Criminology Midterm

Front 1

4 perspectives of crime:

Back 1

Legalistic
Political
Sociological
Psychological

Front 2

Legalistic Perspective:

Back 2

Human conduct in violation of the laws of a state, the govt, or local jurisdiction

Front 3

Political Perspective:

Back 3

Result of criteria built into the law by powerful groups & used to label certain forms of behavior as illegal

Front 4

Sociological Perspective:

Back 4

Crime is an antisocial act & its repression is necessary to the preservation of society. Antisocial behavior is not always against the law.

Front 5

Crime & Deviance definitions and relationship:

Back 5

Crime: Violation of law
Deviance: Violation of social norm

Crime is not always deviant, deviance is not always a crime. Very few are both.

Front 6

Describe 2 contrasting perspectives on how society decides what behaviors will be criminalized

Back 6

•Pluralist: through political process, after debate over course of actions (majority rules). Most applicable to diverse societies.
•Consensus: laws are enacted to criminalize forma of behaviors when agreed upon by society. Most applicable to homogeneous societies.

Front 7

How do theories in criminology influence social policy?

Back 7

Social policy theories should be based off of research. The public's concern determines social policy. Theories are attempts at preventing crime.

Front 8

Social problems philosophy:
Social responsibility philosophy:

Back 8

SP: Crime is the result of issues in society (discrimination, poverty,etc.). Goal: address social issues and crime, then there will be less crime. Macro approach.
SR: People are responsible for own behavior & choosing to commit crime. Attempts to personalize crime reduction strategies. Micro approach.

Front 9

What is meant by, "Crime is socially relative?"

Back 9

Social events are interpreted differently according to cultural experiences & personal interests of observer, initiator, & behavior recipient.

Front 10

Primary research:
Secondary research:

Back 10

P: original & new; never done before to answer specific question or solve issue. Time consuming & expensive.
S: New perspective of original research; new use of previous info; most common modern research.

Front 11

4 stages of research:

Back 11

1. Problem ID: what you study
2. Development of research design: logic & structure gathering data
3. Choice of data collection techniques: data gathering strategies (surveys, case study, part. observ.)
4. Review of Findings: Data subject to some form of statistical analysis.

Front 12

5 main data gathering strategies:

Back 12

1. Surveys: questionnaires in person, on phone, through email, mail.
2. Case Studies: in depth research to indiv. cases
3. Participant Observation: observer includes self in group activities, either undercover or not.
4. Self Reporting: subjects report their behaviors such as crime
5. Secondary Analysis: analyzing previous studies done

Front 13

Quantitative research:

Qualitative research:

Back 13

Quan: Measurable results that can be analyzed statistically. (EX: rate pain 0-10)
Qual: subjective results, difficult to quantify. (EX: therapist asking if happy all the time)

Front 14

Obstacles keeping results of crime studies from becoming crime control policies?

Back 14

Researchers are not aware and choose to not pay attention. We need results now.

Front 15

Why do we study crime?

Back 15

Attempt to determine theories as to why criminals choose to commit crimes; making crime prevention techniques more effective

Front 16

Major Principals of the Classical School:

Back 16

•Humans are rational; behavior is result of free will & choice.
•Pain & pleasure are central determinants for human behavior.
•Some human rights are inherent in nature of things.
•Principals of right & wrong are inherent to nature of things.
•Society requires indiv. to forfeit some benefits.
•Punishment deters law violators & is an example to others.

Front 17

Mala en se:
Mala prohibita:

Back 17

en se: Acts fundamentally wrong regardless of time or place. Does not require law to be considered wrong. (EX: killing, stealing, rape, assault)

prohibita: Acts wrong only because prohibited by law. (EX: speed limit, text while driving)

Front 18

Cesare Beccaria & Jeremy Bentham's ideas -> todays CRJU system

Back 18

•Proportionality = fit punishment to crime
•deterrence & prevention (minimum punishment)
•punishment should be severe enough to outweigh personal benefits of crime
•should be swift & certain
•public, prompt, necessary, directed by law

Front 19

3 conditions necessary for criminal activity based on Routine Activities Theory:

Back 19

1.) Motivated offender: one who decided benefits outweigh costs. Willing & ready if opportunity comes.
2.) Suitable Target: vulnerable one offender has chosen to commit crime against
3.) Absence of Capable Guardians: Anyone who could possible prevent crime from happening

