Genetic and Psychological Factors in Gang Sexual Assault

This assignment delves into the psychological theory of criminology associated with gang sexual assault. It requires an analysis of the genetic factors and psychological aspects that may have influenced the behavior of three teenage boys (aged 17-19) involved in such an undesirable act. The assignment is based on a real-life case, with references from renowned criminological theories and books like Akers' 'Criminological theories', Cornish & Clarke's 'The reasoning criminal', and Moore's 'Psychological theories of crime'. Additionally, it considers the influence of the Differential Association Theory and biological factors, as discussed by Raine in his work 'The biological basis of crime'.

CRIMINOLOGY
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PROJECT 2 A: CRIME EVENT.....................................................................................................3
PROJECT 2 B: CRITICAL ANALYSIS.........................................................................................5
Critically analyzing biological / psychological theory of criminology..................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Criminology implies for the scientific study of crime that helps in assessing causes,
responses by law enforcement and prevention methods. Further, criminology may be served as
sub-group of sociology which in turn helps in analyzing reasons take place behind crime.
Sociological theories of criminology believe that society has greater influence on individuals and
encourage them to become a criminal. Specifically three theories that sociological framework
includes such as structure, process or learning and conflict. The present report is based on the
news published by ‘The Guardian’ related to sexual assault on women in Australia in Christmas
evening. In this, report will shed light on the theories and sub-theories related to the concerned
news. Besides this, report also depicts strengths and weaknesses of theories considered for the G
purpose of evaluation.
PROJECT 2 A: CRIME EVENT
Synopsis of critical event
In Australia, a woman was sexually assaulted by group of young people while walking in
North Rockhampton. Article presented clearly exhibits that at 6.50 pm, near Frenchville
intersection of French Aver women was failed to recognize three males who were initially set
upon around her (Smith, 2018). Victim provided police with detailed description regarding three
indigenous male suspects whose age was fallen within 17-19 years. However, no visible injuries
were sustained by victim, although medical treatment done after such offence (About Guardian
Australia, 2018). Thus, after the occurrence of gang’s sex attack on women, Christmas day, in
North Rocky Crime stoppers or local police had encouraged individuals to be vigilant when
encountering group of people.
Causes of incident from theoretical perspective
Sociological theories are highly significant which in turn describes best describes causes
takes place behind such gang’s sexual assault on woman. In the context of above depicted
situation, there are mainly two theories that highly applicable on gang’s sexual assault occurred
on Christmas night such as social process and theory.
Social process theory: Such theoretical aspect presents the manner in which individual
learns through interacting with other people. Social process theory of criminology focuses on
defining the manner in which people interpret and defines their reality considering the concept of
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symbolic interactionism. Process theory clearly states that leaning criminal behaviour includes g
techniques, drives, rationalization and attitude. Thus, criminal behaviour may also be presented
as an expression of general needs and attitudes. The rationale behind considering differential
association theory of social process is that it helps in ascertaining the way in which youth engage
in acts of criminal behaviour (Akers, 2013). On the basis of sociological theories crime occurred
due to social forces such as neighbourhood condition, poverty, group interaction etc.
Differential association theory of criminology is highly effectual which in turn provides
suitable view regarding the manner in which crime occurs. This theory clearly presents criminal
behaviour as a reflection of aspects learnt by individuals through the means of social contact
with other individuals. The main strengths of such theoretical framework are that it exhibits how
individuals are engaged in criminal behaviour through their attitude, drive and motive (The
Differential Association Theory, 2018). On the basis of such theory, individual has more chances
in relation to become involved under criminal activities when they spend time with the ones who
believes that breaking the law is unacceptable. As per such theoretical framework, learned
behaviour is neither invented nor inherited. In other words, it can be mentioned that criminal
activities are not obtained by individuals from birth, as such undesirable behaviour acquired
through the learning process. Sutherland’s theory of differential association entails that via
specific techniques, drives, motives and rationalization individuals learn criminal behaviour. On
the basis of such theory having primary group of people does not mean that individuals are
engaged in crime. However, it means that individuals have resources for criminal rationale.
Further, by doing assessment, it has identified that, in accordance with differential
association theory, crime is learned by individuals through peers who involved in the activities of
law violation. Besides this, undesirable events or crime like sexual attack or assault are usually
occurred in lower class neighbourhood (Cornish & Clarke, 2014). Thus, it may be served as a
one of the main reasons behind the occurrence of such incident. Usually, teenagers or individuals
who become adult are highly influences from the acts as well as thoughts of their peers. In the
presented case situation, alleged individuals were in the age of 17-19 years. Hence, referring
such aspect it can be depicted interaction takes place between individuals of lower-class
neighbourhood is the main cause behind sexual assault.
