Intro To Criminology Flashcards
What are a few things that criminology studies? (5 total)
The study of crime; the study of who commits crime; the study of victims; the study of why people commit crime; the study of how people commit crime
In what era were the spiritual explanations of crime?
Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries)
What are the basics of the spiritual explanations of crime?
Crime is a result of someone, or a community, angering otherworldly powers
In what era were the classical explanations of crime?
18th century/Enlightenment
What were the basics of classical explanations of crime?
Equality; criminals are no different than non-criminals; crime is a choice (rational choice)
In what era were the positivist explanations of crime?
19th century
What were the basics of the positivist explanations of crime?
Criminals are inherently different than non-criminals
What era were the community/contextual explanations of crime?
Early 20th century
What are the basics of community/contextual explanations of crime?
Criminals become criminals as a result of their environment
What is a theory?
A set of interrelated propositions designed to explain a particular phenomenon
What is a background assumption?
An assumption about the basics of social order + an assumption about human nature
