Introduction to Criminology Page 1 of 13

Module 3: Theories of Crime

Module 3: Theories of Crime

Welcome Notes:

WELCOME CRIMINOLOGY STUDENTS

I. INTRODUCTION:

This module explains some crime theories from the early beginnings up to the modern days. There are
several theories related to crime and hoe society views and deal crimes and their punishment

II. OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Describe the Freewill Doctrine of classical schools
2. Identify the approaches of studying Criminology
3. Determine the Principles of Human Rights

III. PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

Before you proceed to the main lesson, test yourself in this activity.

Direction: Describe the image in one sentence

________________________________________________
Figure 1. Man in prison
https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-classical-school-of-
criminology-its-influence-today.html
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Module 3: Theories of Crime

GREAT!!!
You may now proceed to the main lesson.

IV. LESSON PROPER

LET’S BEGIN!

Based on the preliminary activities, what did you notice

about it?
______________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the lesson.
APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF CRIMINOLOGY
Subjective Approaches
It deals mainly on the biological explanation of crimes, focused on the forms of abnormalities that exist
in the individual criminal before, during and after the commission of the crime. Included under this approach
are:
a. Anthropological Approach - the study of the physical characteristics of an individual offender with non-
offenders in the attempt to discover differences covering criminal behavior (Hooton).
b. Medical Approach the application of medical examinations on the individual criminal explain the mental
and physical condition of the individual prior and after the commission of the crime (Positivist).
C. Biological Approach -the evaluation of genetic influences on criminal behavior. It is noted that heredity is
one force pushing the criminal to the crime (Positivist).
d. Physiological Approach - the study of the nature of human beings concerning his physical needs in order
to satisfy his ants. It explains that the deprivation of the physical body on the basic needs is an important
determiner of the commission of the crime (Maslow).
e. Psychological Approach -it is Concerned about the deprivation of the psychological needs of man, which
constitute the development of deviations of normal behavior resulting to unpleasant emotions (Freud,
Maslow).
f. Psychiatric Approach - the explanation of crime through diagnosis of mental diseases as a cause of the
criminal behavior (Positivist).
g. Psychoanalytical Approach - the explanation of crimes based on the Freudian Theory, which traces
behavior as the deviation of the repression of the basic drives (Freud).
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Module 3: Theories of Crime
Objective Approaches
The objective approaches deal with the study of groups, Social processes and institutions as influences
to behavior. They are primarily derived from the social sciences. Under these approaches are:
a. Geographic Approach this approach considers topography, natural resources,
geographical location, and climate lead an individual to commit crime (Quetelet).
b. Ecological Approach it is concerned with the biotic grouping of men resulting in migration, competition,
social discrimination, division of labor and social conflict as factors of crime (Park).
c. Economic Approach it deals with the explanation of crime concerning financial
security of inadequacy and other necessities to support life as factors to criminality (Merton).
d. Socio Cultural Approach - those that focus on institutions, economic, financial, education, political, and
religious influences to Crime Cohen).

Contemporary Approaches
Modern days put emphasis on scientific modes of explaining crime and criminal behavior. This
approach focuses on the psychoanalytical, psychiatric, sociological explanations of crime in an integrated
theory an explanatory perspective that merges concepts drawn from different sources (Schmalleger, 2015).

