Criminological Psychology

Question 1

Crime

Answer 1

Deviant behaviours which are against written criminal laws, which implies an appropriate treatment is issued to avoid reoffending.

Question 2

Hollin (1789)

Answer 2

There are 3 ways of defining crime: consensus view (agreement among society), conflict view (protect rich and powerful) and interactionist view (middle ground).

Question 3

Socially Constructed

Answer 3

Society and legal processes decide on laws and what constitutes a crime. Crime is therefore culturally relative.

Question 4

Criminal Psychology

Answer 4

• Looks at explanations and causes of crime (SFP, SLT) and how society or personality may be contributory factors.
• It deals with legal aspects of crime (EWT, courtroom procedures, etc).
• Research into best methods for punishing or treating offenders.
• Used to reduce crime rates and recidivism by correcting the behaviour of known criminals.
• Useful in identification of criminals.

Question 5

Recidivism

Answer 5

Habitual relapse into crime; repeating a crime or antisocial behaviour for which an offender has already been punished or treated for; return to previous criminal activity

Question 6

TEP

Answer 6

System of behaviour modification based on OC techniques. Desired behaviours reinforced.

Question 7

Anti-Social Behaviour

Answer 7

Behaviours which are not necessarily against written laws, but are considered socially unacceptable and society does not approve of. ASBOs introduced.

Question 8

Modelling

Answer 8

Way of learning whereby behaviours are learned when rewarding that behaviour is observed of others.

Question 9

Stereotyping

Answer 9

Developing an idea about someone and generalising the idea towards other people that are similar - or groups of people. It may be based on direct evidence or due to others with no evidence. It may or may not be true for a particular person.

Question 10

EWT

Answer 10

A legal term which refers to a statement/account given by people who witnessed an event/incident.

Question 11

Bandura (1977)

Answer 11

There are 4 cognitive processes in observational learning:

1. Attention
2. Retention
3. Reproduction
4. Motivation

There are 3 factors which determines whether or not a model is to be imitated:

1. Vicarious consequences: observational learning - success and reward = more likely.
2. External motivation: positive/negative reinforcements - OC.
3. Self-reinforcement: interna need is satisfied.

Question 12

Operant Conditioning

Answer 12

• Positive Reinforcement
• Negative Reinforcement