Theories and Approaches in Criminology

Running head: CRIMINOLOGY 1
Criminology
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CRIMINOLOGY 2
Theories of criminal sociology/ criminology
The different approaches that have been adopted will allow a global analysis of crime to
understand its development.
A. CLASSICAL SCHOOL
Defines man as selfish by nature and therefore capable of committing crimes. In society, a
contract is made to respect individual assets. From this it follows that the one who commits a
crime is because of an illness, due to ignorance or bad behavior. Later, the subject begins to
be seen as a being with a background and a specific personal situation that makes him
responsible for his actions (ADLER, 2016).
B. POSITIVE SCHOOL
Human action is defined by natural laws that define personal decisions. Man is driven in his
behavior by forces he does not know (destiny, chance, nature). At that time, the delinquent is
understood as a being deviated from the normal, who lacks something; it is different from the
other citizens who remain in a way of life accepted by society.
According to Lombroso, the criminal is a being with a lower level of biological development,
getting to identify types of criminals by their physical characteristics
C.2. THEORY OF SOCIAL DEVIATION
Social deviance is understood as an individual response to the oppressive system. Sutherland
states that crime is learned through direct or indirect contact with criminal behavior. It is or is
not criminal for the relative degree of frequency and intensity of contacts with the behaviors
inside or outside the law (Conklin, 2013). According to Norbert Elías, the deterioration of

CRIMINOLOGY 3
customs and the evolution of crime is based on the prolonged action of violent actors with
success; producing a progressive adaptation of individuals to the dominant environment. It
imitates the elite and if the path of this is successful to accumulate wealth or power, will have
followers and will be perpetuated, whatever that path (Jones, n.d.).
C.3.- THEORY OF THE CRIMINAL SUBCULTURE
The subject through social conditions, structures and mechanisms of communication and
learning determines the membership of a subculture (a group of people living under their own
values different from the dominant culture). The subculture expresses and justifies the
hostility and the aggression, against the society, for the own frustration. The crime cannot be
considered as an expression contrary to values because each group or subculture has its own.
C.4.- THEORY OF OBJECTIVE CAUSES.
The material conditions of existence determine the level of social life.
a) Theory of Poverty: It is argued that poverty is the reason why violent conflicts are solved
daily and justifies crimes against private property as an inevitable consequence of
deprivation.
The middle and lower social classes, obsessed by the consumer society, seek a better quality
of life by any means.
C.5.- THEORY OF LABELING
The subject can be designated according to their social environment or certain criminal
behavior, which generates a tendency to continue playing that role. Belonging to a low social
class gives a higher probability that their behavior will be defined as criminal and therefore of
being imprisoned, than a person who does the same but of a higher class (Macdonald, 2013).