,# 2014 University of South Africa
All rights reserved
Printed and published by the
University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria
CMY3701/1/2015–2022
70257442
3B2
CMY_style
, (iii)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Contents
ORIENTATION (iv)
PART 1: THE RATIONAL ACTOR MODEL OF CRIME AND
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR 1
THEME 1: THE RATIONAL ACTOR MODEL 2
STUDY UNIT 1.1 The classical school: the offender as calculator 5
STUDY UNIT 1.2 Contemporary rational choice theories 11
PART 2: THE PREDESTINED ACTOR MODEL 21
THEME 2: THE PREDESTINED ACTOR MODEL 22
STUDY UNIT 2.1: The positivist school: the offender as predestined
actor 25
STUDY UNIT 2.2: Biological positivism 29
STUDY UNIT 2.3: Psychological positivism 43
PART 3: SOCIAL POSITIVISM: STRUCTURE THEORIES 55
THEME 3: SOCIAL POSITIVISM: STRUCTURE THEORIES 56
STUDY UNIT 3.1: Structure theories 59
STUDY UNIT 3.2: Social disorganisation theory 67
STUDY UNIT 3.3: Anomie and strain 77
PART 4: SOCIAL POSITIVISM: PROCESS THEORIES 87
THEME 4: SOCIAL POSITIVISM: PROCESS THEORIES 88
STUDY UNIT 4.1: Process theories 91
STUDY UNIT 4.2: Sutherland’s theory of differential association 97
STUDY UNIT 4.3: Hirschi’s social bonding theory 107
PART 5: THE VICTIMISED ACTOR MODEL 117
THEME 5: THE VICTIMISED ACTOR MODEL 118
STUDY UNIT 5.1: The labelling perspective 121
STUDY UNIT 5.2: The conflict perspective 129
BIBLIOGRAPHY 138
, (iv)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ORIENTATION
Please start by reading Tutorial Letter 101 for this course before you study the
themes in module CMY3701.
Welcome to the module ‘‘The explanation of crime’’. This study guide concentrates
on certain local and national concerns, and we trust that you will find these studies
interesting and informative. We do not only wish you success with this course, but
trust that you will find the study material useful and that you will be able to apply
what you learn from it in your daily life – not only your professional life, but also your
life as a citizen in a democratic society. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you
experience any problems or have questions arising from your studies.
In compiling this study guide we have adopted two approaches.
In choosing a practical-functional or pragmatic approach to the objectives of
criminology, we have assumed that the subject has important social relevance and
therefore interfaces with, or takes account of, a community that demands services.
We have provided you with information for the primary purpose of giving you more
insight into, and a better understanding of, society’s reaction to crime and the
adjudication of crimes, through the following:
. learner centredness
. lifelong learning
. critical creative thought
. nation-building and non-discrimination
. credibility of the higher education system
. quality assurance
The purpose of this module is to enable our students to gain knowledge about, and
an understanding of, the phenomenon being studied. We also want you to form
certain attitudes and adopt certain values, as well as gain general and specific skills in
order to expand your conception of criminology.
It is our intention to encourage you as learners to think critically. We wish to
accompany you on your journey towards
. expanding your knowledge and concepts
. forming certain attitudes and adopting certain values
. acquiring skills
Regarding the expanding of knowledge and conceptual areas, our objective is to lead
you to a closer acquaintance with
. factors which increase the risk of crime
. explanations of crime
. theoretical approaches to crime prevention
All rights reserved
Printed and published by the
University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria
CMY3701/1/2015–2022
70257442
3B2
CMY_style
, (iii)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Contents
ORIENTATION (iv)
PART 1: THE RATIONAL ACTOR MODEL OF CRIME AND
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR 1
THEME 1: THE RATIONAL ACTOR MODEL 2
STUDY UNIT 1.1 The classical school: the offender as calculator 5
STUDY UNIT 1.2 Contemporary rational choice theories 11
PART 2: THE PREDESTINED ACTOR MODEL 21
THEME 2: THE PREDESTINED ACTOR MODEL 22
STUDY UNIT 2.1: The positivist school: the offender as predestined
actor 25
STUDY UNIT 2.2: Biological positivism 29
STUDY UNIT 2.3: Psychological positivism 43
PART 3: SOCIAL POSITIVISM: STRUCTURE THEORIES 55
THEME 3: SOCIAL POSITIVISM: STRUCTURE THEORIES 56
STUDY UNIT 3.1: Structure theories 59
STUDY UNIT 3.2: Social disorganisation theory 67
STUDY UNIT 3.3: Anomie and strain 77
PART 4: SOCIAL POSITIVISM: PROCESS THEORIES 87
THEME 4: SOCIAL POSITIVISM: PROCESS THEORIES 88
STUDY UNIT 4.1: Process theories 91
STUDY UNIT 4.2: Sutherland’s theory of differential association 97
STUDY UNIT 4.3: Hirschi’s social bonding theory 107
PART 5: THE VICTIMISED ACTOR MODEL 117
THEME 5: THE VICTIMISED ACTOR MODEL 118
STUDY UNIT 5.1: The labelling perspective 121
STUDY UNIT 5.2: The conflict perspective 129
BIBLIOGRAPHY 138
, (iv)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ORIENTATION
Please start by reading Tutorial Letter 101 for this course before you study the
themes in module CMY3701.
Welcome to the module ‘‘The explanation of crime’’. This study guide concentrates
on certain local and national concerns, and we trust that you will find these studies
interesting and informative. We do not only wish you success with this course, but
trust that you will find the study material useful and that you will be able to apply
what you learn from it in your daily life – not only your professional life, but also your
life as a citizen in a democratic society. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you
experience any problems or have questions arising from your studies.
In compiling this study guide we have adopted two approaches.
In choosing a practical-functional or pragmatic approach to the objectives of
criminology, we have assumed that the subject has important social relevance and
therefore interfaces with, or takes account of, a community that demands services.
We have provided you with information for the primary purpose of giving you more
insight into, and a better understanding of, society’s reaction to crime and the
adjudication of crimes, through the following:
. learner centredness
. lifelong learning
. critical creative thought
. nation-building and non-discrimination
. credibility of the higher education system
. quality assurance
The purpose of this module is to enable our students to gain knowledge about, and
an understanding of, the phenomenon being studied. We also want you to form
certain attitudes and adopt certain values, as well as gain general and specific skills in
order to expand your conception of criminology.
It is our intention to encourage you as learners to think critically. We wish to
accompany you on your journey towards
. expanding your knowledge and concepts
. forming certain attitudes and adopting certain values
. acquiring skills
Regarding the expanding of knowledge and conceptual areas, our objective is to lead
you to a closer acquaintance with
. factors which increase the risk of crime
. explanations of crime
. theoretical approaches to crime prevention
