Criminology in Relation to Sociology Research Paper

Law enforcement relies on the science of criminology because the job is used to study crimes and criminals in order to prevent crime. Rather than studying data alone, criminologists rely on sociology to analyze society and its effect on criminals. There are varied theories about why people commit crimes, and all of these theories are based on the criminal’s thought process before, during, and after the crime. Similarly, sociologists study the social nature of individuals and groups of people, which is largely based on the thought processes of people that are in and related to society. The study of sociology focuses on the relationship between an individual and the society that he or she contributes to. Therefore, by studying this relationship, sociologists can determine the ways that society impacts the thoughts and actions of the individual. Criminologists utilize these same kinds of studies when they depend on sociology to study criminals and crimes. For instance, psychologist Hans Eysenck combined sociology, criminology, and his observations as a psychologist to come up with the frequently-used terms introvert and extrovert. Similarly modern-day criminology is a branch of sociology because it relies on factors such as psychology and consequence while relating to criminal justice and crime prevention.

All sciences must draw from other sciences, and criminology is considered an interdisciplinary science, meaning that it relates to other branches of science. Criminology relies on psychology regarding theories and everyday tasks, although this association is not to be confused with forensic psychology, which is a completely different application of similar studies. The study of criminology is founded on a few basic theories that depend on psychology for verification. According to “Criminology Theories: The Varied Reasons Why People Commit Crimes,” one of the commonly accepted theories about why people commit crimes is the ‘Conflict Theory.’ This theory states that crime is sometimes commited because of conflicts found in society, which are typically between different social classes or groups, and it also states that laws are only necessary because of these crimes (“Criminology Theories: The Varied Reasons Why People Commit Crimes”). Along with this, a person’s reason for crime can be categorized using the ‘Choice Theory.’ “Criminology Theories: The Varied Reasons Why People Commit Crimes” explains that this theory uses psychology to dissect a person’s reasoning and determine that the person will weigh the benefits against the possible outcomes and decide whether or not the punishment is worth the crime. The ‘Conflict Theory’ and the ‘Choice Theory’ along with other criminology theories that relate directly to sociology, were established because of psychological observations made about individuals and groups in their specific society and culture. The application of psychology studies was necessary when forming these theories, and therefore psychology is related to criminology. Criminologists also rely on psychology concepts to learn the basics of criminology and to examine the minds of criminals (Schmidl). According to Schmidl, “There is hardly any textbook on criminology or any more or less comprehensive book on its subject that lacks some references to psychology,” and “There had been little contact between criminological thinking and psychology until psychologists started to deal with the computation of ’mental age’ and of the I.Q. of delinquents and criminals.” Criminology depends on psychology as it is an interdisciplinary science, and criminologists utilize psychology to learn more about people who have committed crime or might commit crime in the future. After studying people using psychology concepts, criminologists can use these skills to find patterns and correlations among criminals and prison inmates (Schmidl). According to Schmidl, these observations are used to prevent future crimes and reform criminals. Psychology and sociology both study people, therefore criminology is related to sociology through its reliance on psychology.

Sociology and criminology are mutually relevant in the way that both studies regard deviance. In sociology, labels are placed on social groups and sociologists use these labels to find patterns related to the background and lifestyle of the people who act in conformity versus those who act in deviance. Deviance, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a state of difference compared to socially accepted standards. “Deviance in Sociology: Definition, Theories & Examples” explains that from the point of view of a sociologist, deviance can be seen as either positive or negative. This means that sociologists and criminologists search for patterns among social groups, whether the deviance is a crime or some other positive action that can promote or instigate social change. In the same way that crime is deviant from usual day-to-day behavior, patriotism following an event like the attack on the Twin Towers in September of 2001 is also deviant from typical behavior “Deviance in Sociology: Definition, Theories & Examples” states that “deviance, like conformity, is shaped by society.” Another theory that criminologists use to explain the origin of crime is the “Classical Theory.” According to “Criminology Theories: The Varied Reasons Why People Commit Crimes,” this theory offers the idea that a person commits crime because it is advantageous to them, even when they understand that they will face punishment if caught. This theory is derived from what John Locke believed, which is that all citizens choose to be governed by an unwritten contract based on a mutual need for the citizens to be protected and for the government to be supported (“Criminology Theories: The Varied Reasons Why People Commit Crimes”). This theory is widely accepted to be true, and for it to be accurate, it means that individuals choose to be deviant and commit crime. Sociology studies deviance in order to find patterns in society, and criminologist study deviance in order to further understand crime and criminals.

Criminology is related to sociology because of its dependence on psychology and its association with patterns and deviance. Although it branches off of sociology as a social science, criminology is actually an interdisciplinary science because it involves so many areas of knowledge and study. I originally believed that sociology related more to psychology and the study of individuals, but it is more closely to sociology and the study of groups and individuals in society and different cultures.

Works Cited

“Criminology Theories: The Varied Reasons Why People Commit Crimes.” Web log post.

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“Definition of Deviance.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 08 May 2016.

<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviance>.

“Deviance in Sociology: Definition, Theories & Examples.” Study.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May

<http://study.com/academy/lesson/deviance-in-sociology-definition-theories-examples.html>.

Heffner, Christopher L., Dr. “Hans Eysenck.” Hans Eysenck Biography. AllPsych. Web. 29 Apr.