The classical and positivist schools of criminology

Criminology

The history of crime in America and across the world has been one of very intriguing progression. Since the dawn of time, there has never been any lack of different aspects to the criminal mind. It is because of the criminal mind and ever-present criminal activity that we have our methodical and precise governmental makeup and restrictive laws. Every aspect of criminology has been an influence on the way we operate business, economics, trade, living and nearly every other conceivable detail within our anthropological design. Criminology is undoubtedly, throughout history, one of our most puzzling and progressive social characteristics as a species. Thus it is a very imperative pertinent subject for dissection.

Throughout time, our societies have given direct focus in the way of criminology. The classical school of criminology is a term derived from the belief system that was developed by scholars who studied crime and punishment in the 18th and 19th centuries (Crimetheory.com, 2007). The common belief throughout this era circled the understandings that criminal behavior is an outcome of "human nature" that is shared by all of us. These beliefs encompass the ideological concept that we are subject to our own decisions and can be persuaded with a degree of influential 'scare' tactics that become apparent through various laws. In recent years, the Positivist school was developed with a contrary belief that crime is a direct result from a choice that could potentially be made by anyone. Though the Positivist thinking does not contradict the beliefs toward human nature, it does argue that the majority of crimes that are of a serious degree are attributed to people whom have failed to the civilized norms of modern society (PSC, 2004).