of increased criminal activity as the perpetrators gain from the practice. Drug dealing, cartels, and human trafficking remain a pronounced crime in the North American state of Mexico simply because the perpetrators of this crime gain from it. Punitive measures like incarcerations, freezing and others are therefore a desired crime countermeasure to condition and show to individuals that crime is an undesirable action in society.

In summary, the cognitive theory of crime shows that individuals with a mental deficit are usually unable to control their behaviours, feelings, and emotions and are also unable to process information like normal individuals. In the same way, such persons do not fear the punishments of their actions like the normal persons; they lose any senses of normal thought processing and as such need mental healthcare throughout their life.

The Social Learning Theory and Attachment

The Social Learning Theory

The learning of criminal behavior can best be explained under the social learning and attachment theory of criminology. According to the social learning theory, people learn from the environment around them, and so are crime behaviours. This theory defends that an individual is likely to engage in crime if they are living in an environment of individuals engaged in crime (Akers, & Jensen, 2007). Alice Spring is renowned as a territory with the highest rate of crime activity in Australia just as Memphis is for the United States. Note that these areas where founded already criminal but a number of factors influence the acts of crime in them. First forward, the existence of crime gangs in an area risks birthing many gangs as then the bandwagon effects comes at play with gangs influencing and trafficking individuals to join their gangs. For example, Alice Springs is a locale known for many anti-social behaviours of drug abuse and social crimes. As such, many people have come to learn such behaviours which are directly proportionate with the incidents of crime in society. As is known, the use of drugs and substances impairs human’s ability to process information well and further the propensity to engage in criminal activities as a result. Furthermore, such areas are also renowned for socio-economic challenges which lead in an uptick in domestic crimes of robbery, burglary, and others as people try to make means to survive.

Regrettably, such behaviours tend to be adopted on a large scale as individuals view it as a way to live which only prolongs the vice in the community as the general public imitates the behavior. Crossman (2019) explains the social learning theory of crime under the socialization process and its effects on individuals. According to the author, there are many ways through which people socialize. Some of these include; the symbolic interaction theory, the conflict theory, the psycholanytic theory, and the functionalism theory. In a word, the social learning theory of crime seeks to justify criminal behaviours under the individual learning process from the environment in which a person is living, how this influences the formation of oneself, and the impacts of society in socializing persons. That said, the theory considers the formation of a person’s identity to be an effect of their response to social stimuli. Also, the social learning theory puts emphasis on the social context of socialization instead of a person’s mind. The theory assumes that the identity of an individual is not a product of their unconscious mind as it is purported by the proponents of the psychoanalytic theory but it is instead the product of adopting oneself to respond to the expectations of others or fit in the group.

Inarguably, human behavior be it positive or negative modeled as a result of our response to social stimuli and pressure. As mentioned before, humans are born harmless and helpless individuals and learn everything from the interactions with the environment. A negative nurtures criminal mindsets amongst its occupants as then some people adopt it as a norm for the particular society while a moral environment nurtures and grooms morally upright individuals as the set standards or social virtues of the specific society.

Attachment Theory

According to John Bowlby, the theorist explains that the way a child develops largely depends on their attachment with their caregiver. To John Bowlby, a child is able to cope well with the surrounding environment if they have a better and positive attachment with their caregiver. The theorist describes the attachment theory as related to crime behavior as ‘any form of behavior that results in a person attaining or maintaining proximity to another person who is clearly identified as a superior or better able to cope with the world’ (Bowlby, 1990). Thus, the theorist explains that when a child is emotionally and physically safe and lives in a nurturing environment where he/she is reassured when afraid, comforted when distressed, such a child bears the chance of developing a safe foundation of good morality. Alternatively, when a child receives no affection and they are detached, chances are the child will become a delinquent. It is therefore not surprising that many street children and children who are not attached to caregivers, parents, guardians and families are cited as one’s who are mostly involved in criminal activities. On one side, such children do not receive mentorship and guidance from their caregivers while at the same time they are exposed to hostile environments at early age of fending for themselves and thus end up engaging in crime. Hayslett-McCall & Bernard, (2002) conclude that attachment is requisite in children development since it offers the foundation onto which good virtues and morals are founded; it is a primary ethological need that is innate and natural.

Psycho-biological Factors of Crime Behviour

Psychology and biology explain the development or manifestation of crime behavior as a basis of four primary factors: a failure in an individual’s psychological development, learned behaviors of violence and aggression, the relationship of criminality with mental health, and inherent personality traits. While explaining his psychoanalytic theory, and how personality traits influence crime behavior, Sigmund Freud hypothesized that individuals with psychosis (unable to relate with others) may exhibit aggressive behaviours and are susceptible to developing crime behaviours because of their inability to manage anger and aggression that they experience as a result of being angered (WJEC Criminology, 2022). In the same way, aggressive behaviours can be inherited based on the environment in which one grew up in. Documented stories and literature conclude that individuals or children who grow up seeing their fathers beat their mothers are ten times likely to grow up bullies and act aggressively to their spouses or children in future. Still, some biological studies confirm that the 5-HTR2A gene regulates aggression in people differently (Watson, 2022). True, some individuals have a high rs6311 which makes them prone to transmit the anger and aggressive behavior gene to their off-springs. At this point, anger and aggression which behaviours influence the development of criminal behaviours in individuals. This justifies that crime behavior can sometimes be inherited.

On the other hand, individuals with neurosis/phobia may express difficulty coping up with day to day challenges which may induce them into crime as a relief measure to countering the problems they face. For example, a neurotic individual may resorting to binge drinking to relieve themselves from financial captivity which in the end only leads them to committing crime. Lastly, mentally ill patients are susceptible to crime because of the deficits in the processing of wrong and right.

Reflection

As it flows from the above crime behaviours in humans is influenced by a number of factors which are both social, psychological, and biologically. Naturally, man is born an innocent creature that learns and develops crime behaviours on the basis of the different influencing factors as analyzed in above. Amidst all, the attachment theory advanced by John Bowlby highlights key in nurturing individuals with good moral virtues in society. Positive attachments which seek to guide and cultivate positivity in young children have the chance to soothe even man’s inherited characteristics which influence crime behaviours. As discussed in the essay, young children look at caregivers as individuals with the ability to cope with the world and are therefore observant to learn and adopt every virtue they see from them. In the same way, the caregivers can act as mentors who guide and nurture positive behavior based on some innate and undesirable traits they foresee in minors by counseling and guiding them on what is right and wrong. In addition, Kohlberg’s theory of moral development offers a clear blue print on how we can counter emergent crime behaviours in us through the reward and punishment conditioning measures. Truthfully, immorality is bound in society and as it is further analysed under its influencing factors, but implementing corrective measures to counter this vice is key to thwarting the proliferation of such behaviours in our communities. In many ways, the essay not only highlights the influences of crime behavior in humans but it also pinpoints some of the ways through which we can bred morality as well as prevent it in the event it exists in the society.

Are you struggling to keep up with the demands of your academic journey? Don't worry, we've got your back! Exam Question Bank is your trusted partner in achieving academic excellence for all kind of technical and non-technical subjects.

Our comprehensive range of academic services is designed to cater to students at every level. Whether you're a high school student, a college undergraduate, or pursuing advanced studies, we have the expertise and resources to support you.

To connect with expert and ask your query click here Exam Question Bank