Theories of Crime - Week 1

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

Set of interconnected statements - explains how 2 or more Events or factors are related to one other

Question 2

Concrete theories

Answer 2

Personal experience / directly observed

Question 3

Concrete Theories Example

Answer 3

Eating all Halloween candy at once we will feel sick

Throwing a baseball at the window will break the window

Question 4

Abstract Theory

Answer 4

Involve multiple factors in connections between cause and affect may not be immediately observable

Question 5

Example of Abstract Theory

Answer 5

Relationship between mental illness and stigma

Question 6

Inductive Theory

Answer 6

The theory developed following repeated systemic observational phenomenon

Question 7

Example of Inductive Theory

Answer 7

Interviewing members of youth gangs

Question 8

Deductive Theory

Answer 8

Intuition or imagination and then tested for empirical validity

Question 9

Types of criminological theory

3 Types

Answer 9

1) Biological theory
2) psychological theory
3) sociological theory

Question 10

Biological & Psychological Theories

Answer 10

Primarily concern is explaining why people engage in behaviours of violate establish social norms

Question 11

Sociological theories

Answer 11

Examine the violation of social norms in process by which some actions become defined as deviant or criminal

Question 12

Sociological Theories

Answer 12

Some sociological theories concern are social factors that lead individuals to commit crimes while others are interested in explaining deviance is a process of active designation in which more powerful can actively define less powerful as deviants

Question 13

Scope - Pervasiveness

Answer 13

Refers to a range of phenomena that a theory can explain
A theory that can explain wide range of crimes is more useful and probably better theory than one that only explains theft

Question 14

Accuracy

Answer 14

Refers to the extent in which theory matches empirical reality and therefore allows us to make correct predictions

Question 15

Accuracy Example

Answer 15

The theory stating criminal behaviour is the result of growing up in a poor neighbourhood would lead us to predict individuals growing up in a poor neighbourhood are more likely to engage in crime

Question 16

Ontology

Answer 16

The study of being or existence

Categorization of the world as it appealed within framework of our science, society, historical period, etc.

Question 17

Ontology Example

Answer 17

Development of microscope change ontology of scientific world

Question 18

Epistemology

Answer 18

Defines how we can know about the world
Tools or understandings we used to find the truth and collect knowledge
what distinguishes true or good knowledge from false believes
Epistemological approach is generally classified as a rationalist or empiricist

Question 19

Rationalists

Answer 19

Believe that knowledge is a product of rational reflection
Rationalists argue that we can use pure reason to define existence
Use reasoning to discover the truth
Mathematics and theories of physics rely on rationalist epistemology to make claims about reality that we cannot observe

Question 20

Empiricist

Answer 20

Argue experience is a foundation of knowledge and understanding
Knowledge is product of sensory perception
Must be able to hear smell, touch, taste, or experience phenomenon in order to know about it

Question 21

Concepts

Answer 21

Terms and ideas when is dealing with in theory
May be concrete abstract and can be defined variably according to one's ontology or ideology
Gender, alienation society, crime, deviance, class are all concepts used in criminology

Question 22

Marcotheories

Answer 22

Broad in scope & best characterized as those explain social structure and it’s effects
Focus more on the rates of crime not on criminals & their behaviour

Question 23

Microtheories

Answer 23

Theory based on assumptions that a particular way of characterizing society is best
Explains how people become criminals
Focus could be on specific groups usually they’re small groups or individuals
They may range from purely social to purely psychological
Not interested in social structure & crime rates
Social control and social learning theories