Criminological Theory Critical Analysis
Abstract
In the present review, the chapter 2 from “Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences” by Lilly, Cullen and Ball (2014) is discussed in terms of the content and critically evaluated in terms of the work’s quality and ability to provide readers with the topical, accurate and up-to-date information. The work is found to be matching the scientific standards and being able to provide readers with the necessary knowledge about the history of criminological thought.
Criminological Theory Critical Analysis
In chapter 2 of “Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences”, Lilly, Cullen and Ball (2014) discuss the various theoretical approaches to defining and explaining the crime and the ways those theories have affected the crime policies. The very first point they make is connected to being extremely cautious when making assumptions and predictions about future of the crime. The example of Georgette Bennett is used to illustrate this. Another part of concerns is connected to maintaining the critical attitude towards the real value and explanatory potential of different criminological theories. Authors warn readers not to take every theoretical explanation as the fully accurate and objective one as each and every approach has its own fallacies and limitations in terms of scientific methodology.
The first approach or crime explanation authors take for review is spiritualism. Spiritualism does not really fit into the strict system of scientific methodology due to its long history of existence. Briefly, spiritualism views crime through the prism of eternal struggle between absolute good and absolute evil. Criminals take the place of the evil side in this struggle, originally thought to be possessed with evil spirits and similar entities. Spiritualism was most topical during the earlier epochs of human history, when people did not have a developed legislative systems to properly organize their law system, which used to be based mostly on religious beliefs. Spiritualism did not result in any particular legislative initiatives, but was still important in terms of contributing to development of moral judgment.
The classical school saw criminal as the calculator: if the benefits of committing the crime outweigh the risks, then committing a crime is rational and logically justified. The acknowledgement of people’s ability to evaluate their wishes as individuals had served as a basis for the core principles of modern legislative system. The principles of equal treatment from the side of law, the necessity of punishment being suited to offence. Moreover, the principles of classical school resulted in development and implementation of numerous specific laws and legal codes.
Positivist school searched for objective proofs of criminal being affected by the plethora of factors. This school states that crime does not necessarily happen as the act of free will committed of hedonistic motives. The root of criminal behavior was sought in the criminal’s individuality. Positivist approach is so influential in criminology, it continues its tradition in researching the personality of the criminal in search of the individual reasons of criminal behavior. It is the positivist school that helped to reform the criminal justice, which had …
