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Psychology of Crime > Quiz 1 - Chapter 1 > Flashcards

Quiz 1 - Chapter 1 Flashcards

1
Q

General definition of crime

A

Social construct based on legal, moral, social, and psychological factors

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2
Q

What is the general definition of crime based on?

A

Subjective notions around how to maintain justice and fairness

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3
Q

How do definitions of crime vary?

A

Across history and cultures

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4
Q

Consistency of definitions of crime across history and cultures

A

Murder, robbery, theft, incest

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5
Q

What can lead to changes in the Criminal Code?

A

Cultural changes

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6
Q

Examples of changes in the Criminal Code

A

Birth control
Women’s rights
Abortion
Homosexuality

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7
Q

What does criminal behaviour refer to?

A

Intentional behaviour that violates a criminal code; did not occur accidentally or without justification or excuse

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8
Q

What should psychological understandings of criminal behaviour consider?

A

Cultural issues (e.g., inequalities)

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9
Q

Name 5 careers possible related to criminal justice

A

Correctional officer
Parole officer
Probation officer
Psychologist
Professor

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10
Q

What age are most victims of crime?

A

Under 30 years old

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11
Q

Name 3 cases involving provincial jurisdiction

A

Sentences of less than 2 years
Community sentences
Young offender services

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12
Q

Name 3 cases associated with federal jurisdiction

A

Sentences of more than 2 years
Violent crime
More serious criminal histories

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13
Q

What is considered violent crime?

A

Robbery, sexual assault, physical assault

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14
Q

In Canada in 2021, what % of criminal incidents were non-violent?

A

76%

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15
Q

What is the most common type of crime reported in Canada in 2021? Prevalence?

A

Property crimes
58%

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16
Q

What happens to most people found guilty of a crime?

A

Probation or receiving a short custodial sentence

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17
Q

What happens to most people in custody for longer sentences?

A

Eventually released back into the community

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18
Q

When did violent crime rise most since 2007? By how much?

A

Rose by 5% in 2022

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19
Q

Explain the political evolution of crime in Canada in the past few years

A

“Liberal era” (Trudeau) replaced the “Get-Tough-On-Crime era” (Harper)

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20
Q

What is media bringing attention to with regards to the criminal justice system in the past few years?
Examples?

A

Systemic issues within the criminal justice system
Biases against Black and Indigenous people
Women and sexual health

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21
Q

Do most Canadians believe that crime is increasing or decreasing?

A

Increasing

22
Q

Explain the trends of police-reported crimes since 1992

A

Rates of police-reported crimes decreased in all categories between 1992 and 2015
Then, increased steadily between 2015 and 2019
Then, decreased between 2019 and 2020

23
Q

Explain trends in police-reported crimes and Covid-19

A

Overall crime decreased by 16%
Hate crimes (e.g., based on race or ethnicity) increased by 37%
Domestic disturbance calls increased by 12%
Child pornography cases increased by 23%

24
Q

What do crime and mental health reflect?Implication?

A

Injustices and maladies in systemic culture
Recognizing this allows opportunity for compassion and real rehabilitation

25
Q

Using the psychological understanding of criminal behaviour, why do we want to understand criminality? Give examples

A

To assess and correct it
Why are men more likely than women to commit crimes
Why do only a small & of people maintain criminal behaviour into adulthood
Why do incarcerated people tend to be less educated

26
Q

What does the psychological understanding of criminal behaviour require? Give example

A

Different theoretical perspectives to assess individual differences in criminal behaviour
Genetic/biological/evolutionary + learning

27
Q

What do offenders form?
Examples?

A

An overall very heterogeneous group
Not all people who commit crimes are male
Not all people who commit crimes are poorly educated

28
Q

Forensic psychology

A

Any application of psychology to legal system

29
Q

Correctional psychology

A

Specific psychological study of criminal behaviour

30
Q

List the general personality and cognitive social learning perspective/theory framework

A

Immediate situation
Attitudes supportive of crime
History of criminal behaviour
Balance of costs and rewards
Social supports for crime
Community issues
Interpersonal issues
Personal issues

31
Q

Give examples of the immediate situation

A

OH consumption, family stress

32
Q

Give examples of attitudes supportive of crime

A

Antisocial attitudes, crime being normalized

33
Q

Give example of history of criminal behaviour

A

Initiation into gangs starts early (becomes part of their identity)

34
Q

Give examples of balance of costs and rewards

A

Financial gain and social acceptance outweigh risk of consequences

35
Q

Give examples of social supports for crime

A

Initiation results
Other gang members help facilitate crime

36
Q

Give examples of community issues

A

Canada’s colonial past causing racism and intergenerational trauma (e.g., through addiction, projected reactions to disenfranchisement)

37
Q

Give examples of interpersonal issues

A

Neglect, abuse, unstable relationships, rivalry within community (e.g., between gangs)

38
Q

Give examples of personal issues

A

Mental health problems (e.g., addiction)

39
Q

List the central 8 risk factors in recidivism and criminality

A

Criminal history
Antisocial personality pattern
Procriminal attitudes
Procriminal associates
Family and/or marital problems
School and/or work
Leisure and/or recreation
Substance misuse

40
Q

Describe criminal history as one of the central 8 risk factors

A

Early and continuing involvement in a number and variety of antisocial acts in a variety of settings

41
Q

Describe antisocial personality pattern as one of the central 8 risk factors

A

Adventurous pleasure-seeking, weak self-control, restlessly aggressive

42
Q

Describe procriminal attitudes as one of the central 8 risk factors

A

Attitudes, values, beliefs, and rationalizations supportive of crime; cognitive-emotional states of anger, resentment, and defiance; criminal vs. reformed identity

43
Q

Describe procriminal associates as one of the central 8 risk factors

A

Close association with others who engage in crime and relative isolation from others who do not engage in crime; immediate social support for crime

44
Q

Describe family and/or marital problems as one of the central 8 risk factors

A

Low levels of nurturance and/or caring and poor monitoring and/or supervision in the family of origin for young people

45
Q

Describe school and/or work as one of the central 8 risk factors

A

Low levels of performance and satisfaction in school and/or work

46
Q

Describe leisure and/or recreation as one of the central 8 risk factors

A

Low levels of involvement and satisfaction in prosocial leisure pursuits

47
Q

Describe substance misuse as one of the central 8 risk factors

A

Misuse of alcohol and/or other drugs

48
Q

List factors that do not significantly predict criminal behaviour/recidivism

A

Personal and/or emotional distress
Low self-esteem
Major mental disorder
Physical health
Low intelligence
SES status of origin
Seriousness of current offense
Fear of official punishment

49
Q

Describe in more detail the effect of mental health on criminal behaviour/recidivism

A

SUDs, ASPD, Anxiety
73% prevalence of a DSM disorder among people being admitted into Canadian Federal Corrections
81% prevalence of a DSM disorder among people who are or will be incarcerated at some point in their life

50
Q

Explain the current trend in correctional psychology

A

Slowly becoming more strengths-based/focused on protective factors and desistence

51
Q
A

Psychology of Crime (4 decks)

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