Offenders & Offending Flashcards
Thanks to theories of criminal behaviour, we know that crime and mental health are very closely correlated. True or false?
False
(The link between crime and mental health is not as convincing as we think it is.)
People who abuse animals are likely to then go on to murder people. True or false?
True
Which original “school of thought” views crime as a choice and is closely related to free will and hedonism?
The classical school of criminology (Classical)
Which original “school of thought” relies heavily on science, data analysis and a “punishment must fit the criminal” stance?
The positivist school of criminology (Positivist)
Theories of criminal behaviour tend to focus more on violent crime (e.g. homocide, sexual assault) than less violent crimes. True or false?
True
(This is most likely because violent crimes elicit more fearful/emotional responses.)
That crime is a result of social & cultural forces which are external to the criminal is a ___ theory of criminal behaviour:
Sociological
Theories which explain crime as a result of dysfunctional social arrangements (e.g. poor education, unemployment) are:
Structural
What theories of criminal behaviour attribute crime to “getting in with the wrong crowd”?
Subcultural
Socio-psychological theories explain that crime is the product of both environmental and _____ factors.
Individual
The Bobo doll experiment demonstrates which theory of criminal behaviour?
Learning theory
Which theory suggests that, contrary to the learning theory, people must learn NOT to commit crime (in other words, crimes are committed in the absence of learning):
Control
____ conditioning and ____ conditioning are two famous theories of learning:
Operant, classical
Theories that crime results from someone’s personality are:
Psychological
According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, what are the 3 components of the human psyche?
Id, Ego, Superego
Psychopathy is the most valid and reliable theory of criminal behaviour: true or false?
False
(Psychopathy is not a very good construct and is often criticised in literature.)
The torturous and unethical Oak Ridge Experiment used what theory of criminal behaviour as its methodology?
Psychopathy
Name the DSM-5 disorder that best explains criminal behaviour:
Anti-social personality disorder/ASPD
The act of trying to obtain a sufficient level of sensory input (e.g. through risky activities like solo climbing) is called:
Sensation-seeking
Name the part of the brain responsible for fear and anxiety responses:
Amygdala
(It commonly thought that those who participate in risky or criminal behaviours have lower-functioning amygdalas, hence a lack of fear or concern regarding what they are doing.)
Theories that behaviour is mostly if not completely dependent on genetics are:
Biological
If a monozygotic twin frequently commits crime or engages in risky behaviours, then their twin will also likely have criminal tendencies. True or false?
True
(Check notes on concordance rates - identical/monozygotic twins share 100% of their genetic material. If the biological theory is true and criminal behaviours are inherited, then a monozygotic twin who commits crime will almost definitely have a twin with the same or similar tendencies.)
Biology tends to have a stronger effect on behaviour than environment. True or false?
True
The improper functioning of which gene, in combination with deprived childhood experiences, is associated with criminal behaviour?
MAOA
The “offending peak” is a change in the what of crimes committed?
Prevalence
(Prevalence - the number of people willing to offend.)
Moffitt (1993) suggested that there are 2 types of antisocial behaviour (ASB.) These are:
Life-persistent, adolescence-limited ASB
Lack of exposure to role models, waning motivations, shifting contingencies, option to change and lack of what may cause young people to change their anti-social behaviours?
The maturity gap
(The maturity gap illustrates the desire for young people to be or be perceived as “older”)
Copying other people’s anti-social behaviour is an example of:
Social mimicry
