Discussion Board Forum Thread 1
COLLA PSE
Discussion Board Forum Thread 1
Gabriel Tarde and Cesare Lombroso represented two theories - Tarde focused on behavior
and Lombroso focused on biological (Wilson et al., 1985). They both were the founding fathers
who introduced the relationship between psychology and criminology and their work has
substantially affected the theories present today. Lombroso's approach focuses on the criminal
individual and not just the crime, and over time, their views have enforced studying individuals
within the criminal justice system today. The mentalities of criminals and criminal behavior
have gone further though their theories are different. The criminology theories of Tarde and
Lombroso were quite different. Gabriel Tarde focused on delinquency's behavioral side while
Cesare Lomboros focused on biological factors contributing to one's delinquency (Linebach &
Kovacsiss, 2016, p. 5-6).
There has not been much change in Tarde's theory as the three laws are still applicable
today. The Imitation theory relates to time spent with the imitator and exposing them to criminal
behavior due to the amount of time. Also, when the imitator is in an inferior position, it is quite
possible for criminal action to result from this law and, lastly, not being willing to change habits
due to the inability to being unwilling to replace the old with the new behaviors (Linebach &
Kovacsiss, 2016, p. 6-7).
Though both theories have strengths and weaknesses, Tarde's views are utilized more
today than Lombroso because Lombroso's theory confirmed criminals as being atavistic or
savage. Looking at criminal activity from Tarde's psychology perspective, other aspects
examined the person's relationship with society and the person's response to the demands of
work, friendship, and love. With this approach, the person could be self-sufficient, flexible, and
create socially useful ways to solve problems. The other side is that the person would become
dependent and fearful of others and follow a rigid form of dualistic thinking, thereby becoming
socially useless (Barton-Bellessa, Jihee Lee, & Shon, 2015, p.37). Tarde's psychological
perspective states that people learn how to behave by modeling themselves like others they
observe.
To me, Lombroso's theory is labeling people, and labeling allows us to lay the full
responsibility of actions on others and is neglectful and problematic in the criminal justice
system. For example, we could label people by their tattoos or haircuts of being people of ill-
report and are too quick to punish and blame them instead of listening. James 4:11-12 speaks of
such behavior when the scripture states, "do not speak evil against each other, and we are
brothers. The person who speaks against their brother or judges them also speaks evil against the
law's lawyers and judges. If we judge the law, we are not doing the law, but a judge, and there is
only one lawgiver and judge. It is he who can save and destroy. Lastly, saying, "Who are you to
judge your neighbor?"
References
Barton-Bellessa, S. M., Jihee Lee, & Shon, P. (2015). Correcting
Misconceptions About Alfred Adler's Psychological Theory of Crime
in Introductory Criminology Textbooks: Moving Adler's Theory of
Crime Forward. Journal of Individual Psychology, 71(1), 34–57.
Retrieved from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?
url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a2h&AN=102257145&lang=es&site=ehost-live
James 4:11-12. New International Version (NIV)
Linebach & Kovacsiss, (2016) Psychology in the Justice System, p.5-6.
Linebach & Kovacsiss, (2016) Psychology in the Justice System, p.6-7.
Wilson, J.Q. and Hernstein, R.J. (1985). Crime and human nature. New
York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Week 1 Discussion Thread - Forensic Psychology.docx (16.542 KB)
Reply Quote
1 year ago
Satin Williams
RE: Discussion Board Forum Thread 1
COLLA PSE
Hide 1 reply
1 year ago
Bobbie Smith
RE: Discussion Board Forum Thread 1
COLLA PSE
1 year ago
Shannon Wieckhorst
RE: Discussion Board Forum Thread 1
COLLA PSE
Bobbie,
It is interesting that you focused on Tarde’s theory as the more prevalent one because it
seems to be similar to a lot of people’s thoughts throughout this discussion post. Like you and
others in the class, many articles I have viewed also agree and align more with Tarde’s theory
than with Lombroso’s Theory. One crime theory I read was how routine activities and social
disorganization relates to an increase or decrease in crimes. This theory (upon an abundance of
research) proves that a neighborhood is a significant contributing factor to street-level crime
(Jones & Pridemore, 2019). The condition of a neighborhood tends to relate to an increase or
decrease in crime rates. More poverty-stricken neighborhoods have higher street crime rates than
those that are not poverty-stricken.
Of course, the poverty community is higher on street crime because of the people living
there committing this crime. Therefore, this theory closely relates to Tarde’s theory because the
people who grow up in these higher crime areas grow up either in a life of crime or watching it;
therefore, they imitate what they see and continue the crime streak in that community. As the
new theory suggests, this tends to happen in more poverty-stricken areas; as long as crime
continues in these areas, it becomes a cycle of imitation that is hard for newer generations to
break.
Unfortunately, a big reason why crime continues in these poverty communities is because
people continue to grow up watching it and feel like they have no other choice. It is often a way
of life, and people feel that they have no way out of it. It is hard to think about communities with
people born into poverty and have to go through this kind of hardship, but God has a plan for all.
Luke 6:20-21 says, “Looking at his disciples, he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is
the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you
who weep now, for you will laugh’” (Luke 6:20-21, New International Version). This scripture
provides comfort, knowing that all struggles eventually subside.
References
Jones, R. & Pridemore, W. (2019). Toward an integrated multilevel theory of crime at place:
Routine activities, social disorganization, and the law of crime concentration. Journal of
Quantitative Criminology, 35, 543-572. doi:10.1007/s10940-018-9397-6
Reply Quote Email Author
Hide 1 reply
1 year ago
Bobbie Smith
RE: Discussion Board Forum Thread 1
COLLA PSE
Hello Shannon,
Thanks for responding to my post. Yes, Tarde's theory is more prevalent today than
Lombroso's, even though the mindset of Lombroso's approach is also prevalent today in the
mentality of some professionals.
