Chapter 4 +

Question 1

What is life course criminology?

Answer 1

Theory that sees crime as an evolving process of series of interactions between individual and environment.

Question 2

What is the primary methodology?

Answer 2

Longitudinal studies of individuals

Question 3

What does life course criminology examine?

Answer 3

Role of human agency in development of criminal behaviours, onset of criminality, if/when people stop engaging in criminal behaviour, are there any observable triggers for their offending?

Question 4

What are the two key concepts that impact behavioural stability and turning points?

Answer 4

Trajectory (path of development over life span) and transition (life events)

Question 5

Who studied sex offending?

Answer 5

Lussier and Mathesius

Question 6

What was found about young sex offenders?

Answer 6

Young offenders almost never continue into adulthood, age of onset incorrectly reflected by average of seven years, almost all were victims themselves, most male and were victimized by male.

Question 7

What was found about adult sex offenders?

Answer 7

Almost none start in childhood, unlikely to stop unless directly interfered, longer they go without being caught the harder it is to get them to stop.

Question 8

What is an example of resilience in life course criminology?

Answer 8

Children were victims of sex offences but never go on to offend.

Question 9

Who was behind routine activities theory?

Answer 9

Lawrence E. Cohen and Marcus Felson

Question 10

What is routine activity theory?

Answer 10

Study of ecological cause and crime and victim rates over time.

Question 11

What were the three structural changes in everyday routines that increased crimes against property and individuals?

Answer 11

1. Presence of motivated offenders
2. Presence of suitable targets
3. Absence of capable guardians

Question 12

What is target hardening?

Answer 12

When a victim takes active steps to prevent victimization

Question 13

What is the principle of homogamy?

Answer 13

The potential for violent or criminal behaviour increases with exposure to violent or deliquent activities

Question 14

What is an assumption built into routine activity theory?

Answer 14

Everyone will engage in criminal behaviours unless prevented in some way

Question 15

What does routine activity theory say about subcultures?

Answer 15

Some subcultures normalize violence.

Question 16

What are important themes of life course criminology?

Answer 16

Social meanings of age throughout life, intergenerational transmission of social patterns, effects of major events.

Question 17

What is development criminology?

Answer 17

Focuses on subdividing offender population into specific stages of criminal career

Question 18

What are the risk factors of youthful offending?

Answer 18

• prenatal and perinatal factors
• hyperactivity and impulsivity
• intelligence and attainment
• parental supervision, discipline and attitude
• broken homes
• parental criminality
• large family size
• socio-economic deprivation
• peer influences
• community influences
• situational influences

Question 19

What is a critique of life course criminology?

Answer 19

Ignores potential biological or psychological factors on criminological behaviour, enable to explain resilience.