Criminology Theories, Perspectives, and White-Collar Crime Assignment

This criminology assignment explores various theories and perspectives in the field. It begins by examining classical and contemporary strain theories, including institutional anomie, and identifies their major correlates of crime. The assignment then delves into social control theory, discussing its correlates and contemporary versions. Further, it analyzes labeling, critical, and feminist theories, highlighting their key differences. Theories of white-collar crime, including differential association and self-control theory, are then discussed. Environmental criminology and its place-based factors are examined, contrasting it with classic criminological approaches. Finally, developmental and life-course theories are explored, focusing on how criminal behavior changes over time. The assignment provides a comprehensive overview of the different theories and their applications in understanding crime.

Running head: CRIMINOLOGY
CRIMINOLOGY
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1CRIMINOLOGY
Anomie/Strain Theory
According to the classical strain theory an individual would more likely to be deviant
if their aspirations that have been determined in a cultural way for monetary success is not in
harmony with the opportunities that are available for the achievement of that success.
According to the contemporary strain theory or the institutionalism anomie theory the
higher level of crime rate is attributable towards the cultural pressure that is exerted by way
of the economic goals.
The major correlate of crime according to the strain/anomie theory is that the
influences of the varied social institutions on crime rather than just the economic structures.
The primary focus of the classical strain theory was the particular type of strains that
have been involving an individual’s inability for the achievement of monetary success. On
the other hand, the institutional anomie theory focuses on the cultural pressure of the
economic goals (Walsh, 2017).
Social Control Theory
According to the social control theory criminality is viewed as the results of the
interactions of the individuals with various institutions, organizations and the processes in the
society. In this theory criminality is generally viewed as the function for the interactions of
the people with different institutions, organizations and the processes of the society.
The major correlates of crime according to the social process theory are the
relationships, norms, commitments, relationship and beliefs of a human being.

2CRIMINOLOGY
In the contemporary theory of social control by Ivan Nye the ways for measuring the
control mechanisms were specified in relation to self-reports for the behaviours of
delinquency. The main focus in this type of theory is family as a source of control over youth.
Another type of theory of social control that has been proposed by Walter Reckless focuses
on the self-conception to become a good person to be an insulator against peer pressure for
the engagement in delinquent behaviours (Ross, 2017).
Labelling, Critical and Feminist theory
Societal reaction, under the labelling theory of deviance, can be referred to as all the
formal and informal social control agencies which are seen as greatly affecting the outcomes
of the deviance by way of their responses towards the same.
The theoretical perspective of critical criminology challenges all the traditional
understandings and uncovers any false belief that individuals have about the concepts of
criminal justice and crime without taking any exclusive conflict perspective.
In the perspective of feminist criminology a reaction towards the general
discrimination of women in the crime studies is provided.
In the critical criminology a wide and diverse range of interconnected and dynamic
theories are seen as sharing a commitment to provide for alternative approaches towards the
ways for the examination of the various disciplines of criminology. Societal reaction theory is
the understanding of the reasoning for labelling of any individual to be criminal is related to
the reactions of others in a negative way. On the other hand feminist criminology is seen as
challenging all the mainstream theories in which the explanations for male crimes are
assumed as valid in an equal manner as the explanations for the crimes that have been
committed by the women (Ladson-Billings & Tate, 2016).

3CRIMINOLOGY
White-collar crime theories
The theory of Differential Association focuses more on the biological factors than the
sociological factors. The General Crime Theory or Self-Control Theory states that the reason
for crimes is lack of self-control rising poor parenting as a child.
The Differential Association Theory can be seen as focussing on the way for an
individual to become criminal instead of the reason to become one, whereas in the self-
control theory of crime the reason for which an individual becomes a criminal has been
discussed (Sutherland, 2017).
Environmental Criminology
Environmental criminology concerns itself with the study of criminalization in
relation to particular places, the spatial way of shaping the activities of the individuals and
organizations.
The major correlates of crime according to the environmental criminology are the
place-based or the spatial factors (Wortley & Townsley, 2016).
Developmental and Life-Course Theories
Developmental criminology focuses on different reasons for the criminal behaviours
of an individual at different times of their life. Life-course theory focuses on a sequence of
events and roles that are defined socially and can be enacted over time by the individuals.
The major correlates of crime from the life-course perspective are the social
experiences and the characteristics of the individuals. In this theory the main focus is on the

4CRIMINOLOGY
change in the criminality over the course of life of any individual that are brought about by
way of any shift in the life events and experiences (Farrington, 2017).

5CRIMINOLOGY
Reference
Farrington, D. P. (Ed.). (2017). Integrated developmental and life-course theories of
offending. Routledge.
Ladson-Billings, G., & Tate, W. F. (2016). Toward a critical race theory of education.
In Critical race theory in education (pp. 10-31). Routledge.
Ross, E. A. (2017). Social control: A survey of the foundations of order. Routledge.
Sutherland, E. H. (2017). Is “White-Collar Crime” Crime?. In White-collar Criminal (pp. 3-
19). Routledge.
Walsh, A. (2017). Behavior genetics and anomie/strain theory. In Biosocial Theories of
Crime (pp. 97-129). Routledge.
Wortley, R., & Townsley, M. (Eds.). (2016). Environmental criminology and crime analysis.
Taylor & Francis.