Theories of Crime and Offenders Flashcards
What is Robert Merton’s strain theory?
the inability to achieve economic success causes anomie or the desire to achieve success through deviant means
MODERATE THEORY
What is absolute deprivation/conflict theory?
crime is a socially constructed label that powerful groups placed onto groups who hold less social power to control them
What is the Blau and Blau theory of relative deprivation/inequality?
the perceived inequality for distribution of resources causes stress, resentment and deviance
STRONG THEORY
What is rational choice theory?
offenders make rational judgements about their decision to engage in crime
WEAK THEORY
What is the feminist theory of crime?
males who seek to maintain power in the gendered social system through the deployment of violence against women and children
What is the Shaw and McKay theory of social disorganisation?
crime is a function of neighbourhood dynamics which produces a lack of behavioural control mechanisms
STRONG THEORY
What is the Cohen and Felson routine activity theory?
a mixture of motivation, capable guardian absence and a suitable victim lead to crime
MODERATE THEORY
What is the Cloward and Ohlin theory of differential opportunity?
discontent arising from different access to socially desired goals
What is the Cullen social support/altruism theory?
social support, cohesion and altruism decreases crime
MODERATE THEORY
What is the Fisher subcultural delinquency theory?
large urban areas create criminal conventions, increase likelihood of coming into contact with criminogenic interests, development of in-group biases
What is the Sutherland differential association theory?
social milieu affects motives attitudes, drives and types of crime committed
What are the Glueck and Glueck criminogenic factors?
punitive child rearing practises, lack of love, rejection, lack of boundaries and supervision, family disruption and deviant parental characteristics
List some strong predictors of crime?
racial heterogeneity
poverty
family disruption
levels of incarceration
What is the biological theory of crime?
crime is a form of illness caused by pathological factors; mental and physical inferiority causing an inability to learn and follow rules
What is sociobiological theory?
as humans it has been considered advantageous in the past
What is psychodynamic theory?
an abnormal development of the psyche
weak superego; weak moral and social constraints resulting from abnormal familial relationships
deviant superego; internalisation of same sex parent so act as a poor moral regulator
powerful superego; renders the person anxious or guilty much of the time so crime is an outburst of built up aggression
How can Bowlby’s attachment theory be applied to crime?
the inability to form meaningful social relationships in adulthood is dependent on difficult attachment as a child
What are some common characteristics of criminals?
disturbed backgrounds
drug and alcohol problems
antisocial traits
adverse life events
Define actus reus
behaviour was voluntary with criminal intent, exercising free will and can be held responsible for their actions
Define mens reus
relates to the state of mind and if they intended to commit the crime and if they understood the consequences of their actions
What did Angermeyer and Schulze find in relation to media representation of crime?
the largest proportions of stories about the mentality ill were concerned with murder
What are early starters?
a consistent history of antisocial behaviour from a young age and a pattern of antisocial behaviour when unwell
What are late starters?
history of offending tends to be during the onset of symptoms, more positively helped by treatment
How is mania related to crime?
criminal history has been linked to manic episodes perhaps due to decreased disinhibition
