Ch. 1 - Intro To Criminal Behaviour

Question 1

Classical theory ( Modern deterrence theory)

Answer 1

Argues that the decision to commit crime is largely a result of free will.

• people will be less likely to commit a crime if there is punishment

Ex. Deterrence through surveillance cameras, harsh sentences, etc.

Question 2

Positivist theory

Answer 2

Argues that crime is a result of social, psychological, and biological influences.

Early examples: race, sex, size of brain.

Question 3

Strain theory & General Strain Theory

Answer 3

Strain theory: Robert K. Merton (1957) argued that pressure derived from social factors, such as lack of income or education, drives individuals to commit crime

General Strain Theory: Robert Agnew revised the original strain theory and argued that when people experience strain, they may respond with crime in order to alleviate the strain and related emotions.

• General strain theory focuses more on emotions than accumulation of wealth, power, status

Question 4

Social control theory

Answer 4

Travis Hirschi’s social control theory contends that crime occurs when the socialization that holds one’s basic human nature in check is incomplete or faulty.

• people’s “bad” innate tendencies must be controlled by society

Question 5

Self-control theory

Answer 5

Travis Hirschi & Michael Goffredson’s self-control theory says that a deficit of self-control or self-regulation is the key factor in explaining crime and delinquency.

Question 6

3 theoretical perspectives on Human nature

Answer 6

Conformity perspective:
Human beings are “good” people trying to live to their full potential.

Nonconformist perspective:
Assumes that humans are undisciplined and without the constraints of rules and regulations in society, would commit crime indiscriminately.

Learning perspective:
Human beings are born neutral and are subject to developmental changes throughout the life course.

Question 7

Differential association theory

Answer 7

Edwin H. Sutherland argues criminal behaviour is learned, as is all social behaviour, through social interactions with other people.

• Crime is not the result of mental illness, emotional disturbance, innate qualities of “good” or “bad”

Question 8

4 approaches to psychological criminology

Answer 8

1. Cognitive approach - attitudes, beliefs, values, thoughts that people hold about the social environment, interrelations, human nature, and themselves.
2. Biological approach - studies violent behaviour through abnormalities in the brain
3. Developmental approach - examines the changes and influences across a person’s lifetime that may contribute to criminal behaviour.
4. Trait approach - assumes that people studying crime should look at the personality traits or variables underlying criminal behaviour.

Question 9

Developmental Approach - examples of risk factors and protective factors

Answer 9

Risk factors:

• poor nutrition
• loss of a parent
• early school failure
• substandard housing

Protective factors:

• caring adult mentor
• good social skills
• social connections
• social and emotional competence

Question 10

3 ways to measure crime

Answer 10

1. Official police reports:

• Uniformed Crime Reports (UCR)
• National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

2. Self-report studies
3. Victimization studies