All Definitions

Question 1

Anger management

Answer 1

Therapy that aims to reduce criminal behaviour by identifying anger and aggressive behaviour and teaching alternatives to cope. For example learning meditation techniques.

Question 2

Atavistic form

Answer 2

An approach to explain criminal behaviour, historically. This theory suggests criminal behaviour could be a result of genes, and therefore some individuals were predisposed to commit crimes. This theory further claimed to be able to identify criminals from the shape of their skulls, and that criminals were more primitive due to their inclination to commit crimes.

Question 3

Cognitive distortions

Answer 3

Faulty cognitions that lead to irrational thoughts

Question 4

Custodial sentencing

Answer 4

A punishment that aims to reduce criminal behaviour, via sentencing in court for either prison or some other institute.

Question 5

Differential association theory

Answer 5

A theory that suggests that criminal behaviour develops through experiences and association with other criminal behaviours.

Question 6

Disorganised offender

Answer 6

This is a term used to describe offenders who are more likely to have committed the crime impulsively. This would be implied through a discarded body and various evidence left at the scene. These types of offenders are typically of low intelligence, not confident and have poor rates of employment.

Question 7

Eysenck’s theory (of criminal personality)

Answer 7

This theory suggested that criminal behaviour was a result of certain personality traits, such as high extraversion and neuroticism.

Question 8

Geographical profiling

Answer 8

An investigative method to identify an offender. By noting all the areas a certain crime took place, the location of the offender is predicted since an offender usually will not travel too far to commit crimes.

Question 9

Hostile attribution bias

Answer 9

A form of cognitive distortion which may explain some criminal behaviour. Specifically, this is when a person interprets someone else’s behaviour as hostile, in spite of it not being so. For example, misinterpreting a neutral face to be upset/angry.

Question 10

Level of moral reasoning

Answer 10

A theory for criminal behaviour which suggests it arises due to an immature sense of what is right or wrong. According to this theory, moral reasoning develops in stages.

Question 11

Minimalisation

Answer 11

A form of cognitive distortion which may explain some criminal behaviour. This is when an offender reduces the severity of their crimes. For example using language like “they were asking for it” or avoiding using terms like “rape”.

Question 12

Offender profiling

Answer 12

A technique used to identify possible offenders which involves creating a “profile” which contains possible traits of the offender. These traits are inferred from the way the crime was committed.

Question 13

Organised offender

Answer 13

This refers to offenders who have planned the crime; which is implied through hiding the body and removing the weapon. These types of offenders are typically highly intelligent.

Question 14

Recidivism

Answer 14

To re-offend

Question 15

Restorative justice programmes

Answer 15

Programmes that aim to reduce criminal behaviour by introducing the offender to the victim/victim’s family. This gives the victim the opportunity to reach catharsis and the criminal to confront the consequences of their actions.

Question 16

Top-down approach

Answer 16

A technique used for offender profiling, which involves looking at previous similar cases and the criminals responsible. Thus, some common traits can be identified, which are probably exhibited by the current offender as well.