Homework
You will be evaluating theories of crime. How do you explain the stalker's behavior in the introduction? How do you explain criminal behavior in your neighborhood? What causes crime? What influences criminal activity? We use theories to explain behavior. Sometimes more than one theory is useful in explaining specific criminal behavior. You will need to consider the differences between "good" and "bad" theory. What is the utility of a theory? A good theory is logically consistent, uses parsimony, and is heuristic. A "bad" theory, like Freudian theory, is nonfalsifiable. You cannot test it, but that does not mean the theory lacks in utility.
You must carefully evaluate each of these theories in a framework that explains crime, criminals, and victims in your neighborhood, state, or country. Once you have evaluated the theories using the library and media resources, you will choose a theory for which you will develop a risk assessment.
For this Homework, you will apply theories to explain the risks of becoming an offender.
1) Identify an article about a crime that you find of interest.
2) Select three theories from the following list:
• Labeling Theory;
• Social Structure Theory;
• Strain Theory;
• Neutralization Theory;
• Social Control Theory.
3) Review the theories presented in the video Forensic Insights: Theories of Criminal Behavior in your Learning Resources.
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
(1) The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
(2) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
(3) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.