Lombroso tried to discern a possible relationship between criminal psychopathology and
physical or constitutional imperfections. His chief assertion was the existence of a hereditary, or
atavistic, class of criminals who were biological throwbacks to a more primitive human
development stage. One of Lombroso's methods to explain his theory was to examine the
features and body measurements of nearly 4,000 criminals and the skulls of 400 dead criminals.
According to Lombroso, the results from Lombroso's investigation included sloping brows,
which indicated low intelligence levels.
However, John B. Watson's theory can also be practical today as it is behavior-based.
Watson's approach provided a method for studying human behavior by viewing and manipulating
the individual and their environment. He concluded that behaviorism can account for all
behavior, including crime and deviance. His belief is that if he were given healthy babies and
raised them in a different world, he could train them to be anything he desired them to become.
He could produce individuals as attorneys or doctors and could even raise them to become
beggars and thieves, regardless of their talents, weaknesses, abilities, or ancestors' race (Watson,
1913, 1970). Using Watson's theory along with Tarde's would make an excellent combination to
decrease future crime, if that would ever be possible.
This scripture applies to Lombroso's theory. Ecclesiastes 11:5, New International Version
(NIV) says, "As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman
with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
References
Ecclesiastes 11:5, New International Version (NIV)
Watson, J.B. (1913), Psychology as the behaviorist views it, Lancaster, PA:
Psychological Review Company
Watson, J.B. (1970), Behaviorism, New York: W.W. Norton
Reply Quote
1 year ago
Demetrius Jones
RE: Discussion Board Forum Thread 1
COLLA PSE
Hello Bobbie,
It appears that we are on the same wave length this week. The study of the Lombrosian theory is quite
questionable, I accept the fact that he is considered to be the father of modern criminology but, I must reject his
theory of someone being born as a criminal. It is impossible for an individual to be able to inherit a "criminal gene"
if you will, from the mother and a father.
The fact that Lombroso believed that one could inherit such traits is puzzling. Ultimately, his theories were
completely undermined by methodological weakness (poor sampling technique, bias in gathering data, poor
statistics) and by his idea that physical stigmata of criminality were intrinsically biological rather than, often, the
consequence of malnutrition and poverty. Mazzerello, P. (2011).
On the other side of the coin because of his efforts, Lombroso was an authentic worldwide phenomenon during
his time as he was an advocate for biological determinism in behavior. Also in his work, he was able to determine
within the structure and function of the human brain and in the characteristics of the human body, the basis for
understanding psychopathology. Cesare Lombroso was among the first to consider criminality in both men and
women as a scientific study. Though worthy of the accolades but his theory of being born criminal, missed the mark.
As I type this rebuttal to Lombrosian theory, I cannot help to wonder what he would think of his theory in
modern times. This bible verse comes to mind. "Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to
reproof gains intelligence." (Proverbs 15:32 ESV). I truly believe that Mr. Lombroso would take constructive
criticism and learn from it.
References
Holy Bible. (n.d.). Proverbs chapter 15, verse 32. English Standard Version.
Mazzerello, P. (2011). Cesare Lombroso: an anthropologist between evolution and degeneration. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3814446/#!po=74.3902
Reply Quote Email Author
Hide 1 reply
1 year ago
Bobbie Smith
RE: Discussion Board Forum Thread 1
COLLA PSE
Hello Demetrius,
Good afternoon and thanks for the discussion. Yes, we are on the same page this week,
and Lombroso's theory is questionable, even though I can still see it being subconsciously used
today. Some may still view his theory as valid when expressing "superhuman" characteristics.
The 2012 article of the Sun entitled "Superhuman Abilities Manifest in Extreme Fight-or-Flight
Situations." The article references a deadly confrontation between campus police and a student,
where the student was said to have exhibited a kind of "superhuman strength" while resisting
officers. The student appears to be unaffected by baton strikes and was strong enough to wrestle
an officer's pepper spray away from him. This is not race-based as it did not state the student's
race, but the fact that the term "superhuman" was used is intriguing.
I also do not believe that an individual can inherit a criminal gene either. The causes of
crime lie in predisposing biological traits channeled by social circumstances into criminal
behavior. Criminals are made because everyone is born normal, so they choose to be involved in
a crime.
A movie on TubiTV (free) called "Murder without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story"
Based on a true story, a young black man is killed by a police officer. The murky details and
questionable investigation sparked outrage and questions. This is not your average police officer
shooting and shows how your environment can or cannot affect the outcome of your life. It also
addresses our discussion of being born a criminal. If you have time, take a look and let me know
your perspective. I think you will be quite surprised as I was.
Proverbs 28:1-28 NIV says: "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are
bold as a lion. When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but its stability will long continue
with a man of understanding and knowledge. A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating
rain that leaves no food. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the
law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord
understand it completely.
Reference
Proverbs 28:1-28, New International Version (NIV)
The Sun, 2012. Superhuman Abilities Manifest in Extreme Fight or Flight
Situations - https://www.sbsun.com/2012/12/11/superhuman-
abilities-manifest-in-extreme-fight-or-flight-situations/
TubiTV - Murder Without Motive – The Edmund Perry Story
-https://tubitv.com/movies/492175/murder-without-motive-the-
edmund-perry-story.
Reply Quote
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
