http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy/bertrand/Web%20Page/new_page_4.htm(original page)
Introduction
Welcome to my page on Psychological Explanations for Criminality/Criminal Behaviour! This page is for those of you who have an interest in both psychology and sociology and are interested in how psychology has influenced and tried to explain criminal behaviour. Criminology has traditionally been looked at as a strictly sociological enterprise, but sociology alone has not been able to account for crime and other explanations have cropped up. Psychological explanations are one group of such explanations. I believe it is a worthwhile enterprise for students of psychology and sociology alike to see the links between psychology and criminology and have fashioned this page with that idea in mind.
Please keep in mind that this is a general overview and does not go into explicit detail or a critique of the various theories. The main point is to present the theories and how they aim to explain the phenomenon of crime, not to teach you all about the theories themselves. Therefore, it would be beneficial for you to have a basic knowledge of the various psychological theories that will be discussed. If you would like more detail, please see the references and/or do a little digging through the stacks of your local library
Brief Review of Sociological Explanations for Crime
Classical Theory
The person generally considered responsible for the school of classical theory on crime is the Italian Cesare Beccaria. In 1764 when he was only 26 years old, he wrote an essay called “On Crimes and Punishment” which has been proclaimed a masterpiece and the foundation of the classical school of criminological thought.
Painting of Cesare Beccaria
From his essay, four general principles can be identified that embody the classical doctrine:
Equality - All should be treated equally under the law.Liberty - We have the right to be protected from the potential abuses of power by the state. The law cannot be applied retroactively and there can be no punishment without law.Utilitarianism – Because the major goal of the sovereign should be the greatest happiness for the greatest number, justice should entail utility rather than retaliation and retribution.Punishment should be viewed as a deterrent. Deterrence will be ensured by three basic conditions:
i. Certainty of punishment
ii. Swiftness of justice
iii. Severity of punishment.
Humanitarianism – Punishment should not only be fair but humane.
References: Winterdyk, 2000, pp. 105 - 110
Neoclassical Theory
The neoclassical school of thought was first incorporated into the French Code of 1791 and remained the cornerstone of criminal justice policy, but did not receive much attention until the 1980s and 1990s. It experienced a resurgence of popularity in response due to the failure of rehabilitation and a public outcry for a return to harsher punishment: longer prison sentences, a return to corporal punishment, and even a reinstatement of capital punishment. The demand was for the punishment to fit the crime – a concept that keeps in line with the classical school. Neoclassical theory can be thought of as a ‘just desserts’ model.