Social conflict theory:
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According to such feminist theoretical framework and deviance, part of conflict theory,
gender inequality is recognized as one of the main cause behind the occurrence of such
undesirable event with women on Christmas night. Sub theory of social conflict such as feminist
and deviance entails that inequality in terms of gender influences individuals to commit crime
(Taylor, Walton & Young, 2013). Such theory serves social and economic factors as the main
cause of crime as well as deviance. From the evaluation of conflict theory, it has assessed that
such framework is highly effective over social disorganization and control because both avoids
racial & socioeconomic issues and trends. The main motive behind considering such theoretical
perspective is that it helps in assessing correlationship which takes place between gender and
crime (Conflict Theory and Deviance, 2018). In Australia, same sex relationship and marriages
are not legally accepted. Thus, all gender inequality, low recognition to same sex marriages, sex
and power motives are the main aspects which caused to gang’s sexual assault.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/alamo-sociology/chapter/reading-conflict-theory-and-
deviance/
PROJECT 2 B: CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Critically analyzing biological / psychological theory of criminology
Biological / psychological theories of crime are highly prominent and applicable on the
situation gang’s sexual attack occurred with woman in Australia. According to the views of
Moore (2011), personality, development, biological or genetic factors comes under the category
of biological / psychological theory which in turn may cause of crime. From assessment, it has
found that moral values are cone from self-restrain that individuals learn from their early
childhood. Such theoretical framework presents that due to having special nature of relationship
with parents some children do not produce similar self-restraint. This in turn may result into lack
of basic sense of morality among personnel. Such theoretical perspective is highly in line with
the social learning theory which entails that individuals learn criminal behaviours by observing
the act of others (Downes, Rock & McLaughlin, 2016). Hence, such theoretical framework is
highly relevant pertaining to crime such as sex assault etc rather than others. Science also
supports the aspect that there are mainly four aspects due to which crime occurs include failures
in psychological development, learned behaviour of aggression & violence, inherent personality
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traits and mental illness. Hence, all such aspects prove that due to psychological reasons gang’s
sexual attack had committed by individual.
In context of the present case, Raine A., (2002) said that the most relevant theory that can
be applied is biological theory of sex, violence and hormones which exhibit organs have high
level of influences on behaviour. In other words, it can be mentioned that, as per biological
theory, crime occurs usually due to brain damage, vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances etc
(Farrington, 2017). In the present case, reason behind sex attacks on woman may be lower class
neighbourhood of culprits. Theoretical framework related to biological is highly beneficial as it
helps in predicting criminal behaviour through the means of physical traits, chemical make-up
and genetic factors. Further, biological theory presents that once criminal behaviour assessed
then the same is treated through medical therapies such as behaviour modification, hormonal and
gene therapy. In addition to this, it has been observed that man who are married or having a
mating partner then both criminal offending and testosterone production gets reduced (Freilich &
LaFree, 2015). In contrast to this, testosterone production is high in case of single men. It should
be further recognised that the entities who were involved in the activity of sexual assault
recognized as single. Thus, it can be depicted that due to the biological factors or influences,
culprit has done wrong with the woman on Christmas night.
However, on the critical note, Crawford & Evans (2017) argued that biological factors are
not enough to attempt serious crime like sexual assault. Moreover, along with the biological
factors, environmental elements also influences individual to commit crime like sexual assault.
In addition to this, it has assessed that some shortcomings take place in the biological theory
which in turn impacts its significance to some extent. Moreover, the main weakness of such
theoretical framework is that it closely impacts public policies. On the other side, psychological
theoretical framework assists in understanding both mentality and reasons behind the occurrence
of undesirable activities. By taking into account all the above mentioned aspects it can be said
that biological / psychological theory highly influences crime control policies.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that sociological theories of criminology
assists in understanding and evaluating reasons behind the occurrence of crime more effectually.
Besides this, it can be inferred from the case of gang’s sex attack on woman that such type of
undesirable activities are performed by the young individuals due to the influence of their peer
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groups. Further, it has been articulated from conflict theory that due to gender inequality as well
as sex and power motives crime pertaining to sexual assault occurs. It can be summarized from
the report that biological / psychological theory of criminology is highly associated with the
situation of gang’s sexual assault. On the basis of such theoretical framework genetic factors and
psychological aspects are considered as main factors due to which undesirable act performed nu
by group of 3 boys (17-19 years old).
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Akers, R. L. (2013). Criminological theories: Introduction and evaluation. Routledge.
Cornish, D. B., & Clarke, R. V. (Eds.). (2014). The reasoning criminal: Rational choice
perspectives on offending. Transaction Publishers.
Crawford, A., & Evans, K. (2017). Crime prevention and community safety (pp. 797-824).
Oxford University Press.
Downes, D., Rock, P., & McLaughlin, E. (2016). Understanding deviance: a guide to the
sociology of crime and rule-breaking. Oxford University Press.
Farrington, D. P. (Ed.). (2017). Integrated developmental and life-course theories of offending.
Routledge.
Freilich, J. D., & LaFree, G. (2015). Criminology theory and terrorism: Introduction to the
special issue.
Taylor, I., Walton, P., & Young, J. (2013). The new criminology: For a social theory of
deviance. Routledge.
Online
About Guardian Australia. (2018). [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-australia>.
Conflict Theory and Deviance. (2018). [Online]. Available through: <
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/alamo-sociology/chapter/reading-conflict-theory-and-
deviance/>.
Smith, L., (2018). Gang's Christmas Day sex attack on woman in North Rocky. [Online].
Available through: <https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/gangs-christmas-day-
sex-attack-on-woman-in-north-r/3299027/>.
The Differential Association Theory. (2018). [Online]. Available through: <
http://www.idealessaywriters.com/the-differential-association-theory/>.
Main Articles used in Essay 2 as peer reviewed Journal
Moore M., (2011). Psychological theories of crime and delinquency. [PDF]. Available through:
<https://is.muni.cz/el/1423/jaro2015/SPP209/um/2_Moore_2011_Psychological_Theorie
s_of_Crime.pdf>
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Raine A., (2002). The biological basis of crime. [PDF]. Available through:
<http://www.antoniocasella.eu/nume/Raine_2002.pdf>
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