CH 1. Introduction to Criminal Behavior Flashcards
Three Disciplines in Criminology
1) Sociological
2) Psychological
3) Psychiatric
What is Criminal Behavior
Behavior that is:
1) in violation of a criminal code
2) intentional
3) without justification or excuse
Root Causes of Crime
- Poverty
- Economic Inequality
- Uneven Educational Opportunities
Criminoloogy
The interdisciplinary scientific study of crime.
Just-World Hypothesis
“Just Worlders” believe tha the world is just (i.e. brings justice) and so people tend to get what they deserve in life. If someone does something bad, they should be punished accordingly.
They also tend to believe that the victims share in the fault of many crimes because “the victims must have done something to enable the crime in the first place.”
2 Types of Just-Worlders:
1) Personal Just-Worlder (good) – “I usually get what I deserve.” – tends to be a positive trait, considered adaptive and helpful in coping with dire circumstances in life.
2) General Just-Worlder (bad) – “Everyone usually gets what they deserve” – tends to be a negative trait because it shows less compassion for others and even derogation (demeaning) of the victims.
* Tend to be nonsupportive of social programs because they think the poor are poor because they deserve to be so.
Scientific Theory of Crime
Should systematically connect different social, economic, and psychological variables to criminal behavior, and be supported by legitimate research.
Theory Verification and Falsification
THEORY VERIFICATION is the process of testing a theory.
THEORY FALSIFICATION is determining that even a single proposition of a proposed theory is FALSE.
Ex: The theory that all child sex offenders were sexually abused as children would be FALSIFIED as soon as one nonabused offender was found.
Model
Graphic representation of a concept designed to enhance its understanding
Classical Theory (Also known as ‘Deterrence Theory’)
Keywords: “FREE WILL”
A Theory of Crime that emphasizes FREE WILL – people choose their behavior by WEIGHING the PLEASURE vs the PAIN of partaking in a given behavior (Cesare Beccaria 1738 - 1794)
If the pain is greater than the pleasure, then the behavior is avoided.
Those who follow this believe that punishment for criminal behavior should be severe in order to keep the PAIN greater than the POTENTIAL pleasure.
Positivist Theory
Keywords: “CAUSES OTHER THAN FREE WILL ALONE”
A Theory of Crime that emphasizes Determinism (that everything is already determined and that free will does not exist and thus, cannot explain behavior – Instead, prior experiences or influences (poverty, abuse, etc.) determine how we act. (Lombroso 1876).
Many Modern Theories fall under this category because they search for causes beyond free will. (such as conditions of upbringing, abuse, criminal parents, etc.)
3 Perspectives on Human Nature
1) CONFORMITY PERSPECTIVE – (Strain Theory) – Says that people are basically GOOD and are influenced by the VALUES of SOCIETY
2) NONCONFORMIST PERSPECTIVE – (Social Control Theory, General Theory of Crime) Says people are UNDISCIPLINED CREATURES whose bad behavior is constrained only by the RULES of SOCIETY.
3) LEARNING PERSPECTIVE – (Social Learning Theory, Differential Association Theory) – Says humans are born NEUTRAL and all of their behaviors are LEARNED from others and their environment.
CONFORMITY PERSPECTIVE
CONFORMITY PERSPECTIVE – (Strain Theory) – Says that people are basically GOOD and are influenced by the VALUES of SOCIETY
NONCONFORMIST PERSPECTIVE
NONCONFORMIST PERSPECTIVE – (Social Control Theory, General Theory of Crime) Says people are UNDISCIPLINED CREATURES whose bad behavior is constrained only by the RULES of SOCIETY.
LEARNING PERSPECTIVE
LEARNING PERSPECTIVE – (Social Learning Theory, Differential Association Theory) – Says humans are born NEUTRAL and all of their behaviors are LEARNED from others and their environment.
Strain Theory
Says that people want what others in their society want. Crime occurs when there is a discrepancy between the value placed on a goal by society (eg. wealth) and the individual’s legitimate opportunity to achieve that goal. (Conformist Perspective)
In other words, if society finds great value in attaining wealth, and someone is in a position where they feel they cannot possibly attain wealth by legitimate means (perhaps because they don’t have access to a good education or are abused or are discriminated against), then they are more likely to commit crimes to close that gap.
Social Control Theory
Says that crime occurs when the normal social structure that holds a person’s basic human nature in check, is broken. In other words, the individual has a warped sense of right and wrong relative to the rest of society – these faulty innate tendencies need to be controlled by society. (Nonconformist Perspective)
General Theory of Crime (Also known as Self-Control Theory)
Says that a LACK
of SELF-CONTROL or self-regulation is the key factor in explaining crime. (Nonconformist Perspective)
It is one of the more prominent perspectives in criminology today
Social Learning Theory
Emphasizes imitation of models and reinforcement of their behavior to determine their future behavior.
Differential Association Theory is the Criminal arm of this theory.
Differential Association Theory
Keywords: “People LEARN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR”
Says criminal behavior is learned through social interactions with other people. It is not the result of emotional disturbance, mental illness, or innate qualities of “goodness” or “badness.”
Rather, people learn to be criminal as a result of messages they get from
others who were also taught to be criminals. (Learning Perspective
3 Disciplinary Perspectives in Criminology
1) SOCIOLOGICAL CRIMINOLOGY – Examines the relationship of DEMOGRAPHICS (age, race, gender, socioeconomic status) to crime
2) PSYCHOLOGICAL CRIMINOLOGY – Examines the BEHAVIOR and MENTAL PROCESSES of criminals.
3) PSYCHIATRIC CRIMINOLOGY – Examines UNCONSCIOUS causes for human behavior. Looks at BIOCHEMICAL and NEUROLOGICAL conditions of the individual to explain behavior (Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive, etc.)
