"Thou shall not kill". This is one of the commandments given to Moses that gives an account on murder. This law is used as a guide on how people should live with one another cohesively. Centuries have since passed since its inception and people through legitimate governments have established laws that define the criminology aspect of murder.
Before reaching the enlightening era, people believed that acts of murder were devil driven and were against the supreme will of God. With the coming of the enlightening age, people have changed their beliefs, perception, and thoughts on the same (Joseph, 2016). People have since started correlating the behaviour aspects in human beings to murder
Murder has been a thorn in the flesh and seemly dark presence in the society. Murder crimes have existed in the society since the early years that historical documentation began. Extensive research carried out by historians trace this crime from the ancient Roman Empire moving on through the centuries until the present day here in Australia. Murder is defined and elaborated as an unlawful act where a human being premeditates and kills another.
Murder exists in various forms such as homicide which entails one taking their life. The second is manslaughter which is defined as a criminal homicide committed without malice (Snow, 2005). Third is serial killing which involves killing one or more people in incidents that are typically unrelated in geographical scope. Fourth is mass murder which can be described as the killing of four or more people at a single event. Fifth is spree killings that can be described as multiple killings at different locations and the murderer does not have a time off between committing the acts.
Murder is termed as an illegal act in the country and if one is found to be culpable and guilty of committing the act he or she is liable to face the consequences as prescribed to by the law. Classical criminology came into being after people started studying and questioning the behaviour concepts behind committing murder. Positivism concepts were also developed and then criminology theory followed thereafter.
Positivism emerged in Italy at the beginning years of the 19th century. This concept generates ideas and arguments of the absence of free will in people. It goes further to elaborate the behavioural determination by various factors. These factors comprise the biological, social and psychological determinants. The concept was developed further to show that nature and nurturing were behind the criminal behaviour of a person committing murder and not in the human being. Mental illness and poverty were some of the causes brought out in the concept of positivism. The concept advocates for punishment to be directed toward rehabilitating the person and should not be directed towards the crime committed.
Psychological factors are known to be a leading motivating factor in criminal behaviour that eventually leads to criminal acts such as murder (Lynes, 2016). These factors comprise of the mind based aspects that eventually influence one engaging in criminal activities through behaviour. These factors include problems in the mental health state of a person, illness of the mind and even brain damage causes. The disorder is also a perception that is known and research has proven that it influences criminal behaviour. Psychological damage can be as a result of permanent damage to the brain, accidents that affect the head, and even as a result of serious head injuries.
Sociological factors are primarily based on explanations on sociology that explain the aspects of behaviour as an influencer in murder crimes. Poverty and inequality when it comes to income levels are researched in a bid to outline how one's inability to provide basic necessities is associated with criminal behaviour. Sub-cultural theories have also been developed over time to bring a clear picture of why people commit murder. Social group norms where defiance is prevalent is known for the occurrence of murder crimes in their neighbourhoods.
Biological determinism is a criminological theory that explains the biosocial scope to explain its influence on crime. Determinism in this theory can be termed as the view of one's criminal actions as a result of biological predisposition or even inheritance of the genes. Biosocial theories, on the other hand, provide a combined approach in examining biology, behaviour while putting into consideration environment in which the murder crime behaviour is exhibited. The biological body aspects are critical as an influence on criminal behaviour. Understanding murder crime causation theories biological determinants are at the forefront to guide the comprehension mechanisms. Learning biological and social concepts is vital in bringing out the understanding of evolutionary criminality in the society today (Daly, 2017). Biosocial criminology is at the forefront of explaining the murder deterministic factors brought about by the behaviour in the society today.
Strain theories can be applied in both sociology and criminology to explain the emergence of crime. These theories state that certain stressor influences the possibility of crime emergence. The strains in most cases have led to emotional negativity as manifested in frustration and anger (Agnew et al., 2011). The emotions depicted often cause the need for corrective action and thus causes pressure and crime such as murder. People may use crime as an escape route to evade or minimize this strain. Strain theories were first developed in 1938 by one Robert Merton and they have since proven the correlation between strains and crime. The fervent findings have in the years of research showing that certain strains are a cause of crime, others have also proven the increase in crime rate as a ripple effect of strains. Another research finding has studied factors that cause people from resisting the urge to use crime as a response to strain.
Biological determinism theory and strain theory are the two major theories that explain the criminology study. In the research, these two theories are the main focus of the study in understanding the underlying factors in crime especially murder cases that have been experienced in the nation. The social factors in the two theories will give a detailed approach in understanding them in a bid to know the causal factor and hence come up with proposals on how to curb the occurrence of murder crimes in our society.
