KAPALONG COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

THEORIES
OF
CRIME
CAUSATION
CRIM102
MS. MARY JADE D. LIMIKID, RCRIM
INSTRUCTOR

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THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSATION
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Theories of Crime Causation

Course Overview
This course pack on Theories of Crime Causation which endeavor is to provide a wider perspective as
to the causes of crime. The study on crime causation is very vital to explore through criminological research in
order to have a better understanding why people commit crimes and why crimes continue to exist.
It presents an introductory part about theories and its relevance in the study of crime causation, the
traditional, classical and neo classical and positivist explanation of crimes. It also covers the critical and
biosocial theories of crime which provides a combined justification on the causes of crimes.
In order for learners to gain competency in this course, this course pack has been structured in five
modules as follows:
Module 1: Introduction and Traditional Explanation of Crime Causation
Module 2: Classical and Positivist Explanation of Crime Causation
Module 3: Critical Explanations of Crime Causation
Module 4: Biosocial Theories of Crime Causation
At the completion of this course pack, learners should be able to:
 Conduct Criminological research on theories of crime causation as well of biological, psychological,
sociological and integrated influences on criminal behavior by distinguishing them from a variety of
theoretical elements.
 Collaborate effectively and independently in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams about the
different theories of crime.
 Engage in lifelong learning and understanding of the need to keep abreast on the developments in the
different theories of crime causation as a field criminology and criminal justice.
 Apply professional, social, and ethical standards in the studying theories of crime causation.
Course description:
This course pack aims to equip the students with necessary competencies on various technical aspects
of theories of crime causation. In this course responds to the consistent clamor for guide that is relevant to the
field of theories of crime causation through exercises that accommodate practical and diverse learning styles.
Students in this course are encouraged to go through each lesson in every module sequentially to
maximize their learning, they should work on all exercises as they build on the concepts of each topic
introduced in each lesson.
So, to make this learning experience rewarding for you, study this course pack with your co- learners at
your pace. You can also ask the help and support of your peers, tutor and friends.
Good luck and God bless!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Module 1: Introduction and Traditional Explanation of Crime Causation
Module Overview
Lesson 1: Crime and Theory: Its Concepts
Lesson 2: Traditional Explanation of Crime Causation
Module Summary

Module 2: Classical and Positivist Explanation of Crime Causation

Module Overview
Lesson 1: Classical vs. Neo classical Theories
Lesson 2: Biological Theories
Lesson 3: Sociological Theories
Lesson 4: Psychological Theories
Module Summary

Module 4: Critical Explanations of Crime Causation and Biosocial Theories of Crime Causation
Module Overview
Lesson 1: Labelling Theory and Conflict Theory
Lesson 2: Marxist Theory and Feminist Theory
Lesson 3: Rational Choice Theory and Economic Theory
Lesson 4: Biosocial Criminology and Situational Crime Prevention
Module Summary

Appendix

References

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Module 1: Introduction and Traditional Explanation of Crime Causation

In this module
 Crime and Theory: Its Concepts
a. Crime as a Problem
b. Crime Causation: Its Historical Overview
c. Theory: Its Concepts
 Traditional Explanation of Crime Causation
a. Demonological Theory
b. Spiritual vs. Natural Explanations

Criminology is a historically specific discipline which relies upon a range of theoretical resources to
conceptualize ‘crime’, ‘criminals’ and ‘criminality’. This module aims to explore the theoretical resources of
criminology in order to think about the discipline not simply a practical activity (as something concerned with
the process or administration of criminal justice) but as an activity comprising a distinct epistemology. The
module covers the major theoretical developments within criminology and, at the end of the course, asks how
they help us elucidate criminal justice problems such as punishment, incarceration and social control.
Are you ready? Then let start the lessons now!

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Lesson
Crime: Its Concepts
1

Objectives:
 Define crime.
 Explain why the crime exists.
 Discuss the possible theory that would explain the causes of crime; and
 Create a suggestion or a tip on how to prevent the crime.

Time Frame:
Introduction:
Welcome to lesson 1 of module 1! This lesson introduces to you the basic concept of crime and theory.
Crime is highly complex phenomenon that changes across culture and across time. Crime does not evolve from
any single source and there are several reasons behind a person’s criminal behavior.

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ABSTRACTION
DEFINITIONS OF CRIME by its perspective

Legality- an acts or omissions in violation of public law forbidding or commanding it.

Sociological matter- an anti-social act that is injurious, detrimental or harmful to the norms of society.
Psychological matter- an act which is considered undesirable due to behavioral maladjustment of the
offender; acts that are caused by maladaptive or abnormal behaviors.

The explanation why crime was committed, or the cause of crime is not an easy thing to do because there are
so many factors and circumstances to consider thus making it complex. According to SCCJR, there is no one
cause of crime. It is a highly complex phenomenon that changes across cultures and across time. Crimes does
not evolve from any single source and there are several reasons behind a person’s criminal behavior.

Theory
Theory is a series of statements that seek to understand and explain a particular phenomenon.
Theoretical explanations are very significant in providing a clear and wider understanding of criminal behavior.
It also provides a framework in coming up with new policies in response with crimes like the development of
political and social policies and treatment programs for dealing with criminals and their victims.
In criminological perspective, theories help us to understand the workings of the CJS and the actors in
the system. It suggests the way things are, not the way things ought to be. They are not inherently good or bad;
however, they can be used for good or bad purpose.

