criminology exam 2 Flashcards
biological theory
how the presence or absence of some chemical, hormonal or physical structure relates to criminal behavior
-considered a medical model view of crime and behavior
-under this theory, the responsibility for changing behaviors falls on doctors
-recent look at hormones (the presence of testosterone & estrogen & how they impact mood/behaviors
-men are more violent than women (93% of ppl incarcerated = male)
-PMS and menstrual cycles & their impact on criminal behavior (none)
-abnormal brain development, prenatal exposure to drugs/alcohol (FAS, babies addicted)
deficiency of vitamin b12
can cause:
-depression
-withdrawal
-violent behaviors
pellagra
deficiency disease caused by lack of vitamin b3
can cause:
-anxiety
-hyperactivity
-depression
-insomnia
-hallucinations
zinc deficiency
can cause:
-anger
-aggression
-hostile behavior
biological evidence/theory
-can be used to solve crime
-DNA (hair, skin, nails, blood)
-bio theory removes blame from the person who commits the crime (blames it on their imbalances)
physiognomy
-believed criminals had certain figures
-sought to identify facial features of people who commit chimes
-1790’s-early 1800’s
phrenology
-focused on the shape and contours of the head
-believed they were indicators of criminal behavior
Cesare Lombroso
-1876
-“The Criminal Man”
-believed criminals were less evolved men
-attributed this to atavism
atavism
-Lombroso’s theory that those who commit crime are less evolved and act less evolved
features involved:
-overly large head
-large jaw & cheekbones
-excessive wrinkles
-protruding lips
-narrow forehead
-large nose
3 categories of criminals (Lombroso claim)
- born criminals: atavistic criminals
- insane criminals: commits crime bc they are mentally deficient or due to drugs/alcohol
- criminaloids: commits crimes under special circumstances (poverty)
-theory later disproved
body type thoeries
-different body types commit crimes
-disproved
genetic thoeries
-“bad” family produces “bad” offspring
-inherited and runs in family
-eugenics (certain people/traits not desirable - get sterilized)
psychological theory of crime
-attributes crime to problems in an individual’s thinking, socialization, trauma or organic brain issues
-more recent theory, last 100 years
-commit crimes bc of mental illness
-fix problems that lead to crime by rehab
-distinction between mentally ill & mentally defective
mentally defective
-refers to conservatorship (sectioned) or the individual is committed to a psych. institution at some point
-5150, involuntary hold, 72 hr hold
-reported by mandated reporters
mental illness & recidivism
-they are a revolving door!
-mental illness is a major factor in crime/landing in prison
-diagnose mental illness using DSM-5
physical & mental illness
-both range in severity from mild to serious
-physical illness: mild = a cold, serious = cancer (terminal illness)
-mental illness: mild = anxiety, serious = bipolar, schizophrenia
-illnesses may present differently for different people
-stigma in our society (mental illness always blamed for mass shootings!)
psychotic disorders
-typically very isolated due to living in own reality
-delusions = false beliefs
-hallucinations = auditory or visual
-most well known psych disorder is schizophrenia
PTSD
-generally, person was exposed to death, actual or threatened serious injury or sexual violence
-not limited to these things only
-re-experienced as recurring nightmares, memories, flashbacks
-distress, irritable/aggressive bx, self destructive, reckless bx, hypervigilance
-may be result of military service, war, violence, witnessing horrific events, tragedy, natural disasters
-linked to substance abuse (try to drown feelings)
mood disorders
-9.5% of US populations
-severe change in mood where individual experiences loss of sleep, loss of pleasure, sense of hopelessness, lethargy, eating, may feel suicidal
-dysthymia, BP 1/2, cyclothymia
bipolar 1
extreme mania and extreme depression
-tx = mood stabilizers
-cycle in and out of jails
bipolar 2
hypomania and moderate depression
psychoanalytic theory
-Sigmund Freud = father of psychoanalysis
-introduced oedipus and electra complex
-Freud thought people are antisocial from the start of their lives & commit crimes because they are not immediately caring for others
ID, ego, superego
id = seeks pleasure, gratification (devil)
superego = social authority, conscience (angel)
ego = rational, mediating force
Travis Hirschi
-created social control theory
-why do people NOT commit crimes?
-assumes we all want to commit a crime if opportunity arises
strong & weak social bonds
strong = do not engage in criminal bx
weak = do engage in criminal bx
our relationships with other people determine our bx - our actions will affect them as well
Internal & External control
internal - societal rules we have internalized
external - rewards lost & punishments from being a violator of social norms (commitment to conformity/restraint toward criminal bx)
types of social bonds (according to Hirschi)
- Attachments - most important bonds, close ties to conventional institutions, if we are attached to those who follow social rules we will also
- Commitment - rooted in rational choice, committed to conventional goals and rules
- Involvement - time spent devoted to conventional activities
- Belief - strong belief in societal norms
criticisms of social bonding & control theory
-are we all naturally motivated to commit crimes?
-what if you have “deviant” parents?
General Theory of Crime
moved away from classical bonding theory in 1990’s towards this theory
-focuses on social control and internal controls
-if you have a lot of social control, you will not commit crimes
-if you have low self control, you are going to commit crimes as long as there is opportunity
-high supervision = opportunity to commit crimes vanishes (stay out of trouble OR lash out)
-self control = restraint
-those with low self control are impulsive, spontaneous, & value risk/adventure
parents
control is either high or low on their kids
