The development of a criminological science as a separate field has led to the emergence of specific theories and concepts. The impact of external factors and intersection with other disciplines requires searching for the rationale for the origin and domination of certain methodologies. This paper focuses on the description of the criminological theory where a demonic context is key and a religious background plays a significant role.
The dominant criminology theory of crime that was popular for the most Western history is the demonic perspective (Cullen, Agnew, & Wilcox, 2017). This theory suggests that supernatural forces cause crime and that individuals engage in unlawful activities because the evil possesses them. According to this perspective, criminal activities are sinful and are offenses against God (Cullen et al., 2017). It is evident that the demonic perspective is inapplicable to the life of modern society because it is impossible to prove its arguments.
Legislators cannot utilize it to check that people’s actions are guided by mystical forces, although, such an opinion is still popular among some populations of the world (Roelofse, 2016). Subsequently, the demonic perspective was challenged by the classical theory stating that individuals were rational beings who aimed to maximize their benefits and minimize harm (Cullen et al., 2017). In the context of modern legislation, this approach is the most optimal and reasonable.
Since the classical theory is the basis of criminology, it is illogical to consider other concepts as those that can compete with it for the right to dominate. In general, the idea based on involving otherworldly forces does not characterize modern society, and a rational approach is the basis of criminology. Therefore, the comparison of the classical frame with alternative and neoclassical concepts is possible in a theoretical rather than practical environment.
Classical and Neoclassical Theories
The neoclassical theory that will be reviewed in this paper and compared to the classical ones is the rational choice theory. It states that criminal offenders seek to benefit themselves by participating in unlawful actions (Cullen, Agnew, & Wilcox, 2017). This theory is slightly different from the classical one since it suggests that several other factors can guide the criminal’s perceptions of the benefit of pleasure; they include emotional state, moral beliefs, and the level of self-control.
It is possible to note that this theory does not apply to all criminal situations. For instance, it does not fit the following crime reported by the USA Today. A woman was charged with child abuse because she was driving drunk, while two of her children were in her car and were not wearing seatbelts (“Mother charged with child abuse,” 2019). It is evident that the woman did not commit the crime to maximize her pleasure or gain profit because the situation could not be considered beneficial for her. This finding suggests that the arguments of the classical theory are inapplicable to this case too.
Studies support the opinion that the rational choice theory cannot be applied to all criminal cases. For instance, Paternoster, Jaynes, and Wilson (2017) report that crimes that involve driving under intoxicating are not related to pleasure because people expect punishment for their actions. It means that the theory should include more factors than self-interest to be reliable. Gilmour (2015) also suggests that it is necessary to consider the environmental and social aspects of the crime along with motives. These findings allow for suggesting that both classical theories and more modern approaches cannot be applicable to all criminal cases.
References
Roelofse, C. J. (2016). Satanism, the occult, mysticism and crime: Perspectives on the inversion of Christianity. Internal Security, 8(1), 225-242.
Cullen, F. T., Agnew, R., & Wilcox, P. (2017). Criminological theory: Past to present: Essential readings (6th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Gilmour, N. (2015). Understanding the practices behind money laundering – A rational choice interpretation. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, 44, 1-13.
Mother charged with child abuse after DWI arrest. (2019). Web.
Paternoster, R., Jaynes, C. M., & Wilson, T. (2017). Rational choice theory and interest in the “Fortune of Others.” Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 54(6), 847-868.