Criminology Chapter One Terms

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criminology

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The scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior

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criminologists

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Researchers who use scientific methonds to study the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior

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criminal justice

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Refers to the study of the agencies of social control (police, courts, and corrections)

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scientific method

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Using verifiable principles and procedures for the systematic acquisition of knowledge; typically involves formulating a problem, creating a hypothesis, and collecting data through observation and experiment to verify the hypothesis

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phrenologist

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A scientist who studied the shape of the skull and bumps on the head to determine whether these physical attributes are linked to criminal behavior; phrenologists believed that external cranial characteristics dictate which areas of the brain control physical activity

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utilitarianism

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The view that people's behavior is motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain

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classical criminology

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The theoretical perspective suggesting that (1) people have free will to choose criminal or conventional behaviors; (2) people choose to commit crime for reasons of greed or personal need; and (3) crime can be controlled only by the fear of criminal sanctions

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positivism

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The branch of social science that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences and suggests that human behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological, or economic forces

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physiognomist

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A scientist who studied the facial features of criminals to determine whether the shape of ears, nose, and eyes and the distance between them are associated with antisocial behavior

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psychopathic personality

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A personality characterized by a lack of warmth and feeling, inappropriate behavior responses, and an inability to learn from experience. Some psychologists view psychopathy as a result of childhood trauma; others see it as a result of biological abnormality

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atavistic anomalies

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According to Lombroso, the physical characteristics that distiguish bron criminals from the general population and are throwbacks to animals or primitive people

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biological determinism

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A belief that criminogenic traits can b e acquired through indirect heredity from a degenerate family whose members suffered from such ills as insanity, syphilis, and alcoholism, or through direct heredity-being related to a family of criminals

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criminal anthropology

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Early efforts to discover a biological asis of crime through measurement of physical and mental processes

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biosocial theory

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An approach to ciminology that focuses on the interaqction between biological and social factors as they relate to a crime

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cartographic school of criminology

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An approach developed in Europe in the early nineteenth century making use of social statistics to provide important demographic information on the population, including density, gender, religious affiliations, and wealth. Many of the relationships between crime and social phenomena identified then still serrve as a basis for criminology today

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anomie

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A condition produced by normalessness. Because of rapidly shifting moral values, the individual has few guides to what is socially acceptable. According to Merton, anomie is a condition that occurs when personal goals cannot be achieved by available means. In Agnew's revision, anomie can occure when positive or valued stimulie are removed or negative or painful ones applied

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Chicago School

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Group of urban sociologists who studied the relationship between environmental conditions and crime

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social ecology

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Environmental forces that have a direct influence on human behavior

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social psychology

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The study of human interactions and relationships, emphasizing such issues as group dynamics and socialization

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socialization

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Process of human development and enculturation. Socialization is influenced by key social processes and institutions

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ecological view

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A belief that social forces operating in urban areas create criminal interactions; some neighborhoods become natural areas for crime

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socialization view

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One view is that people learn criminal attitudes from older, more experienced law violators. Another view is that crime occurs when children develop an inadequate self-image, which renders them incapable of controlling their own misbehavior. Both of these views link criminality to the failure of socialization, the interactions people have with the various individuals, organizations, institutions, and processes of society that help them mature and develop

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bourgeoisie

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In Marxist theory, the owners of the means of production; the capitalist ruling class

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proletariat

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A term used by Marx to refer to the working class members of society who produce goods and services but who do not own the means of production

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rational choice

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The view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act

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criminological enterprise

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The areas of study and research that taken together make up the field of criminology. Criminologists typically specialize in one of the subareas of criminology, such as victimology or the sociology of law

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crime typology

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The study of criminal behavior involving research on the links between different types of crime and criminals. Because people often disagree about types of crimes and criminal motivation, no standard exists within the field. Some typologies focus on the criminal, suggesting the existence of offender groups, such as professional criminals and so on. Ohters focus on the crimes, clustering them into categories such as property crimes, sex crimes, and so on

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consensus view

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The belief that the majority of citizens in a society share common ideals and work toward a common good and that crimes are acts that are outlawed because they conflict with the rules of the majority and are harmful to society

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substantive criminal law

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A body of specific rules that declare what conduct is criminal and prescribe the punishment to be imposed for such conduct

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social harm

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A view that behaviors harmful to other people and society in general must be controlled. These acts are usually outlawed, but some acts that cause enormous amounts of social harm are perfectly legal, such as the consumption of tobacco and alcohol

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deviant behavior

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Behavior that departs from the social norm

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conflict view

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The view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and that those who maintain social power will use it to further their own needs

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interactionist view

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the view that one's perception of reality is significantly influenced by one's interpretations of the reactions of others to similar events and stimuli

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stigmatize

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To apply negative labeling with enduring effects on a person's self image and social interactions

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moral entrepreneurs

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Interest gorups that attempt to control social life and the legal order in such a wasy as to promote their own personal set or moral values. People who use their influence to shape the legal process in ways they see fit

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common law

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Early Englis law, developed by judges, that incorporated Anglo-Saxon tribal custom, feudal rules and practices, and the everyday rules of behavior of local villages. Common law became the standardized law of the land in England and eventually formed the basis of the criminal law in the United States

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mala in se

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Acts that are outlawed because they violate basic moral values, such as rape, murder, assault, and robbery

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mala prohibitum

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Acts that are outlawed because they clash with current norms and public opinion, such as tax, traffic, and drug laws

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statutory crimes

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Crimes defined by legistative bodies in response to changing social conditions, public opinion and custom

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stalking statutes

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Laws that prohitit "the willful, malicious, and repeated following and harassing of another person"