Positivism

Sociological Theories of Deviance

Sociology 3305

UMD

POSITIVISTIC CRIMINOLOGY

POSITIVISM --
Aimed toward elimination of crime through the systematic application of the scientific method. Investigations are based on legal terms and related statistics. The attempt is made to discover law-like generalities.

Definition:
A philosophical approach, theory, or system based on the view that in the social as well as in the natural sciences sense experiences and their logical and mathematical treatment are the exclusive source of all worthwhile information. Introspective and intuitional attempts to gain knowledge are rejected.
Assumptions:
  1. Scientific method, the measurement, objectivity, neutrality, causality and determinism of crime and criminals.
  2. Consensual model of the political reality and structure of society as it is. This is assumed as given.
  3. Focus on the actor not the act.
  4. Reification of the social world. Such constructs as society and state are anthropomorphized - "state" acts and thinks.
  5. The individual is not responsible for his or her actions. The criminal is radically different form the non-criminal. The criminal is moved by forces which s/he is unaware.
  6. Punishment is inapplicable. Treatment of indeterminate length is posed.
  7. Experts have the superior cognitive ability to determine when scientific treatment has occurred and the person cured.


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