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.

Comments

Understanding the Theory of Subculture: How Delinquent Subcultures Form and Function

Subculture refers to an organized set of values, norms, beliefs, and attitudes that have become a traditional way of life among certain segments of a population. Delinquent subcultures, on the other hand, are those where anti-social behavior is required by the norms of the group. In 1955, Albert Cohen proposed a theory of delinquency in his book "Delinquent Boys," which sought to explain the origin and functions of delinquent subcultures. According to Cohen's theory, delinquency is not inborn or something the individual contrives on their own. Instead, individuals learn to become delinquent by interacting with others who share this pattern. Delinquent patterns are acquired by becoming a member of a group where delinquency is already an established pattern and is required by the norms of the group. Cohen believed that the delinquent subculture develops as a response and solution to the problem of "status frustration," which occurs because of socialization. Social...

What is it meant by “Drugs”?

It is needless to say that the term ‘drug’ is a conversational topic in current society. It is because of the unavoidable disaster happening to the society due to illicit drugs. Geetanjali Nagpal , Amy Winehouse , Whitney Houston , Matthew Perry like celebrities can be taken as instance to prove this. Simply, drug is any substance that, when inhaled, injected, smoked, consumed, absorbed via a patch on the skin, or dissolved under the tongue causes a physiological and often psychological change in the body. Unfortunately, there is a common misinterpretation among society that drugs mean only illegal substances that intoxicate people. In order to solve this issue, it is useful to clarify what really drugs are. According to the WHO, “A drug is any substance or product that is used or intended to be used to modify or explore physiological systems or pathological states for the benefit of the patient” . This definition mentions three characteristics of ...

Magic Mushrooms: Effects, History, and Risks

Magic mushrooms, also known as Psilocybin, are a type of psychedelic drug that contains a natural psychoactive and hallucinogenic compound. They are categorized as serotonergic hallucinogens, which change an individual's perception and mood by affecting cognitive processes. Magic mushrooms are classified by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as a Schedule I drug, which means they have a high potential for abuse, have no currently accepted medical treatment in the US, and have a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. Some common names for magic mushrooms include Shrooms, Mushies, Blue Meanies, Golden Tops, Liberty Caps, Philosopher's Stones, Liberties, Amani, and Agaric. Magic mushrooms are usually prepared by drying, although they can also be eaten freshly picked or mixed with food or drink. They can even be smoked, mixed with cannabis or tobacco. They can also be found in dried capsules or liquid. When psilocybin is taken, it is converted in th...

Beyond Borders

Search This Blog