The Search For Understanding Flashcards
criminology
the body of knowledge regarding crime as a social phenomenon
theory
a statement regarding the relationship between two or more variables
nonscientific theories
Theories emerging moral weakness and evil spirits as the cuase of criminality
Classical School
The school of thought that individuals have free will to choose whether or not to sommit crimes
Positivist School (positivism)
One of three major schools of criminology
determinsim
the perception that individuals have no free will to choose their behavior
biological determisim
A belief that crime is caused by a biolocical or biochemical influence over which the
psycholigical theory
the idea that criminal behavior is a result of emotions, drives and mental defects
sociogical determinsim
Crime is caused by socioeconomic condditions and social interactions and values
neoclassical theories
A contemporary view of classical school theory that believes there are mitgrating circumstances for criminal acts such as the age of mental capacity of the offender and the
Cesare Beccaria
The founder of classical school theories
pain-pleasure principle
A phisophical axiom that people are rational and that people seek to do that which brings them pleasue and to avoid that which cuases them pain
neoclassical school of criminology
a school of thought that is similar to classical school theories, except for the beliefs that there are migating circumstances fo ciminal acts, such as the age or mental capacity of the offender, and that punishment should fit the crime
felicitic calculus
The balacing of pain and pleasure as a means to discourage criminal behavior
utiltariansism
A philosophy believing a rational system of jurisprudence provides for the greatest happieness for the greatest number of people
scientific method
The assumption that repeating testing of a hypothesiss should result in similar results
Positive School
Modern theories of cime, primarily based on sociology and psychology, that people commit crimes because of uncontrabllable internal or external factors which can be observed and measured
determisnist
Causes of criminal behavior are not controlled by free will choice, but rather influenced by factors that are beyond the control of the individual
Richard Dugdale
Engaged in esearch attempting to link herdity to criminal behavior in his study of the Jukes
Henry Goddard
He studied the Martin Kalikak’s family tree attempting to link heredity to criminality
Ada Jukes
Labled by Richard Dugdale as the mother of ciminals
What do Chicago School criminologists believe to be the underlSocial disorganization theoy?
Park and Burgees research that criminal behavior is dependent on disruptive social foces not on individual characteristics
Social disorganization theory
Park and burgees research that criminal behavio is dependent on disuptive social forces, not on individual characteristics
anomie
A feelign of nomlessness and lack of belonging that people feel when they become socially isolated
cultural deviance theories
The idea that for the most part the values of subcultural groups within the society are moe influential upon individual behavior and interactions than laws
Female Gential Multilation (FGM)
Cultural practice of removing external gentialia of young girls or women fo nonmedical purpose
reaction formation
Describes how lower class youths reject middle-class values
social control theory
The focus on the social and cultural values that excert control over and reivorce the behavior of indivuals
neutralization theory
the concept that most people commit some type of criminal act in their lives and that many people and prevented from doing
social bond
Describes four elements that prevent deliquency attachment, commitment, involvement and belief
labeling theory
Explains deviant behavior, especially juvenile deliquency, by examining socity’s reactions to behaviors that are labled as deviant
conflict theories
The ideas that the most politcally and socially powerful individuals and organizations use the legal system to exploidt less powerful indiduals and to retain their power and privleges
feminist criminology
The proposal that female crimal behavior is caused by the politcal economic, and social inequality between men and women
radical criminologicsts
Those who advocate conflict theories and class and power inequality as the causes of crime
instituinonal discrimination
The unjust and discriminationory
social bond
describes four elements that prevent deliquency attachment commitment involment and belief
labeling theory
Explains deviant behavior, especially juvenile deliquency by examining socity’s reactions to behaviros that are labled as deviant
conflict theories
The idea that the most politically and sociallu poweful individuals and organizations use the legal system to exploit less powerful individuals and to etain thei powerful and privleges
feminist criminology
the proposal that female criminal behavior is cause dby the political econoic and social inequality between men and women
radical criminologists
Those who advocate conflict theories andclass and power inequality as the couses
instituional discriminaltion
The unjust and discriminatory mistretment of individuals as they are engaged in plice, court and correntional based institutions
ethical standards of behavior
Legal sanctions that prohibit experimentation that may harm subjects and regulates the degree of deception of subjects researchers may use in expierement
casual variables
Variables that directly influence the outcome of relationships
correlation
When two variables are associated with each other in that when one increases the other increases or decreases in a predictable pattern
victimology
The study of vitims and the patterns of how they are victimized
victim-preiptiation theories
Theories based on the concept that victims themselves precipitation theories, contribute to, provoke, or actuallycause the outcome of their vitimization
Routines activities theory
A theory that assumes that all humans are motivated by the desire to have things that give them pleasue or benefit motivated by the desire to have things that give them pleasure or benefit them and to avoid those things and situations that inflict pain
predatory crime
Acts involving direct physical contact between at least one offender and at least one person or object, which that offender attempts to take or damage