Front 20

Routine Activities Theory:

Back 20

Lifestyle & changes in society contribute to crime rates.
EX: being attacked when walking to car at night

Front 21

Situational Choice Theory prevents crime by:

Back 21

•changing the environment
•increase crime risks
•reduce rewards
•reduce provocations
•remove rationalizations
•reduce opportunities
(describe each)

Front 22

Specific deterrence:
General deterrence:

Back 22

sp: focuses on offender. Seeks to prevent certain offender from repeat criminality.

gen: works by example. seeks to prevent others from committing crimes similar to one by an imprisoned offender.

Front 23

Policies of CRJU system that reflect the Classical School of criminology:

Back 23

•Determinate Sentencing: specific & fixed amount of time to be served for each category of crime.
•Truth in Sentencing: requires judges to publicly announce time offender is likely to serve.
•Incapacitation: imprisonment to reduce recidivism.
•3 strike laws
•Capitol punishment
•mandatory sentences
•Increasing punishment decreases crime

Front 24

3 criticisms of the Classical Theories:

Back 24

•More of a philosophy of justice than theory of crime causation
•essentially doesn't explain criminal motivation
•very little scientific basis of classical school claims

Front 25

Principals of biological theories:

Back 25

•Brain is the organ of the mind & locus of personality
•Human conduct is rooted in instinct
•behavioral determinants may be inherited
•roots of human conduct have been disguised
•behavioral determinants are constitutionally or genetically inherited

•consists of heredity, biology, & social environment
•some behavior inherited from more primitive devel. stages

Front 26

Contributions of Cesare Lomborso & Ativism explaining behavior:

Back 26

Ativism: states criminality is the result of primitive urges from evo. process.
Atavistic indiv. are throwbacks to a more primitive biological state.
•Believed female criminality derived from ativism & they had masculine features
•introduced term "criminoloids" (occasional criminals)
•first criminologist to suggest characteristics can be predicted

Front 27

4 body types William Sheldon associated w/ personality temperaments:

Back 27

1.) Endomorph: soft, round, overweight, & sociable
2.) Mesomorph: athletic, muscular; likely to be associated with delinquency.
3.) Ectomorph: thin, fragile, shy, & inhibited; antisocial crimes (internet)
4.) Balanced Type: average build

Front 28

Research connecting food consumption & criminal behavior:

Back 28

•hypoglycemia & murder linked
•low blood sugar = mind can't reason effectively
•lower glucose levels in prefrontal cortex of murderers
•allergic reactions = brain swelling
•allergies reduce childhood learning
•some food additives linked to violence
•caffeine & sugar trigger antisocial behavior
•vitamins may have impact on behavior
•artificial dyes & MSG affects brain & decision making

Front 29

Relationship between hormones & crime:

Back 29

•Testosterone = agressiveness (men & women)
•androgens = aggression in boys
•possible link of criminality to PMS
•imbalance of serotonin & dopamine linked to psychopathic traits.
•Cortisol & T3 implicated delinquincy

Front 30

How does sociobiology account for criminality & what are some criticisms:

Back 30

States that main determinant for behavior is need to ensure survival & continuity of genetics through generations.
Criticisms:
•fails to consider culture
•fundamentally wrong in deception of basic human nature
•rationalizes labeling & stigmatization of minorities
•humans different from animals to apply findings from animal studies

Front 31

Policy implications of Biological theories:

Back 31

Crime prevention program:
•pre & post natal care
•monitoring children through development
•neurological exams
•bio research in prisons & treatment facilities

•concern = possible reemergence of eugenics movement
•links between race & crime = criticisms

Front 32

Criticisms of biological theories:

Back 32

•Myths of blank slate, noble savage, & ghost in machine.
•possible modern eugenics movement
•twin studies misclassify twins as monozygotic/dizygotic
•methodological problems
•research outside US not applicable in US

Front 33

Difference between forensic psychology & forensic psychiatry:

Back 33

psychology: Application of science & psych to questions & issues relating to the law.

psychiatry: A medical subspecialty applying psychiatry to crime prev & solu., rehab, & law

Front 34

Major principals of Psychological theories:

