Classical Criminology: Deterrence, Strain, and Rational Choice

Deterrence Theory and Criminal Propensity

Research has shown that deterrence perceptions have their biggest influence on participants who are criminally prone. This is likely because the risk of being caught — along with the social and legal punishments that may follow — is among the factors that deter crime-prone individuals from engaging in criminal behavior. Individuals generally weigh the benefits they might gain against the risks of being caught in the course of a criminal act (Wright et al., 2004).

Two key terms in this area of criminology are deterrence theory and criminal propensity. Deterrence theory is a central element of classical and rational choice theories. It asserts that crime can be controlled through punishments that combine appropriate levels of certainty, severity, and swiftness. Criminal propensity, by contrast, refers to an individual's preference or inclination to engage in criminal activities (Wright et al., 2004).

Strain Theory and Social Disorganization Theory

One relevant framework for understanding crime is strain theory. This theory helps explain why crime trends occur at their current rates. Most people share similar aspirations — to succeed, prosper, and live well — but not everyone has the same capabilities or opportunities to achieve these goals. When individuals cannot meet societal expectations, such as owning a car, a comfortable home, or good clothing, some resort to crime. Many people work hard yet still fail to reach the level of success they aspire to, leading some to choose criminal acts as an alternative path. This pattern also applies to young people who take shortcuts to access material goods through crimes such as robbery. From the perspective of the classical school of crime causation, this theory holds that people are not compelled into such behavior but act out of free will (Agnew, 2001).

The second relevant framework is social disorganization theory. According to this theory, the social and physical environments in which people live are fundamentally responsible for the behavioral choices they make. This theory helps explain many contemporary crime patterns. For instance, high rates of homicide and violence in public spaces such as streets can be linked to the social environment. People steal from stores and homes, and commit acts of violence, partly as a consequence of the impoverished or disordered environments in which they live. Additionally, racial hostility — particularly prejudice based on ethnicity and skin color — can be analyzed through this lens to explain recent killings of Black individuals. Such violence reflects a social context in which Black people are perceived as threatening regardless of their actual behavior or disposition. The same framework also explains crime between rival gangs, as seen in the city of Chicago (Papachristos and Kirk, 2006).

Crime Prevention and the Classical School of Criminology

The classical school of criminology represents a collection of perspectives on crime reform and punishment developed by a group of scholars and philosophers in 18th-century Europe (Wise Geek, 2016). In relation to the beliefs of this school, several effective approaches to crime prevention can be identified. Most notably, the classical school maintains that punishment should be graduated — that is, the more severely criminals are punished, the greater the deterrent effect on others who may be considering committing similar offenses. Furthermore, classical criminologists argued that the most effective deterrent for criminal behavior is punishment that is swift rather than the result of lengthy court proceedings (Schmalleger, 2006).

References

Agnew, R. (2001). Building on the foundation of general strain theory: Specifying the types of strain most likely to lead to crime and delinquency. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 38(4), 319–361.

Cornish, D. B., & Clarke, R. V. (1986). The reasoning criminal: Rational choice perspectives on offending. New York: Springer-Verlag.

Groff, E. R., Weisburd, D., & Yang, S. M. (2010). Is it important to examine crime trends at a local "micro" level? A longitudinal analysis of street to street variability in crime trajectories. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 26(1), 7–32.

Nagin, D. S. (2013). Deterrence in the twenty-first century. Crime and Justice, 42(1), 199–263.

Papachristos, A. V., & Kirk, D. S. (2006). Neighborhood effects on street gang behavior. Studying Youth Gangs, 12, 63.

Schmalleger, F. (2006). Criminology today: An integrative introduction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Wise Geek. (2016). What is the classical school of criminology? Retrieved July 20, 2016, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-classical-school-of-criminology.htm

Wright, B. R., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T. E., & Paternoster, R. (2004). Does the perceived risk of punishment deter criminally prone individuals? Rational choice, self-control, and crime. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 41(2), 180–213.