Recent Sociological Approaches to Crime Pt.2

Question 1

Rational Choice Theory

Answer 1

Criminals are rational actors

Question 2

In rational choice theory Human behaviour is

Answer 2

the result of conscious decision-making

Question 3

“Expected utility” principle

Answer 3

Crime is calculated and deliberate

Question 4

Crime is influenced by variations of (R.E.O.T)

Answer 4

-risk of detection
-environment
- opportunity
-target

Question 5

Criticism of Rational Choice Theory

Answer 5

• Is everyone capable of making a rational decision?
• Better at explaining “instrumental” rather than “expressive” crimes

Question 6

Routine Activity Theory

Answer 6

-Cohen and Felson (1979)
-Crime is likely to occur when:
* a motivated offender
* suitable victim
* in an environment that does not provide protection to the potential victim

Question 7

General increase in youth crime is the result of

Answer 7

• changes in education, work, technology
• rise in the number of temptations
• decline in parental controls

Question 8

criticism of Routine Activity Theory

Answer 8

• Opportunities to commit crime do not necessarily lead to crime even when controls are absent.
• What about crime displacement?

Question 9

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design was first introduced by

Answer 9

Jeffery in 1971

“defensible space”

Question 10

Four main ideas of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Answer 10

1. Natural surveillance
2. Natural access control
3. Territorial reinforcement
4. Maintenance

Question 11

Criticisms of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Answer 11

• Other crime prevention strategies are overlooked
• “Good citizens” versus “bad offenders” stereotypes
• not based on an accurate risk assessment
• “Responsibilization” of clients to become willing participants

Question 12

Risk and Actuarial Criminology

Answer 12

Focus on understanding emerging forms of social control.

Question 13

• Power is now localized in a wide array of institutions each of which has specialized techniques for discipline.
  -Corrections, risk, and actuarial analyses focus on risk management, recognizing the system is incapable of rehabilitating offenders

What approach is the above text talking about

Answer 13

Risk and Actuarial Criminology

Question 14

Risk and Actuarial Criminology Criticism

Answer 14

Comprehension of the language used in this theory is problematic and is accessible to a relatively small group of experts in the area.

Question 15

Instrumental crimes

Answer 15

Instrumental crimes involve some planning and weighing of risks and include offences such as breaking and entering, accounting fraud, and embezzlement.

Question 16

Expressive crimes

Answer 16

Expressive crimes are often impulsive and emotional such that people who commit these acts are not likely to be concerned at the time of their commission with the future implications of these actions.

Question 17

Using routine activity theory explain how females & males got into less trouble during the 19th century

Answer 17

During the nineteenth century in the United States, the average age of marriage for females was 16 or 17 and about 18 for males. Given the fact that children arrived shortly thereafter, these young adults had little time for getting involved in the types of activities that would lead to trouble.

Question 18

Routine activity, rational choice, and environmental criminology (such as CPTED) are examples of approaches to crime that suggest the most effective way to..?

Answer 18

to deal with crime is to reduce the opportunities to commit crime.

Question 19

What assumption do Routine activity, rational choice, and environmental criminology (such as CPTED) share?

Answer 19

they all share the assumption that problematic social environments help to produce social deviants.

Question 20

Why are both A General Theory of Crime and general strain theory considered general theories of crime?

Answer 20

A General Theory of Crime and General Strain Theory are considered general theories of crime because they attempt to explain a wide range of criminal behaviors.

Question 21

On what grounds is rational choice theory considered by some to be a general theory of crime?

Answer 21

Rational Choice Theory is considered a general theory of crime by some because it assumes that individuals make rational choices based on the potential costs and benefits of their actions. Hence supporting explanations for a wide range of crime