Criminal Theory

People exercise free will and are completely responsible for their actions.

A criminal's physiological makeup produces certain physical or genetic characteristics that distinguish criminals and noncriminals.

Competition among wealthy and poor people and the practice of taking advantage of other people.

Commission of a crime after the first criminal act with the acceptance of a criminal label.

Mental inferiority causes people to commit crime.

Crime is a symptom of a more deep seeded problem.

Crime is committed because it is positively reinforced, negatively reinforced, or imitated.

Control over delinquents is absent, approved by peers/neighbors/parents, limited opportunity for employment.

Physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, esteem, and self actualization.

Society is based primarily on conflict between competing interest groups; crime is caused by relative powerlessness.