The society we live in today has set bars high incognisant of people's different capabilities. Strain theory can be used in explaining the involvement in crime due to inadequacy or inability to achieve goals in life for an individual. The goals may not only be monetary or status based but also includes other life aspirations. People are abled differently and what may seem an easy task to achieve for one maybe be very difficult to accomplish for another. The perception that has been pelted to people about achievements and living life has come to haunt the society. Individuals are working themselves out toiling day and night to achieve the fine things in life which are glorified. The young generation that is the majority in the society is not enlightened of the hard work and time invested to achieve the success of their role models, instead they are only shown of people living large without an idea of how they reached that peak. This has caused people to engage in activities that to them seem as a path to achieve instant wealth power and influence in the society. Some have joined criminal activities as the strain is too much to bear. Murder is one criminal activity that is being used to reduce or even evade the strain. Some people are used to commit these crimes as a means of generating wealth in the society. Assassins are used every day to kill and acquire wealth from other.
Biological determinism theories view an individual's criminal behaviour being as an end result of the defect shortcoming from the individual basis. The defects nature can be generic or a biological one that helps differentiate between citizens who adhere to the law from a criminal. Contemporary biological theories have focused on investigating the variability in genetic and biological factor and how they interact with the environment and have mostly left out the defects and abnormalities.
In my view, the strain theory stands out as a better explanation of murder crime behaviour in comparison to the biological determinism theory. One of the reasons is that the punishment in the biological determinism theory is focused on protecting the society but it does not serve as a deterrent action to curb the behaviour. The early theories in biological determinism also had inadequacy invalidity even though they used scientific methods. The methods used were considered to be flawed and hence their findings lacked credibility.
Studying biology important for understanding murder criminology. Why does criminology need biology? To expound and elaborate this point I plan to employ the use of the book titled "Biology and Criminology" written by Anthony Walsh. The books in details explain the aspects of biosocial synthesis that help in unravelling the concept of crime and to the extent murder crimes understanding how biological factors influence crime. For one to become a competent criminologist a few one need to take a few lessons on biology (Walsh, 2009). These courses are not a waste of time for both sociologists and criminologists. Basic biology knowledge in neurology, evolutionary theories courses and even a course in endocrinology is vital. The book evaluates the research on genetics so as to provide for criminologists with a basis to comprehend the balance between the environment and genetics that have been exhibited over time. The books also evaluate the behaviour origins that have over time been termed as criminal. Murder crimes and their behavioural approach through biosocial analysis provided a detailed paper for points to be taken and a basis for future research.
Strain theories are better than the other theories in explaining the behavioural aspect of engaging in crime (Agnew, 2014). Even though it has its shortcoming where the occurrence of strain is not an origin for a crime but its experience on an individual has effects that lead and influence one to commit crimes (Free Essays - PhDessay.com, 2018). An analysis of a teenager strain to attain certain goals and aspiration and seeks solace in alcohol and drugs. His social norm group will be highly likely to be involved in crime and other illegal activities and in some occasion can even end up killing for money.
Personality theorist term criminal behaviour as an end result of defective traits in personality. A person develops a trait anchored on aggression and conflict instead of conforming to the social traits set on the best standard basis that are appropriate for good coexistence. The criminal has no remorse or empathy for the actions that they have committed as they do not have that ability. The theory does not advocate for dealing with the act but proposes measures to deal with the disorders both personal and psychological through treatment in a bid to address the behaviour of crime. Strain theory has the personality aspect in the strains that an individual experiences as he/she faces life. The crime influence from the strain is more than that due to biological determinism theory or even the personality aspect. The strain can be a detrimental effect causing psychological disorders or even change in personality. This makes it the most outstanding cause explanation when compared with the other theories formulated.
Conclusion
Criminologists and sociologists have studied the criminal acts and behaviours over the years in a bid to come up will a solution to avert the crime menace in the society. From the theoretical analysis above theories are more centred on the basis of behavioural aspect and changes that result to murder crimes in the nation. The policymakers should, therefore, come up with clear-cut policies guided on the findings above to bring an overhaul change in the behavioural scope of the citizens. The government should formulate a body equipped with specialists and well-funded to address the behaviour aspect among people. Sociologists should be at the forefront together with criminologists guide policymaker on the best actions to be enacted. I would also recommend strict implementation of the policies to ensure adherence and see that the policies yield the desired results.
Reference List
Agnew, R., Scheuerman, H., Agnew, R. and Scheuerman, H. (2011). Strain Theories. Oxford Bibliographies Online Datasets.
Agnew, R. (2014). General Strain Theory. Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice, pp.1892-1900.
Daly, M. (2017). Homicide. 1st ed. Taylor and Francis.
Free Essays - PhDessay.com. (2018). Criminology Theories-Differential Association and Strain Theory. [online] Available at: https://phdessay.com/criminology-theories-differential-association-and-strain-theory/ [Accessed 10 May 2018].
Joseph, r. (2016). Criminological theories within murder. [online] prezi.com. Available at: https://prezi.com/rfeur_p6rk2h/criminological-theories-within-murder/ [Accessed 10 May 2018].
Lynes, A. and Wilson, D. (2016). The road to murder. 1st ed. Hook, Hampshire: Waterside Press.
Walsh, A. (2009). Biology and criminology. 1st ed. New York: Routledge.
Snow, R. (2005). Murder 101. 1st ed. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers.
