In criminology, which paradigm emphasizes the influence of societal factors on individuals?

The correct answer to the question about the paradigm in criminology that emphasizes the influence of societal factors on individuals is structuralism. This perspective focuses on the way that social structures and institutions shape individual behavior, suggesting that societal factors such as class, race, gender, and economic conditions play a critical role in influencing individuals' actions and choices.

Structuralism recognizes that individual behavior cannot be fully understood in isolation; instead, it must be viewed in the context of the larger social framework. This paradigm examines how systemic issues and social hierarchies contribute to criminal behavior, maintaining that the roots of crime are often found in the societal structures that individuals inhabit.

Positivism, while also considered a significant paradigm in criminology, tends to focus on the idea that behavior can be understood through observable phenomena and scientific analysis, often leaning towards biological and psychological factors rather than societal influences. Interactionism, on the other hand, emphasizes the social interactions and meanings that individuals derive from their societal context but does not focus as deeply on how broader societal structures affect behavior. Behaviorism prioritizes the study of behavioral responses to stimuli and does not inherently emphasize social context or structures. This highlights why structuralism is the most appropriate answer for the influence of societal factors on individual behavior in crimin