Criminal psychology Flashcards
What are the 5 different types of crimes?
- Acquisitive
- Anti - social
- Drug - related
- Sexual
- Violent
Definition and example of Acquisitive
Taking money or belongings without the consent / knowledge of the owners
EXAMPLE } theft
fraud
Definition and example of Anti-social
Causing harassment or distress to people who are not part of your family
EXAMPLE } Drunk and disorderly
Graffiti
Definition and example of Drug - Related
Trading or using illegal substances
EXAMPLE ] Supplying drugs
Buying drugs
Definition and example of Sexual
Making someone else submit to a sexual act against their consent
EXAMPLE } Rape
Use of child pornography
Definition and example of Violent
Causing physical harm or even death to someone else
EXAMPLE }. Physical assault
Murder
Definition of the term ‘Social construct’
Something that is not real but exists because people in society have created through social interaction
Definition the term ‘ Deviation from norms ‘
Something that differs from what is considered socially acceptable
How can criminal behaviour be seen as a social construct ?
- Crimes are any acts against the law .
- Laws differ depending on society . Therefore crime can be seen as a social construct .
- Crime is a social construct because it comes from people interacting and creating an idea that then exists in an abstract way .
- for example
In Saudi Arabia bigamy is legal whereas in the UK it is illegal
Name the two ways crime is measured.
- Official Statistics
- Self-Report
What are official statistics ?
- These statistics are produced by the Government’s Home Office .
- These are based on the crimes that are recored by the police .
- However some crimes are missed and unreported .
What is Self - Report ?
- This allows researches to uncover the crime cases that go unreported .
- One type of survey is the VICTIM SURVEY.
> these are questionnaires are given to the general public to find out about the crimes that go
unreported - Another type of survey is the OFFENDER SURVEY .
> these questionnaires are given to the general public or to a more specific group of know offenders .
Explain how the social learning theory of criminality works ?
According to this theory criminal and anti - social behaviours are learnt . we go through a process of IDENTIFICATION with ROLE MODELS.theses are the people we look up to and who we admire . Role models can be your parents , peers and media figures. We pay attention to what our role models do and we imitate it . We are more likely to want to imitate behaviours that we see have positive outcome s.
When we observe someone’s behaviour being rewarded , we go through a process called VICARIOUS REINFORCEMENT . We are not rewarded directly , but we think we will also be rewarded if we imitate their behaviours.
If a behaviour is copied and followed by a reward , this is an example of DIRECT REINFORCEMENT. It is likely that we will keep repeating those behaviours to be constantly rewarded . There is a point at which the behaviour is so well learned , it will become a part of you and fully ingrained in your head . This is called INTERNALISATION .
1st Criticism of the Social Learning Theory
- The theory focuses mostly on nurture and ignores the role of nature .
- The theory believes that criminal behaviour is leant and can not be unlearned .
- However it might be something that is more innate.
2nd Criticism of the Social Learning Theory
- If criminal behaviour is imitated from other , from where did it originate in the first place ?
(who was the role model fro the first ever criminal)
