Positivism: The Birth of Modern Criminology

Positivism, a school of thought that advocates for the application of scientific methods to social issues, was one of the most significant developments in criminology. Positivist criminologists were interested in uncovering the biological, psychological, and social determinants of criminal behavior. Rejecting traditional beliefs in free will and the mind, they sought empirical evidence for their claims. One of the most prominent figures of the positivist school was the Italian army psychiatrist Cesare Lombroso, who published the book "Criminal Man" in 1876. This book was the first to systematically study the causes of criminal behavior.

Lombroso's theory was based on the idea that some criminals were less evolved than others and were throwbacks to earlier stages of human evolution. He identified a number of physical characteristics that he believed were associated with criminal behavior. Lombroso's theory of the atavistic-born criminal influenced the development of the Italian theory of criminology.

Enrico Ferri, another Italian criminologist, took a different approach than Lombroso. He believed that biological factors alone were not sufficient to explain criminal behavior. In his book "Criminal Sociology," Ferri argued that emotional reactions, social weaknesses, geographical conditions, religious and political influences, and low intelligence all played a role in determining criminal tendencies.

Raffael Garofalo, yet another Italian criminologist, argued that crime was a violation of the laws of nature. He believed that punishment was necessary to maintain social order and that a natural definition of crime was needed to guide the criminal justice system.

The positivist school of criminology was significant because it marked a shift from traditional explanations of criminal behavior to a more scientific and empirical approach. By using scientific methods to study criminal behavior, positivist criminologists were able to develop a more nuanced understanding of the causes of crime. The ideas put forth by Lombroso, Ferri, and Garofalo continue to influence criminology to this day, and their contributions remain a critical part of the history of criminology.

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Political Background Toward Crimes in Sri Lanka (1948 – 1970)

Historical background of a country is totally originated from economic, social, cultural, ethnic, educational and criminal background of the country. Political background, in relation to the other fields, is more important, as it can design or influence the nature of those fields. It can be confirmed according to the studies carried out regarding the historical background of Sri Lanka. D. S. Senanayake was appointed as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1947 from United National Party (UNP). This is when many things started to change. Indian Tamil plantation workers lost their franchise rights because of government policies. After the death of the Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, his son, Dudley Senanayake was appointed as the Prime Minister in 1952 (1st time). He resigned from the position in 1953 as a result of massive Hartal conducted by Left parties against UNP. His uncle, Sir John Kotelawala then became the Prime Minister, but was not as successful as previous leaders...

Background of Criminal Justice System in Sri Lanka (1948 – 1970)

A number of changes can be found in the criminal justice system during the selected period due to the increment of crime. When considering Police, after the independence of Sri Lanka, Richard Aluvihare became the IG as the first Sri Lankan IG in 6th January 1947. He introduced several innovative measures to embrace the welfare of the men, investigation, prevention and detection of crime, crime prevention societies, rural volunteers, police kennels, public relations, new methods of training and improvement of conditions of service. In 1946, the Police Commission was appointed to look into the reorganization of the police service. From 1952, the recruitment of women police officers to the police force began. Traffic police headquarters was established in 1953 to enforce traffic laws, prevent violation of traffic regulation as well as to investigate accidents. In 1966, John Attygalle became the Inspector General of Police and established the Police Public Relations Bureau. In 1956, it was...

Voyeuristic Disorder: An Insight into the Condition

Voyeuristic disorder is a type of paraphilia in which an individual derives sexual arousal from observing people who are naked or engaged in sexual activity. The condition is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental health conditions. Symptoms of Voyeuristic Disorder A person with voyeuristic disorder may frequently spy on people who are naked, undressing, or engaging in sexual activity. This behavior may persist for at least 6 months and cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The individual may masturbate or have sexual fantasies while observing the unsuspecting person, but they are not usually interested in having sexual contact with them. Some voyeurs may also record their observations for later viewing. Causes of Voyeuristic Disorder The exact cause of voyeuristic disorder is not known, but several factors may ...

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