Criminology: Trait Theory

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cesare lombroso

Back 1

physical and mental traits that make people different
-enviormemt and diet not genetic

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sociobiology

Back 2

human behaviour is inborn biological urges to survive and preserve species

Front 3

trait theory

Back 3

criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychoogical traits

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contemproy trait theory

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each offender is physically and mentally unique so there must be differnet expl;anations

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trait theorists

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believe that having particular physical characeristic doesnt produce criminlity, crime producing interactions involve both personal traits (defective intelligence, impulsive personality and abnormal brain chemistry)

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biochem: diet

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healthful diet can provide minimal minerals and chemicals for brain functioning that may lead to anti social behaviour

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biochem:bad diets

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-high risk of psych problems
-contribute to rising rates of mentally ill and antisocial behaviour
-hypogleycemia is realted to violent and impulsive offenders

Front 8

biochem: hormone

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abnormal levels of male sex hormone (androgens) produce aggressive behaviour.
-testosterone has been linked to crimnality

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androgens

Back 9

male sex hormones

Front 10

testosterone

Back 10

principal male hormone

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biochem: lead exposure

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linked to mental illness. locals with highest levels of lead have high level of homicide

Front 12

neurophysiology

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study of brain activity
-neurological impairment reduces self control, linked to seral murder

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neuro phy:conduct disorder

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-a pattern of repetitive behaviour in which rights of others are social norms .. linked to lack of empathy or guilt.

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neuro phy:ADHD

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lack of attention, a lot with ADHD suffere from conduct disorder

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neuro phy: brain chemistry

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low levels of monoamine oxidase (MAO) is linked to levels of violence and property crime.
-females naturally have higher levels of MAO

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arousal theory

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people seek to maintain preferred level of arousal but vary in how they process sensory input.. all of us seek to optimal level of arousal.. some have more nerve cells.. some people with low heart rate more likely to commit crime to increase

Front 17

genes:adoption studies

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mz twins: identical
contagion effect: people become deviant when influenced by others in close contact (including twins) e.g antisocial siblings

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evolution and gender crime

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reproductive aggressiveness may explay why women of childbearing age are main targets of crime

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biological side of trait theory

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people carry potential to be violent or antisocial and envrionment can trigger response

(don't confuse with lombroso)
-no relationship between sugar intake and crime

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psych trait

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gabriel tarde: 'defective intelligence' involved traits like epilepsy, insanity can be linked to crime

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psychodynamic

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id: present at birth (food, sex)(instant gratification)
ego:early childhood and considers others in social conention
superego:moral standards and values

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attachment theory

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bowlby- emotional bond to another is important for mental health, failure to devlop attachment may result in psych disorders

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beahviour theory

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all human behaviour is learned through reward and punishment

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social learning theory

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people learn to be aggressive by observing others

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social learning theorists

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view violence as something learned through behaviour modelling:
1) family interaction 2) environment 3)mass media (video games)

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behaviour modelling

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process of learning behaviour by observing others ( aggressive models may be parents)

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cognitive theory

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mental processes by which people perceive and represent world around them and solve problems
james and titchener

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information processing theory

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focuses on how people process, store and encore, retreve information to problem solves

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errors in cognition and information processing

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-linked to child abusers

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personality traits

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-impulsivity, narcissism etc are linked to criminals and antisocial behaviour..

PEN model links,.extro version (enthusiastic) introversion(quiet-low key) are linked to antsocial behaviour

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psychopathic personality

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antisocial personality: traits that make a person prone to deviance behaviour. (socio or psycho path)
-low levels of arousal in ANS
-raise general arousal level

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low iq

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cause criminality

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nature theory

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intelligence is determined by genetic and low intelligence is linked to criminals

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nurture theory

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intelligence is not inherited

Front 35

the link of iq and crime

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is low

Front 36

mental disorders and crime

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there is a genetic predisposition, antisocial behaviour has been linked to mental instability

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mood disorder

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emotional mood is distorted or inappropriate for circumstance

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oppoisitional defiant disorder (ODD)

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pattern of negative, hostile, deviant behaviour when child loses temer and refuses to comply and deliberately annoy others and blaming others

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social policy and trait theory

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primary prevention programs: seek personal problems before manifest into crime.
secondary prevention program:provide treatment like counseling after they violated law.