Describe and Give Examples of the Three Perspectives of Viewing Crime

Describe and Give Examples of the Three Perspectives of Viewing Crime

Introduction

Expert criminologists frequently base their perspectives and thoughts on one of the number of theories that express, in their specific way, what actually contribute and constitute to illicit or criminal behavior. All these theories have their own view regarding what causes individuals within society to get involved in criminal activities (Durrant, 2012). The choice of a criminologist concerning his/her theory preference in due course is pretty much dependent on their own clarity of crime. Thus, the three most familiar criminal perspectives are the Consensus, Conflict and the Interactionist Views of Crime.

Discussion

Consensus View of Crime

According to the “Consensus View of Crime”, crimes are basically behaviors that are considered to be repulsive or revolting of a number of elements associated with the society. This view holds that the written rule that describes and classifies crimes in connection with punishments is appropriately recognized as the substantive criminal law which eventually reveals the values, beliefs, and opinions of the conventional society. With respect to this view, the word consensus is requisite for the reason that it gives an insinuation that among a huge part of society, there is a conformity regarding which behaviors are intolerable and objectionable and thus ought to be well thought-out as criminal (Nelson, 2007).

Criminologists like Edwin Sutherland and Donald Cressey follow the standpoint of being adjacent to crime by means of laws of criminality. This perspective of viewing crime holds that crime is a function of the beliefs, morality, and rules, which the presently existing authorized powers have set up. In line with criminologists, Sutherland and Cressey, the function of criminal law subsists, unvaryingly to each and every member of the classes. This statement shows the belief and hope of the authors in a fair lawful system wherein all types of populace or individuals from all classes are effectively taken care of.

With respect to the Consensus View of Crime, against the law or criminal behavior is linked with social harm. That is to say that all behaviors that bring harm to society or other individuals all together need to be controlled, managed, and stopped. Social harm is actually what establishes other deviant or abnormally strange behaviors that go in opposition to the social norm with the exception of criminal behavior. Thus, this perspective states that although there are a number ...