1. Is aggression an innate and deterministic quality from birth, or is it something that one or all can control, as a matter of free will and choice, to be used when we need it in a calculated manner?
There are different views that are given with regards to the origin of aggression among humans. Theorists like Lorenz and Freud view aggression as an innate quality of human beings but the more recent social theories tend to point out that aggression in humans are social in origin and coming from frustration and environmental influences (Hayes, 2013). Behaviorist scientists impugn Freud’s theory that aggression is innate among humans contending the fact that humans react according to the external stimulations from the environment and that there is no scientific data and study to support the fact that there are internal stimulus that can unleash the aggression among human beings. As pointed out by Kohn (1988), psychologist Leonard Berkowitz explained that engaging in an aggressive play can strengthen the disposition of humans to react more aggressively. Thus it can be said that humans act in free will with the ability to react based on their external environment in a calculated manner, with the ability to weigh decisions and exercise judgment instead of acting instinctively or aggressively.
2. Identify and explain the major issues regarding accurately predicting crime trends and the future of the "criminal man," as illustrated in Bennett's work, Crimewarps, in the text.Georgette Bennetts points out that the rising rate of crimes are influenced by social factors and technology resulting in a cashless society that can continue to influence the rising crime rates in America. Among the major issues that she pointed out in predicting crime trends are the use of computer and technology which is considered to be the greatest influence in the future of crime trends, the growing economy that will provide better jobs among the people in the community, low birth rates with higher employment rate, industries with older employees will result in fewer thefts, the proliferation of insurance fraud and medical quackery in the growing elderly population and there will more abusive family population if there is an increasing number of young, poor and uneducated mothers (Hagan, 2010).
3. Which Classical School theorist do you think contributed the most to the advancement of criminological theory? Explain why you choose that particular theorist over the other Classical School theorist of the time?Among the Classical School theorist, it is Cesare Beccaria who I believe has contributed significantly to the criminological theory. His Choice Theory in particular signifies the strongest point in criminal action that humans tend to act rationally and not merely instinctively. Among the important points of Beccasria in his Choice Theory is that humans are goal oriented act with a purpose. Humans tend to make rational calculations and often engage in analytical judgment prior to the commission of a crime (Arrows, 1951). Because people can exercise free will they tend to dwell on the rewarding and pleasure derived from committing a crime as it outweighs punishment and pain (Lilly, Cullen, Ball, 2011). As compared to the other Classical School Theories which are usually founded on the instinctive behavior of humans which lack medical research to show the biological influences in humans that can make them commit a crime, Beccaria is able to positively support the social phenomena that humans act based on the external stimulus from the environment. Humans are rational individuals and do not act like animals merely on instincts and the commission of crimes in the society are considered to be a matter of choice because humans understand between right and wrong and the commission of crimes in the society are majority a matter of choice.
4. Which Positivist School theorist do you think contributed the most to the advancement of criminological theory? Explain your choice.
Social positivism can contribute more in the advancement of criminological theory than the other Positivist School because it tends to help understand the social factors that can strongly influence criminal behavior (Einstadter, 2006). By a strong grasp of understanding what social behavior and environment can tend to influence human behavior, the government can help define more responsive criminal statutes that can prohibit certain activities that can increase the engagement of people to criminality. Being able to expose people in a controlled environment and society there is a big chance of lessening the risks of crime rates within the society.
5. Explain both the consequences and benefits that the Positivist School brought to criminal justice reform.
The Positivist School can benefit the criminal justice reform in the sense that it helps how to understand the irrational side of criminal behavior in the society. The theory rejects the idea that individuals make a rational and conscious choice when committing a crime which helps the justice system to look at a different view of influencing factors on why crime happens in the society. Crimes may be committed due to an abnormal intelligence for instance which can help the criminal justice system to view some bizarre criminal behavior in a more enlightening insight.
References:
Arrows, K. (1951). Social choice and individual values. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press.
Einstadter, W.J. (2006). Criminal Theory: AnAnalysis of Its Underlying Assunmption. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
Hagan, F.E. (2010). Introduction to Criminology. Theories, Methods and Criminal Behavior. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publication.
Haye, N. (2013). Principles of Social Psychology. Psychology Press 2013.
Kohn, A. (1988). Are Humans Innately Aggressive? Psychology Today, June 1988 edition.
Lilly, J.R., Cullen, F. Ball, R. (2011). Criminlogical Theory; Context and Consequences. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publication
