Criminal behaviour:Characteristics

Question 1

Four points

How can we define crime?

Answer 1

• An act prohbited by law and punished by the state
• An action considered to be a violation of moral or religous code
• An act that violates the norms of society
• An action that causes serious psychological stress and damage to a victim

Question 2

What is meant by ‘Crime is a social construct’?

Answer 2

Although crime has a definition-it doesn’t consider factors that can influence criminal behaviour

Question 3

Give an example of when crime may have not been wrong

Answer 3

Emmeline pankhurst was arrested and jailed many times fighting for equality for woman
Pussy are a group of feminists who are outspoken in their oposition to the russian president Putin. Members have been arrested and jailed

Question 4

What are the seven types of crime according to Farr and Gibbons?

Answer 4

1. Property predatory crime
2. Property fraudulent crime
3. Interpersonal violence general
4. Interpersonal violence sexual
5. Transactional vice
6. Order disruption
7. Folk/mundane crime

Question 5

Describe interpersonal violence general and transactional vice with examples

Answer 5

• Interpersonal violence general=involved in action that threaten or cause actual personal harm (murder)
• Transactional vice=’victimless’ offences where there is a willing exchange of goods and services (prostitution)

Question 6

What are the ten traits shared by career criminals?

Answer 6

Rationalization, entitlement, asocial value system, sentimentality, impulsive, family dysfunction, easily distracted, power centric, invincibility and cognitive laziness

Question 7

Describe rationalization,entitlment and asocial value system

Answer 7

• Rationilaztion=justify their behaviour by diverting blame and questioning the motive of others
• Entitlement=self-centered and oblivious to the needs of others, the right to commit any act they desire
• Asocial value system=rarely show any remorse for their actions, or empathy towards others (complete failure to adhere to acceptable societal standards

Question 8

What are the four types of serial killer?

Answer 8

Hedonistic,mission,visionary and power/control orientated

Question 9

Describe what is meant by a visionary serial killer

Answer 9

• Motivated by visions or voices
• Lost touch with reality
• Actions due to god or the devil
• Declared insane

Question 10

Describe what is meant by a power/coontrol orientated serial killer

Answer 10

• Derives sexual gratification from controlling/dominating an other person
• Chooses to live by their own rules
• Aware of the norms and values of normal society
• Most gratification received from prolonging their crime

Question 11

What are three paragraphs in an essay about criminal characteristics?

Answer 11

1. Why crime/criminal characteristics cannot be defined
2. Different types of crime and Characteristics of career criminals
3. Different types of serial killer and the variety of characteristics