chapter 3 Flashcards
anomie
the absence or weakness of rules, norms, or guidelines on what is socially or morally acceptable
antisocial personality
a personality characterized by a lack of warmth and feeling, inappropriate behavioral responses, and an inability to learn from experience. also called sociopath or psychopath
collective efficacy
a condition of mutual trust and cooperation that develops in neighborhoods that have a high level of formal and informal social control
criminology
the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior
critical criminology
the view that crime results because the rich and powerful impose their own moral standards and economic interests on the rest of society
culture of poverty
the view that people in the lower class of society form a separate culture with its own values and norms that are in conflict with those of conventional society
deterrent effect
the assumed ability of the threat of criminal sanctions to discourage crime before it occurs
developmental theories
a view of crime holding that as people travel through the life course, their experiences along the way influence their behavior patterns. behavior changes at each stage of the human experience
differential association theory
the view that criminal acts are related to a person’s exposure to antisocial attitudes and values
disinhibilition
unconstrained behavior resulting from a loss of inhibition via some external influence, such as drugs or alcohol, or from a brain injury
early onset
the beginning of antisocial behavior during early adolescence, after which criminal behavior is more likely to persist throughout the life span
focal concerns
central values and goals that, some sociological theorists believe, differ by social class
general deterrence
a crime control policy that depends on the fear of criminal penalties
latent trait theories
the view that human behavior is controlled by a master trait, present at birth or soon after, that influences and directs behavior
life course theories
the view that criminality is a dynamic process influenced by people’s perceptions and experiences throughout their lives, which may change their behavior for the better or worse
neurotransmitters
chemical substances that carry impulses from one nerve cell to another. Neurotransmitters are found in the space (synapse) that separates the transmitting neuron’s terminal (axon) from the receiving neuron’s terminal (dendrite)
parental efficacy
parenting that is supportive, effective, and noncoercive
routine activities theory
the view that crime is a product of three everyday factors: motivated offenders, suitable targets, and a lack of capable guardians
social capital
positive relations with individuals and institutions that foster self-worth and inhibit crime
social control theory
the view that most people do not violate the law because of their social bonds to family, peer group, school, and other institutions. if these bonds are weakened or absent, individuals are much more likely to commit crime
social learning theory
the view that human behavior is learned through observation of human social interactions either directly from those in close proximity or indirectly from the media
social reaction(labeling) theory
the view that society produces criminals by stigmatizing certain individuals as deviants, a label that they come to accept as a personal identity
social structure
the stratifications, classes, institutions, and groups that characterize a society
specific deterrence
punishment severe enough to convince convicted offenders never to repeat their criminal activity
state (organized) crime
criminal acts committed by state officials in pursuit of their jobs as government representatives
strain
the emotional turmoil and conflict caused when people believe that they cannot achieve their desires and goals through legitimate means
victim precipitation
the role of the victim in provoking or encouraging criminal behavior
