CRM 1300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Positivism, Somatotype And Constitutional Psychology, Adolphe Quetelet
11 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Explanations of crime arise from particular historical contexts and reflect the social, political and intellectual fashions of the day. Every theory contains (explicit or implicit) statements about the nature of human agency and the nature of social structure. Always identify a particular theorists take on this set of issues. Crime as sin and the effect of evil external forces become internalized. Punishment as trial and ordeal by authorities who had the unique/divine capacity to restore order . Classic school (beccaria) crime as the product of rational behaviour. Need for a system of justice and punishment that focuses upon regarding to the act: if you do this, you get this punishment. In the context of the rise of states under the theory of the social contract . No focus upon power differentials in society/ability to make rules. Focus on preventing the breaking of existing rules. Curtailment of judicial discretion (ironical impact of increasing centralized governmental authority in setting the rules)
