Crime & Deviance: Different Approaches, Same Purpose - Essay Sample

Introduction

Crime and deviance are behaviors that violate the social norms, leading to mistrusts in the society, while crime refers to the unethical approaches towards social dwelling through violating or going against the norms of the community (Bix, 2017, p. 49). While crime is defined differently in each society, what may seem to be crime or deviance in one society may not be considered as a crime in another, yet they all serve the same purpose. Different approaches towards crime and deviance elucidate on how crime can be interpreted differently, and how the approaches are relevant in today's world. Thus, the essay will critically examine how crime has been defined by comparing three distinctive approaches Positivism, Marxist, and Labeling theory towards crime and deviance.

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Positivism Theory

The primary concept behind the positivity theory brings the idea of criminals being born rather than criminals being made and ushered into the criminal world. Positivism staunchly elucidates that crime is linked to the nature of a person rather than natural causes, which results in criminal propensities. Through this, Positivism does not thoroughly examine the role of free will in the criminal activity. According to Green 2017, (p.371), Cesare Lombroso was one of the positive criminologists who pioneered the Positivism theory by conducting extensive research on the physical composition of the suspected criminal. Lombroso studied cadaver and looked for physiological reasons that may catalyze the criminal behaviors. As Leiter (2019, p.13) noted, Lombroso distinguished different types of criminals, which included born criminals that possessed similar facial features, including large cocaine teeth, large jaws, high cheekbones, and low-sloping foreheads.

While the focus of criminal was highly based on the physical composition of an individual, the criminaloids, on the other hand, possessed no physical characteristics that can easily distinguish them from a healthy society. However, the criminaloids are morphed into criminal during their lives due to environmental factors. The Positivism theory elucidates that criminaloids supposedly committed less server crimes as compared to other types of criminals.

As Green 2017, (p.373) outlined, Positivism theory shifted its focus since the early 1960s on the potential possession of the abnormal chromosomes giving rise to criminal propensities. The XYY theory indicates that violent males had an extra Y chromosome that is linked to the likelihood of igniting crime. Through this, the general behavior of deviance, which is highly linked with going against social norms. The Positivism theory explains the change in behavior, especially to the male, due to the additional chromosome that triggers deviance and crime in males. In general, the positivism theory holds the notion that science is the only valid knowledge; thus, criminal and deviance behaviors are generally interlinked to the genetic makeup of individuals rather than natural factors.

Marxism Theory

According to Tally Jr (2020, p.83), the classical Marxist approach to crime elucidates that the current society incubates crime. Marx's observation of his theoretical approach explains that exploitation is the bedrock that increases crime. The working class is exploited by the ruling class, a concept that leads to the ever-increasing wealth in one class. More so, this has resulted in ever-increasing poverty to the other level. The Exploitation of the working class by the limited ruling class is fueled by power and economic differences. Therefore, it is a common practice for those who cannot afford the necessities of life turn to various criminals to help provide what they employers cannot offer them.

Furthermore, it is to be expected that the exploitation of the working class, seek to frustrate, and deliberately show their anger through crime and violence. Marx holds the view that capitalism is potentially criminal values, where the goal of capitalism is to get more money and wealth as possible, even without considering the basic needs or the fundamental needs of society. As a result, this concept encourages the crime of the rich through fraud and tax evasion as a common concept in the modern world. Marx further questions his thoughts on who is the real criminal in this case, through observing the employer paying poor wages or the employees trying to make ends meet to feed their families. Therefore, the Marxist criminology approach can be described as transgressive criminology.

Marxists approach on law outlines that it is a sophisticated concept of power that has been formulated by the rich to protect the ruling class at the exploitation of the poor the ruling is geared towards promoting legal crimes and covering the criminal behaviors in the shadows of power and ruling. The formulation of the rules to protect the rich is aligned with the concept of the capitalist system.

Tally Jr (2020, p.86) argued that most of the laws in the United States and the United Kingdom are geared towards property law and primary protection to the people who own property. The ruling class, which includes the business owners, politicians, and influential members of the society, is widely associated with a higher degree of wealth that may influence or turn the ruing. Through this, prominent members of the community indulge in criminal activities such as bribery to help them maintain the grip of power and exploitation to the unfortunate society members.

