Module 7: Psychological theories of Crime Flashcards

1
Q

General theories

A

provide explanations for most crime, committed by most people, most of the time. these theories often argue that despite variations in who commits crime and when there is an underlying general cause

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2
Q

Typological theories

A

premised on there being different precursors and pathways to offending, leads to development of typologies for offenders, offences and victims

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3
Q

Criminology theory development

A

single factor reductionism
multiple factor approaches
systemic reductionism
integrated and interdisplinary apporaches

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4
Q

Single factor reductionism (1876 - mid 1920)

A

commenced with lombroso’s criminal man and emphasised how internal characteristics caused criminal behaviour

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5
Q

Multiple factor approach (1940-1960)

A

somewhat atheorectical in approach

focussed on discovering what factor predicted offending

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6
Q

systemic reductionism (1950 - today)

A

refers to attempts to reduce explanations for crime to a single disciplinary system largely dominated by sociological explanations

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7
Q

integrated or mutlidisciplinary theories

A

dominates current thinking

recognises that crime is diverse and requires input from multiple disciplines to understand it

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8
Q

Heredity: central premise

A

genetic variations are linked to criminality
based on twin and adoption studies, that found that monozygotic twins are very likely to have the same traits and behaviours

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9
Q

Neurobiological development

A

neurobiological changes which occur over the life course may increase or decrease risk for involvement in crime

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10
Q

Neurological impariment

A

may result from many environmental factors including alcohol and drug consumption , exposure to toxins, acquired brain injuries, that can heighten risk of offending

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11
Q

Damage to brain

A

particular area damage can may result in significant changes that can increase risk of offending

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12
Q

evolution - central premise

A

members of a species are designed to ensure theri genes survive

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13
Q

R/K theory

A

describes 2 different reproduction

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14
Q

R strategists

A

possess characteristic correlated with antisocial behaviour, males with multiple partners to produce multiple offspring

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15
Q

K Strategists

A

characteristics are cooperative, self controlled, have fewer partners and are more invested in offspring

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16
Q

Behavioural theories of crime

A

focuses on how behaviour is learnt
2 main theories
classical conditioning
operant conditioning

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17
Q

Classical conditioning

A

explains how accidental or unplanned associations between 2 stimuli results in learned associations

  • occur by chance and outside conscious awareness
  • results in powerful emotions and behaviours we cant always explain
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18
Q

How classical conditioning works

A

an unconditioned stimulus produces an unconditioned response

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19
Q

Neutral stimulus: Classical conditioning

A

produces no special response

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20
Q

Neutral stimulus pair with unconditioned stimulus: Classical Conditioning

A

neutral stimulus elicits unconditioned response in absence of unconditioned stimulus

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21
Q

conditioned stimulus: Classical Conditioning

A

a neutral stimulus that by itself produces a response

22
Q

Conditioned response: Classical Conditioning

A

when an unconditioned response occurs in response to conditioning stimulus

23
Q

Operant Conditioning

A

explains how behaviour is shaped by receiving reinforcments and punishments
reinforcements increase likelihood that behaviour is repeated
punishment serve to decrease behaviour repeating
can be positive or negative

24
Q

Positive reinforcement: Operant Conditioning

A

positive or pleasurable stimulus received in response to performing the behaviour (receiving praise for a good job)

25
Q

Negative reinforcement: Operant Conditioning

A

removal of an aversive stimulus in response to performing a behaviour (example: putting on sunscreen to avoid getting sunburnt)

26
Q

Positive and Negative reinforcements

A

serve to increase behaviour repeating

27
Q

Positive punishment: Operant Conditioning

A

unpleasant or aversive stimulus received after performing the behaviour (example: you are late for work so you speed, and because of this you get a speeding ticket)

28
Q

Negative Punishment: Operant conditioning

A

removal of a positive stimulus in response to behaviour (example: two children fight over toy so teacher takes toy away)

29
Q

Social Learning theory

A

combines learning from behavioural theories with cognitive psychology
behavioural theories are stimulus - response explanations

30
Q

Modelling: Social Learning theory

A

key component of social learning theory

people model a range of behaviours

31
Q

Vicarious learning: social Learning theory

A

people pay attention to consequences that a model incurs for performing a behaviour
linked to operant conditioning
anticipated consequences can be internalised become self reinforcing

32
Q

Situational theories

A

behaviour is a function of individual characteristics interacting with the situation.
focus on situations within which people find themselves

33
Q

Rational Choice Theory

A

see people as rational decision makers that acts on the basis of calculated costs and benefits
situation provides valuable info about the likely benefits and costs of engaging in criminal behaviour
- believes that offending is more likely to occur when perceived benefits outweights perceived costs

34
Q

situational precipitators

A

situations exert pressure on people to non consciously behave in particular ways.
the 4 ways in which situations exert their influence upon behaviour are:
prompts
pressure
Permit
Provoke

35
Q

Prompts: Situational Precipitators

A

situations can present prompts to engage in particular behaviour

36
Q

Pressure: Situational Precipitators

A

situations can exert social pressures upon people to act in a particular way

37
Q

Permit: Situational Precipitators

A

situations can provide permissions to people to act illegally because they weaken moral controls

38
Q

Provoke: Situational Precipitators

A

situations changed with emotions can arouse and provoke people to respond in illegal ways

39
Q

Person-Situation typologies

A

situational theories generally ignore individual differences within people which may serve to increase or decrease likelihood that situational factors will effect behaviour

40
Q

3 types of individuals which environment will differently exert an influence

A

antisocial predators
mundane offenders
provoked offenders

41
Q

Antisocial predators

A

actively seek opportunities to offend and are continually weighing costs and benefits of offending in situations

42
Q

Mundane offenders

A

generally resist temptations to offend but will occasionally take criminal opportunities when they are present

43
Q

Provoked offenders

A

commit crime in response to a situational provocation such as frustration.

44
Q

social ecological theory

A

behaviour can be influenced by the multiple systems within which people are located
- individual ecosystems
- family
- friends
- community
each system exerts influence over the persons behavior

45
Q

ecological systems

A

risk factors for delinquency can occur in each system

46
Q

mental illness and crime

A

people with mental illness are more likely to be victims or be of risk to themselves than others

47
Q

hallucinations

A

hallucinations have been linked to a increased risk of offending

48
Q

Behavioural features of psychopathy

A

antisocial
parasitic lifestyle
pathological lying

49
Q

Personality features of psychopathy

A

callousness
lack of empathy
lack of remorse

50
Q

psychopathy criteria

A

only a small amount of offenders meet diagnostic criteria for psychopathy

51
Q

profiling

A

try to determine likely characteristics of offenders from scene and behaviour

52
Q

interpersonal circle

A

theory of behaviour in social interactions
describes behaviour in 2 dimensions : control and affiliation

a person is either dominant or submissive and is either cooperative or hostile