Back 34

•Individual is primary unit analysis
•Personality is major motivation element
•Crime results from abnormal, dysfunctional mental processes in personality
•Crim. behavior may be purposeful for indiv.; addresses felt needs
•Normality defined by social consensus
•Defective/abnormal mental processes may have a variety of causes

Front 35

Difference between psychopathy:
& A psychopath/sociopath:

Back 35

p: Personality disorder defined by antisocial behavior & lack of affect (no emotions)

p/s: Indiv. w/ personality disorder, in antisocial behavior, lacking empathy

Front 36

Psychopathic characteristics:

Back 36

•superficial charm & good intelligence
•no nervousness
•chronic lying
•unreliability
•self-centeredness
•inability to love
•inability to feel guilt/shame
•failure to follow life plan
•antisocial behavior

Front 37

early psychopathic characteristics:

Back 37

•lying
•fighting
•animal cruelty
•stealing
•vandalism
•fire setting
•bed wetting
•sleepwalking

Front 38

Antisocial/asocial personality:

Back 38

•unsocialized & behavior brings them to repeated conflicts w/ society.
•suffering from ASPD
•blames others
•constant recidivism

Front 39

Difference between psychoanalysis:
& psychotherapy:

Back 39

ana: Finding out what happened; inadequesies inherent in offender's personality.

ther: Getting help for what happened; attempt to relieve patients from mental disorders. Time consuming & multiple reasons for behavior.

Front 40

Structure of personality
ID:
EGO:
SUPEREGO:

Back 40

ID: based on pleasure; spontanious & unconscious. Can never be fully satisfied.

EGO: based on reality; maximum pleasure w/ minimum pain.

SUPER: based on ethical; guilt present if not satisfied.

Front 41

Neurosis vs. psychosis:

Back 41

N: In touch with reality, but anxious/fearful in situations.

P: mental illness characterized by lack of contact w/ reality

Front 42

Displacement:

Back 42

Taking anger out on something/someone that was not the original source for the frustration

Front 43

Catharsis:

Back 43

satisfying an aggressive urge by watching others.

Front 44

Modeling theory:

Back 44

Imitation & modeling in shaping behavior.
•people in close contact imitate behavior
•moves from top down
•new acts either reinforce or replace old ones
(EX: bobo doll experiment)

Front 45

3 social learning factors:

Back 45

frequency, situations, & targets selected

Front 46

Disengagement:

Back 46

How people not typically involved in crime justify their actions

Front 47

Behavior Theory:

Back 47

•determined by environmental consequences produced
•rewards & punishments
•responses linked to stimuli
•criticized for ignoring cognition in human behavior
•finding out what motivates someone
•stimulus + response = change in behavior

Front 48

3 forms of attachment:

Back 48

1.) Secure: healthy.
2.) Anxious-avoidant: rejection; lack of confidence
3.) Anxious-resistant: uncertain; caregiver is unreliable, child clings to them

Front 49

4 types of self control:

Back 49

1.) Impulsive control: resisting drugs, violence, etc.
2.) Control over mind contents: suppressing thoughts
3.) Control over emotional & mood states: your reactions
4.) Performance control: persistence after failing

Front 50

Stability theory:

Back 50

self control develops early in childhood & persists over time

Front 51

Legal definition of insanity, & psych definition

Back 51

Legal: inability to understand right & wrong, and to conform behavior to law. Absence of Mens Rea.

Psych: persistent mental disorder or derangement

Front 52

Mens Rea/Guilty Mind:

Back 52

Premeditation; reckless; negligent; what one should have known was dangerous/against law.

Front 53

GBM& 3 requirements:

Back 53

responsible for crime, even though mental incompetence is present.
•proven without doubt
•mentally ill at time of crime
•not found legally insane

this was result of people becoming angry of criminals getting by w/o punishment

Front 54

NGRI Requirements:

Back 54

•mandatory psychological/psychiatric exam & hearing
•committed if release creates risk to people/property

•discharged when recovered from mental illness

Front 55

Psychological Profiling:

Back 55

predicting behavior of offenders based on behavioral clues provided.
•clarifies offender's characteristics, motivations, & future behavior
•profilers cannot identify a specific person as offender, only their behavioral characteristics, motive, and male/female or age/race.`