Theories of Crime Flashcards
Crime Rates in the United States:
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Violent Crimes:
M__, non-negligent m__, forcible r__, aggravated a__, and r__.
Property Crimes:
B__, l__-theft, m__ vehicle theft, and a__.
murder, manslaughter, rape, assault, robbery
burglary, larceny-theft, motor, arson
Crime rates are __ overall.
F__ (specifically h__) are the most popular weapon to murder with by far, followed by k__.
“In 2010, an estimated 1,246,248 violent crimes occurred nationwide, a decrease of _ percent from the 2009 estimate.
When considering 5- and 10-year trends, the 2010 estimated violent crime total was _._ percent below the 2006 level and _._ percent below the 2001 level.
decreasing
firearms, handguns, knives
6
13.2, 13.4
Crime may be perceived to be occurring in e__ where it has not typically o__ before:
The w__
S__
Different c__
environments, occurred
workplace
schools
communities
But causes of crime are of real interest.
There are multiple causes of crime:
- A__ conditions
- Early I__
- D__ processes
- M__ Factors
And these are of varying explanatory i__ according to various theories of c__.
antecedent
indicators
developmental
maintenance
importance, crime
Theories of Crime:
S__ Theories:
~Generally focus on m__-level factors
B__ Theories:
~G__ and p__ characteristics
P__ Theories:
~I__ differences, p__ types
S__ P__Theories:
~Interaction between p__ and e__.
sociological, macro
biological, genetic, physical
psychological, individual, personality
social psychological
person, environment
Sociological Theories of Crime:
Deemphasize individual d__:
-People have the same n__ and d__.
S__ class, S_ _, and O__ are the most important factors.
~Differences in these opportunities determine way people fulfill n__ and d__.
Two main types:
S__
S__
differences, needs, desires
social, SES, opportunity
needs, desires
subcultural
structural
Sociological: Subcultural Explanations
G__ hold different v__ from dominant c__ and thus define “s__” differently
- Similar to social psychological research on s__-e__ and d__-i__ with d__ that result in a l__ of self-esteem.
- Also can have a v__-e__ function that e__ self-esteem as well.
groups, values, culture, success
self-esteem, dis-identification, domains, loss
value-expressive, enhances
Sociological: Structural Explanations
Crime is:
A response to societal f__ in attainment of u__ sought g__.
R__ Crime Theory- makes sense e__:
- Easy o__: sh__, em__
- L__ business that r__ certain crimes
- Preferred l__
- O__ crime
frustration, universally, goals
rational, economically
opportunity, shoplifting, embezzlement
legitimate, requires
livelihood
organized
Biological Theories:
Anatomical differences:
-Phrenology (the detailed study of the s__ and s__ of the cranium as a supposed indication of c__ and m__ abilities.)
C\_\_ theories (Sheldon) -S\_\_:
E__ (obese/soft)
M__ (athletic/strong)- the p__ criminal type
E__ (tall, well developed brain)
shape, size, character, mental
constitutional
somatypes
endomorph
mesomorph, predominant
ectomorph
Biological Theories:
Adoption studies – Studies in which the a__ child’s characteristics are compared to those of the b__ family and the a__ family.
Have found a g__ relationship to c__ behavior.
adopted, biological, adoptive
genetic, criminal
5 Possible Inheritable Qualities:
C__ Predisposition
N__ abnormalities
A__ nervous system differences
P__ differences
P__ and t__ differences
constitutional
neuropsychological
autonomic
physiological
personality, temperament
What Do We Do with Genetic Explanations?
Ignore e__ explanations?
D__ therapy?
S__?
Return to e__?
- Mandatory s__ of “bad” gene carriers?
- E__ “bad” gene holders?
Gene m__ and r__?
environmental
drug
surgery
eugenics, sterilization
euthanize
mapping, restructuring
Psychological Theories:
P\_\_ Theories C\_\_ T\_\_ Patterns P\_\_ A\_\_ Personality Disorder S\_\_
psychoanalytic
criminal thinking
psychopathy
antisocial
sociopathy
Psychological Theories:
Psychoanalytic Theory
Freud- compulsive need for p__ to alleviate g__ from an unresolved o__ stage.
Franz- r__ principal- unable to delay g__ due to f__ and s__ forces.
Bowlby- insufficient or frustrated a__ leads to s__ forms of g__.
Fromm- f__ makes many people i__ so they move to assert c__ through s__ mechanisms
punishment, guilt, oedipal
reality, gratification, family, social
attachment, substitute, gratification
freedom, insecure, control, societal
Psychological Theories:
Personality/Criminal Thinking Patterns
Personality:
-N__
- H__ (excessive attention-seeking emotions)
- B__ (a personality disorder characterized by severe mood swings, impulsive behavior, and difficulty forming stable personal relationships.)
