Scientific theories adhere to a series of principles. These theories are testable, probabilistic, empirical, tentative, parsimonious, and general. In addition, they assume cause and effect. Scholars explain the origin of criminal conduct in many theories.
This paper draws the theories discussed herein from a radical orientation; they include radical, feminist and critical criminology theories and present principles that alter the existing and traditional views on the development of criminal behaviour in fundamental ways (Walklate, 2007, p. 8). Unfortunately, the radical theories discussed herein do not meet some of the qualifications of a scientific theory; they lack empirical evidence, are difficult to test and unrealistic.
In the 1960s, the prominence of labeling theory grew, but it did not last for a long time. Critics disapprove this perspective for being empirically weak and inconsistent with the existing explanations such as the role of criminogenic environments. Critics denounce feminist perspectives for having a stereotypical inclination towards men and lack of empirical support (Barlow and Decker, 2010, p. 216).
In addition, commentators argue that the liberal feminist perspective is inadequate because empirical research fails to back its predictions. Empirical studies have recorded an increase in female arrests, in traditionally female deviance, prior to the Women’s Rights Movement. Critical criminology perspective has also been criticized for being unrealistic and lack of empirical evidence (Thaila and Cunneen, 2008, p. 89).
Despite the criticism leveled against radical perspectives on criminology, these theories explain the origin of a crime in a scientific manner. Criminologists have developed most of these explanations using ethnographic and longitudinal studies, randomized experiments and interviews. The labeling views explain that social control efforts ignite the processes that lure a person into a criminal career. They give attention to the conduct of those who react to offenders (Cullen and Agnew, 2011, p. 29).
Criminologists have also made new versions of labeling theories to re-energize the social reaction views. The new theories focus on informal reactions, reintegrative shaming and defiance. Ross Matsueda holds that the immediate cause of delinquent conduct is the perception that others hold one as a deviant (Walklate, 2007, p. 21). John Braithwaite proposed that a person becomes deviant if the society makes an effort to shame the individual (Barlow and Decker, 2010, p. 33).
Stigmatizing makes criminal subcultures attractive to the offender (Cullen and Agnew, 2011, p. 42). Lawrence Sherman states that interventions to crime have diverse effects depending on the scenarios. Sanctions against crime yield deterrence, defiance or are not consequential (Walklate, 2007, p. 28). The feminist perspective to criminology, developed in the 1970s, challenged the male-only focus on crime. The theory drew attention to the social circumstances of females’ vis-a-vis men (Cullen and Agnew, 2011, p. 47).
Liberal feminists hold that the gender gap in crime exists because the society does not raise girls like boys, and girls do not have the same chance as boys. Radical feminism identifies oppression and criminal victimization of women as the root of female deviance. Between 1960 and 1980, critical criminology gained prominence (Thaila and Cunneen, 2008, p. 84).
Critical criminologists hold that power and inequalities are core reasons in understanding a crime. The state creates the criminal justice arrangement to serve the capitalist class while creating poor and minority deviants. Critical criminologists hold that capitalism is the main cause of deviant conduct.
Reference List
Barlow, H., and Decker, S. H. (2010). Criminology and public policy: Putting theory to work. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Cullen, F. T., and Agnew, R. (2011). Criminology theory: Past to present (4th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Thaila, A., and Cunneen, C. (Eds.). (2008). The critical criminology companion. Annandale: Hawkins Press.
Walklate, S. (2007). Understanding criminology: Current theoretical debates. Berkshire: Open University Press.