Labelling Theory

As Becker (2018, p.45) observed Becker defines deviance as a concept developed by the social behavior, in which social groups formulate deviance characters and behaviors through making the rules whose information constitutes making of deviance and deliberately applying then to a certain section of people through labeling them as outsiders. For instance, one of the universal concepts of labeling can be observed in the labeling of a particular group as criminals, or psychos, a concept in Becker's views indicates the ultimate concept of psychological preparing the group to act like the branded label to them.

The labeling theory operates based on symbolic interactionism, where the individual acts upon the character given to them, hence fueling change in the overall behavior. As van den Broek (2017, p. 121) outlines, the labeling theory suggests that influential individuals and the state create a crime by labeling different behaviors as inappropriate. The focus of the labeling theory has divided the views from different scholars on the power of labeling to the general behavior of different individuals on shaping their behaviors on crime and deviance.

The society plays a vital role in fulfilling the labeling theory approach tin crim. People with different labels are treated according to the labels they have been branded. Through this, it becomes easier for society to push the members of these labels into the edge of the criminal world. Society treats the individuals according to their labeled names, making it cumbersome for most of the individuals to backtrack on their behaviors. In other words, people start accepting their labels due to the branded concepts given by society, making it difficult for individuals to resist their roles.

Relevance of the Theories

Crime and deviance are widely encouraged by numerous factors that are well defined by different theoretical approaches to elucidate on the drastic changes and how people are drawn into the world of crime. Positivism theory holds a divergent view regarding the concept of crime and divergence. Through this, crime is facilitated by the physical characteristics of the person. The theory outlines the physical characteristics of the criminals, a concept that may not be fully accurate. The theory defies the involvement of natural causes, which may be one of the primary reasons for the leading factors that generate crime and deviance.

On the contrary, the positivism theory outlines that the additional Y chromosome is the leading factor that constitutes to a higher degree of violence and crime rates to male characters with the extra Y chromosome. Despite staunch adherence and dependence on the scientific theory adopted in this concept, crime is not a one-sided affair, where males are deemed as the most malevolent and sadistic characters in the field of crime and deviance. Female characters are being drawn into the world of crime. However, the females have different chromosome configuration as opposed to the male, yet they compete favorably in the field of crime and deviance.

The Marxist theoretical approach is one of the relevant theories in the modern world, as economic and power differences in society drive it. The poor are stripped off their social power by the ruling class. The majority of the rich and the ruling class utilize the concept of a capitalist system, which helps protect and exploit the working class. The poor, on the other hand, use this concept to feed their family by all means, while the rich use all possible means to enrich themselves, hence giving room for crime and deviance to thrive among the society members. Through this, both the working and the ruling class mutually contribute to crime and deviance.

Becker's approach to the labeling theory draws the relationship between character and label to fuel crime. People behave according to branded labels. The concept is more relevant in the modern world, especially where crime is conducted for fame and financial gain. Additionally, this increases the theory of deviance, as people tend to uphold their branded characters or names.

Conclusion

Crime and deviance are widely spread by the social, economic, and power differences, which have become a significant concept of the communist system. The development of power, which undermines the working class, pushes them to indulge in crime as a means of making ends meet. However, the employers, on the other hand, have their share in contributing to the increase in crime and deviance since they exploit the working class not only through paying mere wages but also through formulating rules that favor one side.

References

Becker, H.S., 2018. Labelling theory reconsidered 1. In Deviance and social control (pp. 41-66). Routledge.doi.10.4324/9781351059039-2

Bix, B., 2017. On the dividing line between natural law theory and legal positivism. In Law and Morality (pp. 49-60). Routledge. doi.10.4324/9781315092003-4

Green, T.L., 2017. From positivism to critical theory: School-community relations toward community equity literacy. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 30(4), pp.370-387.doi.10.1080/09518398.2016.1253892

Leiter, B., 2019. Legal Positivism as a Realist Theory of Law. The Cambridge Companion to Legal Positivism, Forthcoming. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3304243

Tally Jr, R.T., 2020. Said, Marxism, and Spatiality: Wars of Position in Oppositional Criticism. ariel: A Review of International English Literature, 51(1), pp.81-103.https://muse.jhu.edu/article/745811

van den Broek, H.P., 2017. Labelling and legitimization: Justifying political violence in the Basque Country. Terrorism and political violence, 29(1), pp.119-136. doi.10.1080/09546553.2014.995788