Criminal thinking patterns: there is a lot to this- they just think d__.
narcissism
histrionic
borderline
differently
Psychological Theories:
Psychopaths
“callous disregard for the r__ of others and a propensity for p__ and v__ behaviors. Without remorse, psychopaths c__ and e__ others for their own g__.
They lack e__ and a sense of r__, and they m__, l__ and c__ others with no regard for anyone’s f__.” (Hare)
rights, predatory, violent
charm, exploit, gain
empathy, responsibility
manipulate, lie, con
feelings
Psychopathy Features:
Primary (character traits): Gl\_\_/Su\_\_ Charm Ma\_\_ Ca\_\_/Lack Em\_\_ No Re\_\_/Gu\_\_ Shallow Af\_\_ Gr\_\_ Sense of Self-worth
Secondary (behaviors): Im\_\_ Ir\_\_ Failure to Accept Re\_\_ Pr\_\_ Sexual Behavior Pathological Ly\_\_ Juvenile De\_\_
glibness/superficial manipulative callous/empathy remorse/guilt affect grandiose
impulsivity irresponsibility responsibility promiscuous lying delinquency
Psychopathy Checklist:
Behaviors (Secondary) and Character Traits (Primary). __ in all. Each scored 0-2. Score of __ possible, >__=psychopathy.
(t__ approach)
Prison pop __., psychiatric institutions __..
Base rate in general population low, maybe _%.
Base rate in prison up to __ or __%
20, 40, 30
taxonometric
23.4, 20.6
1%
40% or 50%
Unique Problems of the Psychopath:
- Behavioral I__ System
- Increased S__ Seeking
- F__???
F__ Phenomenon:
- Acquisition- S__ L__ Theory
- Self-fulfilling P__
- Self-Serving A__ Explanations
- D__
inhibition
sensation
fearlessness
facilitating social learning prophecy attributional disidentification
The Psychopath’s Brain:
When non-psychopaths processed n__ emotional words (e.g., rape, death, cancer), activity in the l__ regions of the brain increased. For psychopaths there was l__ or n_ increased activity in these regions.
Curiously, however, there was increased activity in o__ areas. In short, the emotional word does not have the same l__ implication for p__ that it does for n__ people.
negative, limbic, little, no
other, limbic, psychopaths, normal
Psychopathy: An evolutionary advantage?
Dr. M__ R__ “views psychopathic behaviour as an evolved s__ strategy. She says that there’s not a lot of evidence to suggest that psychopaths are m__ i__ but there’s good reason to believe that their disturbing behaviour is an e__ trait. She says psychopaths have evolved to c__ in a particular environmental n__ – namely preying on the rest of s__. “
marnie rice
survival
mentally ill, evolved
capitalize, niche, society
Antisocial Personality Disorder: DSM IV Criteria (301.7)
Pervasive pattern of d__ of r__ of others since age __ ( _ or more indicators)
At least age __
Evidence of c__ disorder onset prior to age __.
Occurrence of a__ behavior not exclusive to periods of s__ or a m__ episode
disregard, rights, 15
3
18
conduct, 15
antisocial, schizophrenia, manic
ASPD Indicators:
Failure to c__ to social n__/l__ by r__ performing acts that are grounds for a__.
D__, conning for p__ or p__.
Im__
Reckless disregard for s__ (s__/o__)
Consistent ir__ (w__/o__)
Lack of r__ (i__ to, or r__ of behavior toward o__)
conform, norms/laws, repeatedly, arrest
deceitfulness, profit, pleasure
impulsivity
safety (self/other)
irresponsibility (work/obligations)
remorse, indifference, rationalizing, others
The Strange Middle Ground of the “Sociopath”
You won’t find “sociopath” in the D _ _ I _…
Nor will you find it in official ps__ no__…
Lykken distinguishes between the sociopath and the psychopath in that the sociopath is s__ into p__ while the psychopath is b__ that way
DSM IV
psychiatric nomenclature
socialized, psychopathy, born
Stout’s Take on Sociopathy (2005)-Defined by any _ of:
Eg\_\_ Ca\_\_ Im\_\_ Co\_\_ defect Exaggerated se\_\_ Excessive bo\_\_
R\_\_ taking Inability to resist t\_\_ An\_\_ Deprecating attitude toward the o\_\_ sex Lack of interest in b\_\_ with a mate
3
egocentricity callousness impulsivity conscience sexuality boasting
risk temptation antagonistic opposite bonding
Four Sub-types of Sociopathy:
Commons: characterized mostly by their lack of c__.
