theories

Question 1

Trait Theory

Answer 1

The view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits.

Question 2

each offender is considered physically and mentally unique, so there must be different explanations for each person’s behavior.

inherited criminal tendancies, neurological problems, blood chemistry disorders that heighten anti-scoial behavior

Answer 2

contemporary trait theory

Question 3

Bernard Rimland

Answer 3

personal traits and biological conditions, not parenting or social environment, that best explain behavior choices.

Question 4

Today’s trait theorists

Answer 4

crime-producing interactions involve both personal traits (defective intelligence, impulsive personality, abnormal brain chemistry) and environmental factors (family life, educational attainment, socieoeconomic status, and neighborhood conditions)

Question 5

Biological trait theries

Answer 5

branch of contemporary trait theory that focuses on biological factors that would control human behavior.

“twinkie defense,” diet, hypoglycemia, hormonal influences, lead exposure, environmental contaminants,

Nuerophysiological conditions

ADD/ADHD, brain chemistry, inherited traits,

Question 6

Psychological trait theory

Answer 6

second branch of trait theory focuses on the psychological aspects of crime, including (intelligence, personality, learning, and criminal behavior)

Question 7

Charles Goring

Answer 7

discovered “defective intelligence” included, feeblemindedness, epilepsy, insanity, and defective social instinct.

Question 8

Gabriel Tarde

Answer 8

forerunner of modern learning theorists who hold people learn from one another through imitation.

Question 9

John Bowlby

attachment theory

psychological theory

Hirschi’s social bond theory

Answer 9

failure to develop social bonds could produce a number of psychological disorders (impulsive, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sustaining relationships) results in antisocial behavior

Question 10

Social learning theory

Answer 10

violent behavior is learned through personal experiences with violence. children learn to become violent from adults and the media

Question 11

Choice theory

Answer 11

criminal violations even those involving violence is rational decision making.

offender carefully weighs the potential benifits and consequences of the planned action and decides that the benefits are greater than the consequences.

Question 12

positivists

Answer 12

external factors (poverty, IQ, education - rather than personal choice and decision making)

Question 13

Cesare Beccaria

Answer 13

father of classical criminology

utilitarian principle of maximize pleasure avoid pain

Question 14

contemporary rational choice

Answer 14

careful thought and planning.

offenders choose crime after considering both personal factors (such as money, revenge, thrills, and entertainment) and situational factors (such as target availability, security measures, and police presence.)

Question 15

Strain Theory

Answer 15

holds that crime is a function of the conflict between people’s goals and the means they can use to obtain them.

lower classes cannot achieve through legitimate means feel anger, frustration, and resentment (strain)

Alternative methods of achievement

Question 16

Strain theory - Merton

Answer 16

one risk factor must be present

Question 17

general strain theory - Agnew

Answer 17

2 or more conditions for unlawful behavior must be present

Parental rejection
Child abuse and neglect
Excessive or harsh discipline
Negative secondary school experiences (low grades, negative relationships with teachers)
Abusive peer relations (bullying)
Unemployment
Marital problems
Homelessness
Discrimination

Question 18

Social Disorganization theory

Answer 18

breakdown of neighborhoods through the breakdown of institutions such as (family, school, and employment)

Question 19

informal social control

Answer 19

peers, families, and relatives exert informal social control by awarding or withholding approval, respect, and admiration

Question 20

social control theory

Answer 20

All people have the potential to violate the law

passions are controlled by internal (self-control, morals) and external (laws punishment)

Question 21

theory of differential opportunity

Answer 21

Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin combined strain and social disorganization

people who percieve themselves as failures within conventional society will seek alternative and innovative ways to succeed.

all opportunities both legal and extralegal are closed to the most disadvantaged youth

more likely to join gangs

Question 22

differential association theory

Answer 22

Edwin Sutherland

crime is a function of a learning process that could affect any individual in any culture

skills and motives conducive to crime are learned as a result of contact with pro-crime values, attitudes, and definitions and other patterns of criminal behavior.

Question 23

principles of differential association theory

Answer 23

• criminal behavior is learned
• criminal behavior is learned as a by product of interacting with others
• learning criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups
• learning criminal behavior involves assimilating the techniques of committing crime, including motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes
• The specific direction of motives and drives is learned from perceptions of various aspects of the legal code as favorable or unfavorable
• a person becomes a criminal when he or she perceives more favorable than unfavorable consequences of violating the law
• differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intesity
• the process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anticriminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning process.
• although criminal behavior expresses general needs and values, it is not excused by those general needs and values, because noncriminal behavior expresses the same needs and values.

Question 24

Sykes and Matza

neutralization theory

Answer 24

criminality is still a learning process but even the most dedicated criminals aren’t criminals all the time

they have both conventional and illegal behaviors

Question 25

Walter Reckless

Answer 25

strong self image insulates against criminogenic factors

Question 26

Hirschi’s Social Control Theory