THE EARLY BEGINNINGS

Demonological Theory
Before the development of more scientific theories of
criminal behavior, one of the most popular explanations was
Demonology. According to this explanation individuals were
thought to be possessed by good or evil spirits, which caused
good or evil behavior, The theory maintains that criminal behavior
was believed to be the result of evil spirits and demons something
of natural force that controls his/her behavior. Centuries ago, Guilt
and innocence were established by a variety of procedures that
presumably called forth the supernatural allies of the accused.
The accused were innocent if they could survive an ordeal, or if
miraculous signs appeared. They were guilty if they died at stake,
or if omens were associated with them (Bartol, 1995). Harsh
punishments were also given. Figure 2. God vs devil
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/41616082179114
4656/
PRE-TWENTIETH CENTURY (18th C -1738 1798)
In the eighteenth century, criminological literature, whether psychological, sociological, or psychiatric
in bent, has traditionally been divided into three broad schools of thought about the causes of crime: the
classical, neo-classical and the positivist schools of criminology.
THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL
The Classical "School" of Criminology is a broad label for a group of thinkers of crime and punishment
in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Its most prominent members, Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham,
shared the idea that criminal behavior could be understood and controlled as an outcome of a "human nature"
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Module 3: Theories of Crime
shared by all of us. Human beings believed to be hedonistic, acting in terms of their
own self-interest, but rational, capable of considering which course of action was really in their self- interest.
A well-ordered state, therefore, self would construct laws and punishments in such a way that people would
understand peaceful and non-criminal actions to be in their self-interest through strategies of punishment
based on deterrence.

Major Principles of the Classical School

Most Classical theories of crime causation make certain basic assumptions. Among them are:
 Human beings are fundamentally rational, and most human behavior is the result of free will coupled
with rational choice.
 Pain and pleasure are the two central determinants of human behavior.
 Punishment, a necessary evil, is sometimes required to deter law violators and to serve as an
example to others who would also violate the law.
 The root principles of right and wrong are inherent in the nature of things, and cannot be denied.
 Society exists to provide benefits to individuals which they would not receive in isolation.
 When men and women band together for the protection offered by society, they forfeit some of the
benefits which accrue from living in isolation.
 Certain key rights of individuals are inherent in the nature of things, and governments which a
contravene those rights should be disbanded.
 Crime disparages the quality of the bond that exists between individuals and society, and is
therefore an immoral form of behavior.
Reformation of Law
The classical school considered in its thoughts the reformation of the system of law. It was seen that
its mechanisms of enforcement and the forms of punishment used in the eighteenth century were primitive
and inconsistent. Judges were not professionally trained so many of their decisions were unsatisfactory being
the product of incompetence, capriciousness, corruption or political manipulation. The use of torture to extract
confessions and a wide range of cruel punishments such as whipping, mutilation and public executions were
commonplace. A need for legal rationality and fairness was identified and found an audience among the
emerging middle classes whose economic interests lay in providing better systems for supporting national
and international trade.
PIONEERS OF THE CLASSICAL SCHOOL
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CESARE BECCARIA was an Italian philosopher and
economist best known for his treatise On Crimes and Punishments.
He was born on March 15, 1738 in Milan Italy. He received a Jesuit
education, and achieved his degree in 1758. His essay, On Crimes
and Punishments was published in 1764. The essay had a great
success and practical impact in many countries on the principles of
penal reforms and human rights as it discussed issues, government
(crime and human rights) that were being widely expressed at that
time, and was written in a manner that was both to the point and
clearly understood.
Beccaria died in 1794 but he is remembered today as a
father of the classical criminal theory, and as a literally champion of theFigure 3. Cesare beccaria
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesare_Beccaria
cause of humanity. His treatise, "On Crimes and Punishments" had a large and lasting impact on the
American Constitution, the Bill of Rights which subsequently influenced our own criminal justice system.

Beccaria's Theory
There are three main points in which Beccaria's theory rests. They are:
a. Freewill - Beccaria, like other classical theorist, believe that all individuals have freewill and make choices
on that freewill.
b. Rationality - which means that all individuals rationally look out for their own personal
satisfaction. This is key to the relationship between laws and crime. While individuals will rationally look for
their best interest, and this might entail deviant acts and the law, which goal is to preserve the social contract,
will try to stop deviant acts.
c. Manipulability - which means that universally shared human motive of rational self-interest makes human
action predictable and controllable.