Alienateds: by their inability to l__ or be l__.
Aggressives: by a consistent s__ streak.
Dyssocials: by an ability to a__ by gang rules, as long as those rules are the w__ rules
conscience
love, loved
sadistic
abide, wrong
Social Psychological Theories:
I__: Emphasize both the p__ and the e__ they are f__ by and o__ within.
Really derive from social psychological study of s__.
-our concept of who w_ a_ and it is INHERENTLY s__.
interactionist
person, environment, formed, operate
self
we are, social
Not Quite Social Psychological:
C__ Theories:
- Assume a need to c__
- Emphasize need to control b__ by focusing on one’s perceptions of:
~E__ of others
~Reinforcement of c__ behavior
~Endorsement of prevailing n__
control
control
behavior
expectations
conventional
norms
Importance of the Self:
-Self c__ contains s__ for b__ normatively formed.
~E__ cues are also important though.
- Self awareness: Things that make us more a__ of our s__ (like a m__, an a__ etc.) also make us more aware of the s__ we should be living up to.
- Self esteem: Our e__/a__ toward who we a__ (or at least a__ to be)
concept, standards, behavior
environmental
aware, self, mirror, audience, standards
evaluation/attitude, are, appear
Differential Association Approach:
More p__ to be sure
- Learned through i__.
- Not only t__ is learned, but m__ and r__ as well.
- Tipping point reached where p__ aspects of crime outweigh n__ aspects
Differential Association Reinforcement Theory
-Adds the aspect of r__ (aka o__ conditioning) to the above.
psychological
interactions
technique, motives, rationalizations
positive, negative
reinforcement, operant
Social Learning Theories:
Studies of a__ that demonstrate that it, like many other behaviors is l__.
Other p__ are one source of i__ about the s__.
If aggression leads to p__ outcomes or an e__ from n__ ones, we’ll try to use it to get what we w__.
Children i__ aggressive models
aggression, learned
people, info, self
positive, escape, negative, want
imitate
Social Learning Theories:
Bandura’s Bobo Doll Studies
_ _: Adult model “plays” aggressively or not
_ _: Aggression in children
Compared to a control group, children who saw an adult behave aggressively toward the doll were:
- More likely to display the s__ aggressive behavior
- More likely to develop n__ ways of aggressing.
IV
DV
same
novel
More Social Learning Theory:
Abusive p__ are more likely to have been abused as c__.
-kids who are s__ are more aggressive than kids who are n__.
“Culture of h__” - a__ is an a__ way to defend one’s honor
parents, children
spanked, not
honor, aggression, acceptable,
Social Labeling Perspective:
D__ is caused by l__ attached to b__.
Once one is labeled a c__, they tend to a__ like one.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
-label creates e__ which elicit a__/r__ which then elicit a r__ that confirms the label.
deviance, labels, behaviors
criminal, act
expectations, actions/reactions, response
Social Labeling Theory:Related Concept:
-S__
~i__ Theory
~Can lead to m__ of stories that j__ behavior toward a g__.
~Can lead to r__ profiling
stereotyping
image
maintenance, justify, group
racial
A Synthesis:
Sociological Theories
“People don’t kill people, s__, g__ and r__ structures do.”
Biological Theories
“It’s all about the b__ and h__.”
Psychological Theories
“Nope, people do kill people…. At least c__ k__ of people do.”
Social Psychological Theories
“Yeah, people do kill people, at least some people do, sometimes, when the c__ are perfectly right and they’ve been t__ (or t__) to.”
societies, governments, reward
brain, hormones
certain kinds
conditions, taught, told
An i__ Model:
No one factor explains it all…
Antecedents: P__
B__ - genetic and brain differences
P__ - Personality, intelligence, etc.
E__ - Social class, family history, neighborhoods
Early Indicators: Behavior is relatively s__.
Ag__, bu__, co__ disorder
Note: Violent a__ = violent k__ BUT violent k__ aren’t always violent a__.
Developmental Processes - In__ factors
Sc__, fa__, me__
Mo__, p__ pressure
Al__, su__ abuse
Maintenance Factors
Short-term __, long term __
Bad e__
Long term costs kick in making r_-o__ more likely
integrative
predispositions
biological
psychological
environmental
stable
aggression, bullying, conduct
adults=kids, kids, adults
intensifying, schools, families, media, modeling, peer, alcohol substance
rewards, costs
environments
re-offense
