Introduction

· Emerge in 19th and 20th Century

· Based on science

· Rejection of free will

· Focus on criminal behavior and the causes of crime (behavioral)

· Psychological, biological, economical, political, sociological, historical .etc.

· Definition of Positive School

· 1) Crime is predetermined

· 2) Distinct set of causes

· 3) Use the scientific method to locate

· Measurement becomes a important and central feature

 

Social Heritage

· Turn of century; time of invention and discovery

· Revolution in knowledge

· Science was a major tool in every discipline

· Industrial revolution (Science and discovery help facilitated)

· Advances in communication (Transfer of information intra and intercultural)

· Key Historical Events

· Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, Automobile, Airplane, Electric Power, Advances in medicine

· Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud

· Application of science to solve everyday problem (issues, academic, political, business .etc)

· Notion of perfecting humanity through science

· Moving from a agricultural to and industrial society

· We no longer feared government like in the past

· Industrial revolution and cities equal more free time

· Focus on social problems

 

Intellectual Heritage

· Classical thinking allowed for positivist school

· Test and systematically experience rather than pure reasoning

· Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution

· Einstein and the Theory of Evolution (Criminals were not fully involved)

· Rise of anthropology and the idea of primitive societies

· Freud and the Mind

 

Positivistic Assumptions

1. World operates in a cause and effect operation

2. Uncover the operation with science (systematic observation)

3. Social problems can be remedied through science

4. Human existence is perfectible (Can be better)

5. Criminal behavior is the product of abnormalities (Internal and External)

6. Find the abnormalities by comparing normal with the abnormal (Control group)

7. Duty of criminology to correct problems

8. Treatment is desirable for the individual and society

9. Purpose of sanction is not to punish but to treat

 

Summary

1. Crime is predetermined

2. Distinct set of causes

3. Use of scientific methods to locate the causes

 

Key Figures

 

1) Auguste Compete

· First Sociologist (French Philosopher)

· Believed in applying science to social problems

 

2) Quetelet and Guerry

· First positivists

· First scientific studies of crime

· Focused on the problem of measurement

 

3) Cesare Lombroso

· Italian

· 2nd positivist

· Father of modern criminology