Criminal Psychology Flashcards
Five different types of crime?
A, A-S, D, S, V
A) Definition of Acquisitive?
B) Give examples
Taking money or belongings
Without consent/ knowledge
Of the Owners
Theft
Fraud
A) Definition of Anti- Social?
B) Give Examples
Causing harassment or distress
To people who are
Not part of your
Family.
Drunk and Disorderly
Graffiti
A) Definition of Drug-related?
B) Give examples
Trading or using illegal substances.
Supplying drugs
Buying drugs
A) Definition of Sexual?
B) Give examples
Making someone else
Submit to a sexual act
Against their consent.
Rape
Use of child pornography
A) Definition of Violent?
B) Give examples
Causing physical harm or
Even death to someone else.
Physical assault
Murder
Social Construct
Something that is not real
But exists because people in
Society have created it through
Social interaction.
Deviation from norms
Something that differs
From what is considered
Socially acceptable.
Defining Crime
Measuring Crime
Defining crime is about deciding
What crime is.
Measuring crime is about
How much crime is happening.
How is criminal behaviour a social construct?
Criminal behaviour is a
Social Construct because it is
Determined by the norms and values of
Society rather than be a
Real thing
What is meant by
Deviation from norms’
In relation to crime?
This is the idea that
Crime is not normal because
It breaks with the
Expected standards of society -
Normally because it is committed
By a minority
What are some of the ways that crime can be measured?
Official statistics
Collected from police records,
Offender surveys
Victim surveys
Role model
A person who is
Admired and therefore
Imitated
Who are typical role models for
Criminal behaviour?
Parents
Peers
Media figures
Can you explain the difference between
Vicarious reinforcement and
Direct reinforcement?
Vicarious reinforcement is when
Somebody wants to repeat a
Behaviour because they have
Seen someone else
Rewarded for it
Whereas
Direct reinforcement is when
Somebody repeats a
Behaviour because they have
Received a reward
As a consequence
Themselves.
How does criminal behaviour become
Internalised?
Criminal behaviour is internalised when
It happens regardless of the
outcomes
And this happens as the
Behaviour becomes reinforced
Over Time
So that becomes
part of the person.
Vicarious reinforcement
A behaviour is imitated
Because it is
Seen to be
Rewarded.
Direct reinforcement
A behaviour is repeated because it has
Been rewarded.
Internalisation
When a behaviour is
Well learned
And will happen whether it is
Rewarded or not.
Nature vs Nurture Debate is about…
The Nature vs Nuture debate
is all about whether
People are born
With a
Certain trait or behaviour
(Nature)
Or whether
It is a result of their
Experiences.
(Nurture)
The Social Learning Theory of criminality.
Key Criticism?
Other criticisms?
Key Criticism.
The theory focuses too much on nurture and ignores the role of nature. In other words, it believes criminal behaviour can be learned and therefore unlearned. It might, however, be something that is more innate.
Other criticisms.
If criminal behaviour is imitated from others, from where did it originate in the first place?
Attempts to control criminal behaviour - such as
Age restrictions on films and video games -
Have not been that successful in stopping the rise of
Crime.
Subjectivity
Based on personal opinion rather than
Fact.
Culture
A collective set of
norms and values
That determine
The way of life
Of a group of people.
Acts that deviate from norms but are not
Criminal?
Walking around naked.
Acts that are normal (most people do them) but
Are criminal?
Speeding
Acts that used to be illegal in the UK but are not any more.
Having an abortion was illegal in the UK
Until the late 1960’s.
A Cross-cultural difference in criminal behaviour?
Bigamy ( it is normal in certain countries for men to have more than 1 wife. eg Saudi Arabia, Egypt.
What type of crime involves taking property without consent?
What is the link between crime as a social construct and culture?
Culture
A collective set of norms and values that determine the way of life of a group of people.
Self-report
A method that involves participants reporting on themselves through answering questions.
Consequences
The result of something, usually negative. For example, the consequences of being ignored by your friends might be feeling depressed.
Direct Reinforcement
When a behaviour is strengthened and likely to be repeated due to positive outcomes for the individual.
What is the difference between official statistics and self-reports as measures of crime?
What distinguishes role models from other people?
Why might a crime be observed but not imitated?
What is the difference between vicarious reinforcement and direct reinforcement?
What is meant by internalisation, according to Social Learning Theory?
Where does Social Learning Theory stand in the nature versus nurture debate, and why?
Nature
Relates to behaviours that people are born with or develop naturally.