Crime as a Problem
Crime is an aspect of life that all citizens must deal with as it seems to have been around as long as
civilization itself. Crime has high and divers’ costs. The direct physical, material, mental and emotional injury
suffered by victims of crime is deplorable. Perhaps even more tragic, however, is the indirect damage to
society. Attempts to control crime through the criminal justice system increasingly intrude in our private life.

A Systems Perspective on Crime

Criminal behavior is the product of a systematic process that involves complex interactions between
individual, societal, and ecological factors over the course of our lives. It explains that from the beginning
onward the intellectual, emotional, and physical attributes we develop are strongly influenced by our personal
behavior and physical processes, interaction with the physical environment and interactions with other people,
groups and institution.

To have a better understanding as to how they work together the following are discussed below:

 Ecological Factors- involves interactions between people and their activities in a physical environment.
It pertains to physical environment like geography and topography, crowding, pollution, and
recreational opportunities which influences the physical and emotional development of people over
their lives as well as the level of hostility, fear, or well-being they feel from moment to moment as they
experience.

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 Societal or Macrolevel Factors- it deals with systematic interactions between social groups which
describe the ways society is structured.it includes the relative distribution of the population among
groups and the flow of information, resources, and people between groups.

 Motivation and Opportunity- individuals actually commit the crimes. Individual factors always
intervene between any descriptions of the causes of crime. Individual or microlevel factors describe
how a person becomes motivated to commit a crime.
MOTIVATION “Driving force behind our action”- the outcome of the process in which a goal
is formulated, costs and benefits assessed, and internal constraints on behavior are applied.
OPPORTUNITY- relates to whether the individual has the chance to perform the
behavior/task/service.

Note: motivation alone cannot cause a crime to occur; opportunity also is required. The latter itself may
influence motivation.

Crime Causation: Its Historical Overview

The early philosophy and crime: much of our modern understanding of the relationship between crime
and punishment can traced to the writings of the Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle, although it would
take more than a millennium for May of their concepts to take root.

Aristotle offers a philosophical standpoint on crime causation who stated that the
crime is poverty related describing poverty as a mother of all revolutions and crimes.

According to Francis Bacon, criminality will depend on social situations. He

described his standpoint in this sentence: “Opportunity makes a thief’. Bacon pointed
out that human behavior will depend on situations.

The famous encyclopedists Voltaire and Rousseau

introduce the concept of free will. Crime is the same as hedonistic behavior and
failure to fulfil the social contract obligations.

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Lesson
Traditional Explanation of Crime Causation
2

Objectives:
 Know the traditional explanation of crime causation.
 Explain the effect of the traditional explanation of crimes in the treatment of offenders
 Give the distinctions between spiritual and natural explanations for crime; and
 Elaborate the importance of Traditional explanation of crime causation

Time Frame:

Introduction:
Welcome to lesson 1 of module 1! This lesson introduces to you a traditional explanation of crime
causation. Bringing back the thoughts during the 16th and 17th century, people are thought of being possessed by
demons or evil spirits when they commit crimes and deviant behaviors. Their belief influences the way they
treat the wrong doers hence they are into the practice of exorcism and banishment.
Now let’s start the lesson. Enjoy and keep on reading!

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THEORIES OF CRIME CAUSATION
 KAPALONG COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACTION
Bringing back the thoughts during the 16 th and 17th century (considered as the dark era of criminology),
people are thought of being possessed by demons or evil spirits when they commit crimes and deviant
behavior. Their belief influences the way they treat the wrong doers hence they are into the practice of
exorcism and banishment.
PRE-CLASSICAL PERIOD
The supernatural explanations of criminality dominated thinking from early history week into the 18 th
century; modern remnants still survive. In this system of knowledge in which theological explanations of reality
was predominant, the criminal was viewed as a sinner who was possessed by demons or damned by other
wordly forces.
Demonological Theory
This is the earliest theory explaining crime and criminal behaviour. It theorized that people believed that
evil spirits or demons entered human body to commit sins. Terms like demons, witches and wendigo were used
for people who had turned criminals. The society thought that it happened due to evil influence. Supernatural
powers were considered the best explanation behind crime and sin. It was believed that a person did not
commit crimes of his own free will but under evil influence.
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.
Spiritual vs. Natural Explanations
Spiritual explanations for crime are primarily attached into religious beliefs and superstitious and
there is a strong adherence with the divine intervention. Even at present, some religious individuals and groups
still attribute crime to the influence of the devil and to sinful human nature. The problem with these is that,
because spiritual influences cannot be observed, they cannot be proved. Thus, these theories cannot be
considered scientific.
Natural explanations for crime were rooted in people’s ideas about the nature of reality in the physical
world based on observations of nature but were not scientific. For example, the natural world was thought to
include inherent good and evil, and crimes often were regarded as crimes against nature or the natural order
rather than crimes against victims or against God. Seeking explanations for crime in the natural world provided
a basis for the development of legal definitions and treatments of crime. Natural explanations of crime make
use of objects and events in the material world to account for what happens.

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