On the Reformation of Criminal Law

Beccaria gave many examples of how the system should work. He gives the particular principles that
a just government would use to maintain the security of the society. He discussed about arrests, court
hearings, detention, prison, death penalty, specific crimes and crime prevention. Some rules that he proposed
are:
1. Laws must be set by legislators
2. Legislators cannot judge persons
3. Judges in criminal cases cannot interpret the laws, laws must be clear and in need of no interpretation
4. Offenders must be judged by its peers (half of the victim half of the criminal)
5. Right of the criminal to refuse some jurors
6. No secret accusation by government
7. Judges should be an impartial searcher of truths and judges should not become part of the treasury so
that they do not look into criminals to make money.
He also stressed the importance of laws being clear and known because a rational person cannot
make a rational choice not to commit an act if he or she does not know that the act is prohibited. He stated
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Module 3: Theories of Crime
that, "when the number of those who can understand the sacred code of laws and hold it in their hands
increases, the frequency of crimes will be found to decrease, for undoubtedly ignorance and uncertainly of
punishments add much to the eloquence of the passions".
On the Principles of Human Rights
Beccaria gave rules and principles for the rights of the offender once arrested. Some of these include:
1. Imprisonment before conviction is important and accepted; certainty is demanded if they deserve
punishment.
2. Laws should forbid leading or suggestive questions during trial.
3. No torture to receive a confession and the right for the criminal to defend himself if certainty is found, but
not so long as to make the punishment not prompt.
4. If an individual is going to be imprisoned before the trial the offenders of harsh crimes should be have
less time in trial but more time in prison if found guilty.
5. If an individual is imprisoned for a less harsh crime, they should be afforded longer time in trial but less
time in prison after found guilty. This is because the offender of the harsh crime is more likely to be found
not guilty, and thus the time imprisoned while in trial should be minimized.

On the Principles of Punishment

Beccaria had many things to write concerning the principles of punishment once an individual is found
guilty of committing a crime. The two main principles for to be effective must be certain and prompt. He stated
that, "the certainty of a punishment, even if it be moderate, will always make a stronger impression than the
fear of another which is more terrible but combined with the hope of impunity". To build the connection
between the crime and punishment it is essential that the punishment is prompt, "the more promptly and the
more closely punishment follow upon the commission of a crime, the more just and useful will it be".
Other principles of punishments are written in the treatise are:
1. There should be a set amount of incarceration for each crime
2. Individuals should be punished for attempting to commit a crime
3. Accomplices working together on a crime should be punished equally, harsher the crime the harsher the
punishment
4. Crimes against persons should be corporal and crimes of theft should be fine.
Beccaria wrote a short chapter in his "On Crimes and Punishment" on preventing crime because he
thought that preventing crime was better than punishing them. He gave nine principles that need to be in
place in order to effectively prevent crime. To prevent crime a society must:
I. make sure laws are clear and simple
2. make sure that the entire nation is united in defense
3. laws not against classes of men, but of men
4. men must fear laws and nothing else
5. certainty of outcome of crime
6. member of society must have knowledge because enlightenment accompanies liberty
7. reward virtue
8. perfect education
9. direct the interest of the magistracy as a whole to observe the law rather than corruption of the laws.
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Module 3: Theories of Crime
JEREMY BENTHAM was an English philosopher and
lawyer best known for the theory of Utilitarianism. Thus, given the
fame as "Father of Utilitarianism". He was born in London on
February 15, 1748 and lived at Queen's Square Place in
Westminster.
The Theory of Utilitarianism is a philosophy which states
that a moral act is one which produces the greatest happiness for
the greatest number of people. He outlined this theory in his 1789
work, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation.
Jeremy Bentham was a serious reader in literature and studies Latin
and French before he took up law at the University of Oxford. He did
Figure 4. Jeremy Bentham
not practice as a lawyer but instead worked on a thorough reform of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bentham
the legal system and on a general theory of law and morality. He published short works on aspects of his
thought and his books include Fragment on Government (1776) and Introduction to the Principles of Morals
and Legislation (1789).

