Chap 7 SG Flashcards
Social process theories
criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others, and that crime is a result of ongoing social processes
Social development theories
focuses on how people learn to commit crimes through social interactions
Learning theory
a person is likely to commit criminal activity if they are surrounded by others involved in criminal behaviors
Differential association
criminality is learned through a process by exposure to others who communicate criminal values and advocate the commission of crimes
Social control theory
explains how society influences people to act in certain ways, and how a lack of social connection can lead to criminal behavior
Containment
is a stabilizing force that blocks the pull of temptation from leading a life of crime. Can be a suitable guardian or the voice in your head (outer/inner)
Social bond
are the links created through individuals and the society we are part of
General theory of crime (GTC)
Low self-control accounts for all crimes all the time.
• All crimes. So homicide, vandalism, statutory rape, embezzlement—all have the same cause
Control ratio
is the amount of control a person is subjected to vs the amount of control you exert over others. This can help predict not only whether or not you will offend but also what offenses you’ll commit
Labeling theory (social reaction theory)
A perspective that sees continued crime as a consequence of limited opportunities for acceptable behavior that follow from the negative responses of society to those defined as offenders
Tagging
you offend and get caught you will be marked as the bad unredeemable human being by your peers
Primary deviance
the first time someone commits an act of deviance, which is a behavior that goes against social norms
Secondary deviance
when a person continues to act in a deviant way due to the labels society has given them
Moral entrepreneurs
individuals, groups, or organizations that attempt to influence society to adopt or enforce a social norm
Prosocial bonds
social connections that can discourage criminal activity
Human development
Communities - why safe or not?
Schools - why do some have poor performance?
Peers - who are you hanging out with?
Families - what are their role models like?
Individual differences - what factors put kids at risk of anti-social behaviors?
Social development perspective
4 dimensions:
Participation—those who are criminally active
Frequency—number of crimes committed per (unit of time)
Duration—length of your criminal career.
Seriousness—self-explanatory.
Life-course criminology
a criminological theory that studies how criminal behavior develops over a person’s life
Criminal career
the series of crimes committed by a person over time
Life-course theory
a way to explain why some people are more likely to commit crimes. It focuses on how social structures and processes impact criminal behavior
Human agency
a person’s capacity to act freely, make choices, and intentionally pursue a desired outcome
Turning points
crucial life experiences that change behavior in a criminal career (natural disasters/COVID-19)
Social capital
a theory that suggests that social networks and connections within a community can influence criminal behavior
Life-course persistent offenders (LCPs)
are individuals who start committing crimes at a young age and continue to do so well into adulthood
Adolescence-limited offenders
individuals who primarily engage in delinquent behavior during their teenage years, but typically desist from criminal activity as they transition into adulthood
Persistence (persisters)
When people don’t age out of crime
Desistence
is when they stop (it can be aided or unaided)
Interactional theory
a sociological framework that explains how societal forces interact with deviant individuals to cause antisocial behavior
What are the four components of the social bond?
-Attachment
-Commitment
-Involvement
-Belief
How does a label affect a wrongly accused person?
It might turn them to a life of crime because of this new label and/or creates a bad self image
What affects if someone is an adolescence-limited offender vs a life course persister?
life course persisters exhibiting early signs of delinquency that continue into adulthood, while adolescence-limited offenders are involved in criminal activity during their adolescence/teenage years
What turning points in life have the biggest effects on delinquency?
work, marriage, and parenting
