Offender Behavior
Criminal behavior has been defined under different categories, which include moral, legal, psychological and societal. One is considered a criminal and having committed a crime when in violation of the agreed upon standards under the mentioned categories. It can also be argued that, the commission or omission of anything that is prohibited under the dimensions exhibits criminal behavior. However, there is the consideration that in every society, legal setting and the other categories, the set of values vary; this means that criminal engagement differs from one group to another. This has made it quite difficult to derive a single definition or come up with a set of rules that can be ruled as criminal. Research has however shown that despite the differences, there are certain aspects of crime that are similar among all groups. Concerning this issue, criminal behavior can be considered that which is offensive and causes unrest or harm to self or a group of people generally (Andrew and Bonta, 2003). To explain the concept of criminal behavior further, scholars have come up with the concept of theoretical dimensions in criminal behavior.
Every criminal behavior spotted is regarded as having a certain background and influence that provokes the offender to act the way they do. There are certain theoretical dimensions that have been formulated as a basis of criminal behavior and researched to enhance the understanding of the whole concept. To begin with, Clinard and Quinney (1973) mentioned that for every selected offense, there is a legal aspect that features as a theoretical dimension and was used for the enhanced study. As mentioned earlier, there are varying opinions as to what is actually criminal and what can be considered non-criminal. In this case, depending on the legal framework of certain people and whether or not the act is offensive, the legal ruling will be formed. However, the key issue here is that the legal aspect applies to selected offenses that are agreeably offensive in all states. For instance, matters such as robbery with violence are not compromised anywhere and were considered undoubtedly criminal. The question however would be; what makes a person engage in the act with the actual knowledge that a crime is being committed. Research has proven that most offenders have the tendency for rebellion and the urge to breaking the law, which causes them to engage in illegal activities with the knowledge of what they are doing. Thus, it is justified to group legal aspects of selected offenses under the theoretical dimensions involving criminal behavior.
The time a person has spent committing crimes – offender’s criminal career – is a theoretical dimension involving criminal behavior and has been empirically proven a motivator of crimes. According to Clinard and Quinney (1973), people advance their skills and perfect their act of crime commission with time. This means that the longer one is exposed to the crime scenes, the more they become acquitted to the environment such that it becomes more serious and easier. On the other hand, the possibility of reforming becomes slimmer and this is where one develops the criminal behavior, which also becomes part of them. Blumstein (1986) further supports this argument and in addition, argues that the frequency of crime commission develops a career in the same. This has been a cause of concern all over the nations especially for the fear that criminals and offenders are developing more witty strategies for committing crimes.
Another dimension of the criminal behavior concept is the support that the people get from certain groups of people. This has been reported as one of the major ways that encourage criminals to get deeper into their offensive characters and adopt a criminal behavior. We realize that where the conditions are not favorable for crimes to be committed, people are usually discouraged and the enhancement of the behavior is limited. On the other hand, the behavior is picked further, where there is support of the criminal behavior from whichever direction or group (Clinard and Quinney, 1973). This is an indication of the methods in which criminal behavior is enhanced. From a general perspective, the idea is perceived as a theoretical dimension, which furthers criminal behavior. Researchers of the concept have been for the idea that unless one is more practical, the act of criminality cannot be nurtured. From the first time a person expresses a desire to commit a crime, the process of developing the behavior begins and unless it is taken care of in due time, the effects are bound to be much more damaging than anticipated.
It has been mentioned above that the realization and separation of what is right from wrong is based on the agreed moral standards and legal acts. Going against the standards results to violation of the law, which is therefore considered criminal especially where the law is involved and another part is hurt in the process. Under this, the theoretical dimension involving criminal behavior is the correspondence between legitimate and criminal behavior (Henry, and Lanier, 2001). As opposed to criminal behavior, which is wrong and detrimental legitimate behavior, is that which is recognized by the law and deemed fit for society. However, we realize that both of them require consistency in order to mature to actual behavior that can be used to define a person. There is much comfort gained when people get involved in an act for recognizable periods. For criminal behavior, it is important to note that frustrations and insensitivity to differentiate between legal and illegal have led to the enhancement. Unawareness of what to do in an event one is to stop crime enhances the need to keep going, which in the end becomes unpreventable.
Another theoretical dimension that has been established to form the basis of the research is the societal reaction and legal procession. These two vary since based on the background of persons; society can be either lenient or harsh towards criminal behavior. The latter is positive in the sense that it discourages the behavior and makes conditions unfavorable for enhancement. The law on the other hand has for a long time not been specific on the finer details but instead, it has dealt with the offenders with the same measure.
According to Hagan (2011), criminology is a very wide concept, which researchers have dwelt on over years. Various theories have been formulated to explain further, what it is all about and enable relevant bodies find workable solutions. However, there is need to realize that the methods in which criminal behavior is impacted have changed over the years. The theories are therefore meant to provide a basis over which the studies can be conducted effectively without actually ignoring the changes. To be specific, origins of crimes have been researched and the results have been quite interesting. Henry and Lanier (2001) however emphasized on the fact that – besides the many existing theories on criminal behavior – the actual concept is not based on the theories and that they are only important towards helping understand it better.
It has been established that criminal behavior is gained over time and depending on the exposure of the individual person, the behavior is enhanced or reduced. The five theoretical dimensions mentioned over the years have been used to understand the force behind the commission of crimes and why as some people resist it, others practice it to the extent of developing it as a career. The law has however been comprehensive on this issue and considers every possible detail towards the behavior to an extent of understanding why it was committed. We realize that in addition, governments have been persistent on the importance of fighting crime and doing everything possible to prevent it before it can be more enhanced.
References
Andrews, D. A., & Bonta, J. (2003). The Psychology of Criminal Conduct. Cincinnati: Anderson Pub. Co.
Blumstein, A., & National Research Council (U.S.). (1986).Criminal Careers and “Career Criminals”. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press.
Clinard, M., and Quinney, R. (1973). Criminal Behavior System – A Typology, 2nd Ed. NCJRS. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/app/publications/abstract.aspx?Id=41756
Hagan, F. E. (2011). Introduction to Criminology: Theories, Methods, and Criminal Behavior. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
Henry, S., & Lanier, M. M. (2001). What Is Crime? Controversies over The Nature Of Crime And What To Do About It. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
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