To Commit a Crime or Not Based on Gottfredson and Hirschs...

Gottfredson and Hirsch’s self-control theory revolves around one’s inclination to commit a crime or refrain from committing a crime based on low or high self-controls. It is a general crime theory that explains all crime at all periods in time. The principal factor is self- control. In this theory, a person with low self-control is much more likely to commit a crime then a person with high self-control. For Gottfredson and Hirsch’s definition of crime, they state that a crime is an act undertaken in a person’s pursuits of self-interests. People that are involved in criminal acts in this theory are also prone to impulsive behaviors that provide some form of short term gratification. These impulsive behaviors include speeding, drinking and†¦show more content†¦Life-course offender’s problems start in childhood; they remain through adolescence and continue to manifest into adulthood. Life-course offenders are only comprised of 5 percent of the population but account for 50 percent of the total crimes. Moffit notes that these offenders exhibit a form of psychopathology, with the root causes being related lack of full cognitive development or some kind of neuropsychological deficiency. A big reason why change is not likely for life-course offenders is that due to these deficiencies, their needs were not met as a child due to the lack of development of a bond with the parents. This creates a snowball effect later in the child’s life due to the weak bonds formed with society and anti-social behavior. On the other hand, Adolescent limited offenders go through a temporary period in their lifetimes where they are behaviorally problematic for a period that generally occurs between pubescent maturity and young adulthood. Adolescence-Limited’s are responsive to reinforcement contingencies and eventually these offenders maturity gap closes. Moffit’s dual taxonomy theory states that there are certain factors tha t can determine whether a not an offender can change. For the life-course offenders change is not possible due to neurologicalShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding the Similarities to Strain Theory and General Theory of Crime3105 Words   |  13 PagesUnderstanding the similarities of Strain Theory, amp; General Theory of Crime Angela Sampson # 2396467 Sociology 345: Social Control Professor: James Chriss Cleveland State University April 30th 2012 Abstract: The purpose is to identify the similarities between Strain theories, and General Theory of Crime. Strain was developed from the work of Durkheim and Merton and taken from the theory of anomie. Durkheim focused on the decrease of societal restraint and the strain that resulted