Positivist School of Criminology

Charles Darwin's Origin of Species (1859) was the turning point, which allowed a new generation of
criminologists to challenge the classical school of criminology.
Positivism argues that people do not choose freely to commit crime, rather factors beyond their
control are responsible for the criminal behavior.
Positivism is composed of three types:
1. Biological determinism
2. Psychological determinism
3. Sociological determinism
 The term “positivism”, refers to a method of analysis based on the collection of observable scientific
facts.
 Positivism is the basis of most natural sciences, and positivist criminology is the application of
science to the study of people to come up with facts.
 It demand for facts and scientific proof.

LEADING PERSONALITIES:
Cesare Lombroso
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FATHER OF MODERN CRIMINOLOGY due to his
application of modern scientific methods to trace criminal behavior,
however, most of his ideas is now discredited.
He claimed that criminals are distinguishable from non-
criminals due to the presence of atavistic stigmata – the physical
features of creatures at an earlier stage of development.
 he asserted that crimes are committed by those who are born
with certain recognizable hereditary traits present at birth.
 According to his theory criminals are usually in possession of:
huge jaws and strong canine teeth, the arm span of criminals
is often greater than their height, just like that of apes that use
their forearms to push themselves along the ground.
Figure 5. Cesare Lombroso
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesare_Lombroso

3 Classes of Criminals (BIC)

 born criminals – individuals with at least five (5) atavistic stigmata
 insane criminals – those who are not criminals by birth; they become criminals as a result of
some changes in their brains which interfere with their ability to distinguish between right
and wrong
 criminaloids - those with make up of an ambiguous group that includes habitual criminals,
criminals by passion and other diverse types
THE (UN) HOLY THREE OF CRIMINOLOGY
 There is another school referred to as the Italian school of criminology. It is composed of
three most important Italian criminologist in history. They were Cesare Lombroso, Enrico Ferri and
Raffael Garofalo. Because of their contribution in the progression of positivist ideas, they are called
the “Holly Three of Criminology”

We had just finished the discussion on Theories of

Crime. Let’s move on to the next higher level of activities or
exercise/s that demonstrate your potential skills/knowledge
of what you have learned.
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Module 3: Theories of Crime

V. ANALYSIS, APPLICATION AND EXPLORATION

ACTIVITY 1
Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________
DIRECTION: Fill in the blanks with the Major Principles of the Classical School select the answer
provided below.
 Punishment
 Isolation
 Free will
 Wrong
 Pleasure
1. Human beings are fundamentally rational, and most human behavior is the result of ______ ______
coupled with rational choice.
2. Pain and _____________ are the two central determinants of human behavior.
3. ____________, a necessary evil, is sometimes required to deter law violators and to serve as an
example to others who would also violate the law.
4. The root principles of right and _________ are inherent in the nature of things, and cannot be denied.
5. Society exists to provide benefits to individuals which they would not receive in _____________.

ACTIVITY 2

Direction: Group the following approaches in the study of Criminology based on their categories
(Subjective Approaches, Objective Approaches and Contemporary Approaches).

 Anthropological Approach
 Psychoanalytical Approach
 Ecological Approach
 Socio-Cultural Approach
 Biological Approach

Subjective Approach Objective Approach Contemporary Approach

1. 1. 1.
2. 2. 2.
3. 3. 3.
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Module 3: Theories of Crime

Finally, let us summarize the lesson of what we had

discussed today.

VI. GENERALIZATION

Essay: As a review, differentiate classical, neo classical and positivism schools of criminology based on your
understanding. Discuss in 3-5 sentences.
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
10 POINT RUBRIC*
*What is a rubric? It is a scoring guide. It provides well-defined criteria from which learners can improve
their performance.

