Criminal Theories

Criminal Theories

Introduction

The term, rape, refers to crimes of aggression which are acted out in sexual ways. In the large majority of cases, these crimes are enacted by adult men against women and girls. However, rape can also occur between adults and children (as in incest), between same sex individuals (as in prisons), and between minors (as in date rape). Historically and persisting throughout the twentieth century, rape also occurred during times of military conquest and civil war. Indeed, internationally, it was likely to occur wherever sharp discrepancies in power exist, The term rape is currently defined in most states as engaging in sexual relations with a woman without her consent. Rape is nothing new and has been a problem for American women from colonial times (Stiglmayer, 1994).

The Crime

As of 2001, national and global attention to rape increased the likelihood of convicting perpetrators and achieving greater gender equity in access to human rights. Since this time, however, the legal definition of rape has changed in many states and even among the international community. Another form of rape, statutory rape, is defined as sexual acts with or between individuals whom state statutes term below the age of consent. Reform action sought to revise perceptions of rape and cause people to see the crime as serious, to recognize that rape between intimates and acquaintances is as serious as rape between strangers, and to abandon beliefs which encourage the tendency to blame the victim. Many theories (physiological, psychological, socioeconomic, political, and feminist) attempt to explain occurrence of rape. Physiologists study correlations between testosterone and aggression and may recommend that known offenders receive chemical treatment, drugs which reduce aggression and sexual drive. Psychologists look at early development, emotional problems, and relationship history. They see that many convicted rapists were sexually or emotionally abused as children. Also, rapists tend to have low self-esteem and often times feel detached from others and anxious about intimacy. Sociologists note that convicted rapists tend to be less well educated and to occupy lower paying jobs (Moffett, 2006).

Choice Theory

This theory sees the criminal as a rational being constantly engaged in an assessment of costs and benefits of crime. The emphasis is on decision making of the offender since the basic premise is that crime is a behavior motivated by a goal and undertook to bring some benefit. The theory aims at understanding the criminal choices of individuals in terms of motivation in a given context providing opportunities to satisfy that motivation. In terms of geographic profiling, it appears that, like moving away from the base of operations to commit a crime constitutes a cost, most offenders will commit their crimes reasonably close to their place of residence.

The core of the theory focuses on the crime considered a normal and depends on the opportunities available. If a target is not protected enough, and if the reward is convenient, the offense will have more chances to succeed (Allen, 1996). The crime need not repeat offenders, or super-predators, or convicted criminals or ...