Level Description Score

 Well written and very organized.
 Excellent grammar mechanics.
OUTSTANDING  Clear and concise statements. 9-10
 Excellent effort and presentation with detail.
 Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the topic.
 Writes fairly clear.
 Good grammar mechanics.
GOOD
 Good presentation and organization. 7-8
 Sufficient effort and detail
 Minimal effort.
 Good grammar mechanics.
FAIR
 Fair presentation. 6
 Few supporting details.
 Somewhat unclear.
 Shows little effort.
POOR  Poor grammar mechanics. 5
 Confusing and choppy, incomplete sentences.
 No organization of thoughts.
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Module 3: Theories of Crime

KUDOS!
You have come to an end of Module 3.
OOPS! Don’t forget that you have still an assignment to
do.
Here it is….

VII. ASSIGNMENT

Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________

Direction: Put a HAPPY FACE  if the statement is On The Principles of Human Rights and a
SAD FACE  if the statement is NOT on the principles of Human Rights.

____________1. Imprisonment before conviction is important and accepted; certainty is demanded if they
deserve punishment.

____________2. Laws should permit leading or suggestive questions during trial.

____________3. No torture to receive a confession and the right for the criminal to defend himself if certainty
is found, but not so long as to make the punishment not prompt.

____________4. If an individual is going to be imprisoned before the trial the offenders of harsh crimes
should have more time in trial but less time in prison if found guilty.

____________5. If an individual is imprisoned for a less harsh crime, they should be afforded longer time in
trial but less time in prison after found guilty.

After your long journey of reading and accomplishing the

module, let us now challenge your mind by answering the
evaluation part of this module.
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Module 3: Theories of Crime

VIII. EVALUATION

Name:______________________________ Year & Section: __________________

Direction: Multiple Choice: Read carefully the questions and select the best answer.
1. Identify the objective approach that focuses on institutions, economic, financial, education, political, and
religious influences to Crime Cohen).
A. Geographic approach B. Ecological approach
C. Economic approach D. Socio cultural approach
2. This approach considers topography, natural resources, geographical location, and climate lead an
individual to commit crime.
A. Geographic approach B. Ecological approach
C. Economic approach D. Socio cultural approach
3. Economic Approach deals with the explanation of crime concerning financial security of inadequacy and
other necessities to support life as factors to __________.
A. Misbehavior B. Criminality
C. Offense D. Violation
4. It is concerned with the biotic grouping of men resulting in migration, competition, social discrimination,
division of labor and social conflict as factors of crime.
A. Geographic approach B. Ecological approach
C. Economic approach D. Socio cultural approach
5. He is the Italian philosopher and economist best known for his treatise On Crimes and Punishments. He
was born on March 15, 1738 in Milan Italy.
A. Cesare Beccaria B. Jeremy Bentham
C. Cesare Lombroso D. Enrico Ferri
6. ____________ was an English philosopher and lawyer best known for the theory of Utilitarianism; thus,
given the fame as "Father of Utilitarianism".
A. Cesare Beccaria B. Jeremy Bentham
C. Cesare Lombroso D. Enrico Ferri
7. He is the author of “The Theory of Imputable and the Denial of Free will” published in 1878.
A. Cesare Beccaria B. Jeremy Bentham
C. Cesare Lombroso D. Enrico Ferri
8. He asserted that crimes are committed by those who are born with certain recognizable hereditary traits
present at birth?
A. Cesare Beccaria B. Jeremy Bentham
C. Cesare Lombroso D. Enrico Ferri
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Module 3: Theories of Crime
9. It is the study of the physical characteristics of an individual offender with non-offenders in the attempt to
discover differences covering criminal behavior.
A. Anthropological approach B. Biological approach
C. Psychiatric approach D. Medical approach
10.__________is the evaluation of genetic influences on criminal behavior. It is noted that heredity is one
force pushing the criminal to the crime.
A. Anthropological approach B. Biological approach
C. Psychiatric approach D. Medical approach

(This evaluation will be submitted on ________________.)

CONGRATULATIONS on reaching the end of this module!

You may now proceed to the next module.
Don’t forget to submit all the exercises, activities and portfolio
on ___________________.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Well Done!!!