Unit 2 Flashcards
what are the six biological theories
Lombroso - born criminals
Sheldon - soma types theory
Twin and adoption studies - Mednick et al and Christiansen
Jacobs XYY study - Jacob et al
Brain injuries’ and disorders - Phineas Gage
Biochemical explanations - Ellis and Coontz
what are the 8 individualistic theories
psychoanalysis - Freud
Maternal deprivation theory - Bowlby
personality theory - Eysenck
differential association theory - Sutherland
operant learning theory - Skinner
Social learning theory - Bandura
criminal personality theory - Yochelson and Samenow
moral development theory - Yochelson
what are the 9 sociological theories
cohen - status frustration
cloward and ohlin - 3 subcultures
marxism - karl marx
left realism
right realism
foucault - the panopticon
mathieson - synoptic surveillance
durkheim - fuctionalist theory
merton - strain theory
what are the key ideas of cohen status frustration
crime is a group response to unequal access to societys goal of wealth
what is the key idea of Lombroso’s born criminals
criminals are physically different than non-criminals
How did Lombroso do his study
measured many criminals heads and faces
what is cohen status frustration
working class boys end up at the bottom of schools official status hierachy and feel frustrated and worthless
what were Lombroso’s findings
criminals are more likely to have large jaws, long arms, aquiline noses
what is Atavism
the idea that criminals are throwbacks to a more primative stage of evolutions
what is cohen subcultures
subcultures offer a solution by providing an alternate status hierarchy in which societys values are inverted they gain status by being deviant
what are the strengths of Lombroso’s study
first person to study crime scientifically
shows importance of clinical and historical records of criminals
helps to focus on how to prevent crime rather than punish
what are the key ideas of durkheims fuctionalists theory
crime is the inevitable result of inadequate socialisation/anomie
what is boundary maintenence (durkheim)
crime unites societys members against wrongdoers, reinforcing the boundary between right and wrong
what are the weaknesses of Lombroso’s study
no further evidence to link facial features and criminality
did not compare with control group of non-criminals
Racist. equates criminals with savages / non-western society
what is social change (durkheim)
for society to progress, individuals with new ideas must challenge existing norms and values this is deviance at first
what is the key idea of Sheldon’s somatypes
the body type is related to criminality
how did Sheldon do his somatypes study
looked at body types and compared with likelihood of criminality
what were Sheldon’s findings about somatypes
mesomorphic somatypes are the most likely to be criminal
what are the strengths of Sheldon’s somatypes theory
-other studies have replicated his findings
-most serious delinquents had the mesomorphic somatype
what are the limitations of Sheldon’s somatype theory
-criminality is likely to be a combination of biology and environment not body type
- mesomorphic body type may be due to criminality
- social class might be true cause of offending and mesomorph body type
- mesomorphs more likely to be labelled
what does endomorph mean
rounded, soft bodies, lacking muscle. sociable, relaxed, outgoing. (medium sized person)
what does ectomorph mean
thin, fragile, lacking fat and muscle. flat chested, narrow hips and shoulders, thin face. self conscious, emotionally restrained, thoughtful. (small / thin person)
what does mesomorph mean
muscularly, hardbodies, little fat, strong limbs, broad shoulders, narrow waist. adventurous, sensation-seeking, assertive, domineering. (large person, muscularly)
what is a physiological theory
a theory that focuses on the physicals features of criminals that differ from non-criminals. these are biological theories
what are biological theories
these theories claim that criminals are biologically different than non-criminals and this causes them to commit crime.
what is the key idea of Christiansen’s twin studies
if crime is genetic - identical (MZ) twins should have identical criminality
what were the findings of Christiansen’s twin study
Christiansen: concordance in criminality MZ = 52% vs DZ = 22%
what is the warning light (durkheim)
deviance indicates that society isnt functioning properly so action can be taken to fix it
strengths of durkheim fuctionalists theory
first to recognise that crime can have positive functions for society
what is they idea of Mednick’s adoption study
adoptees share environment of adoptive parents/genes of biological parents. if genetic, criminality will match genetic more.
limitations for durkheims fuctionalists
does not suggest what the right amount of crime is for society to function properly
crime is not functional for all
what are mertons strain theorys key ideas
crime is the result of unequal access to societys goal of wealth
what were the findings of Mednick’s adoption studies
birth parent concordance = 20% vs adopted parent concordance = 14.7%
what are mertons strain theory blocked opportunties
not all have equal chance to achieve wealth - this creates strain for working class people who cannot access wealth legitimately
twin and adoption study strengths
- twin and adoption studies give some support to genetic explanations
- adoption studies overcome the problem of isolating genes and environment
- research design of adoption studies is logical (nature vs nurture)
what is innovation (merton)
accept the goal but find illegal ways to achieve it - unilitarian crimes
twin and adoption study limitations
- if criminality was only genetic MZ twins would have 100% concordance
- it is impossible to isolate genetic effects fully form environment ones.
- adopted children often placed with similar families to their birth families.
what is ritualism (merton)
give up striving for success. plod along in dead end job
what is retreatism (merton)
reject goal and means to achieve drop outs e.g drunks, vagrants
what is the key idea of Jacob’s XYY study
XYY syndrome in males makes them genetically predisposed to criminality.
what is rebellion (merton)
reject goal and means, replacing them with new ones in order to change society - political radicals and alternative cultures
how did Jacob do his XYY study
compared rate of XYY in imprisoned criminals with general population
strengths of mertons strain theory
shows how normal and deviant behaviour arise from the same goals
explains why most crime in statistics is property crime and why working class crime rates are higher
what were Jacobs XYY study findings
Higher than average proportion of inmates had XYY
Features of the XYY syndrome
very tall, well built, low intelligence, high aggression, violent.
Jacob’s XYY study strengths
- Jacob et al found association with XYY and violent prisoners
- Price and Watmore found links with XYY and property crime
limitations of mertons strain theory
ignores crimes of wealthy
only sees deviance as an individual response
focuses on utilitarian crime only
Jacob’s XYY study limitations
- having the syndrome doesn’t mean that is the cause of crime.
- XYY men fit stereotype of violent offenders - labelling theory.
- low intelligence of XYY may give higher chance of being caught.
- syndrome is too rare to explain much crime.
what is function
functionalists argue that everything has a positive role to play in helping society to run smoothly
what is structual theory
an explanation that focuses on the way in which society is organised
what is social solidarity/ intergration
all members of society feel like they belong to the same harmonious unit and most do not deviate from its shared norms
what is genetic explanation
criminality is the result of genes inherited from biological parents
what does monozygotic mean
identical twins that share 100% of the same genes
what does dizygotic mean
Non-identical twins that share only 50% of the same genes
what is anomie
normlesses society has multiple sets of norms and values that are often conflicting
what is strain
conflict between the pressure to conform to societys norms in but still achieve its main goals of the monetary
what is environmental explanation
criminality is the result of the surrounding a child grows up in
what is utilitarian crime
crimes committed for financial gain
what is a chromosome
made from DNA and protein. carry genetic information we inherit from our parents . most people have 23 pairs.
what is the key idea of cloward and ohlin :3 subcultures
different neighbourhoods give rise to different types of deviant subcultures
what is a super-male
another term for XYY syndrome. those affected carry an extra Y (male) chromosome on one of their 23 pairs.
what is the key idea brain injuries
brain injury can change personality and are more common in prisoners.
what are criminal subcultures (cloward and ohlin)
arise in areas where there is a longstanding professional criminal network. they select youths for an apprenticeship in utilitarian crime and future criminal career
what was the study of Phineas gage (brain injuries)
he had a metal rod through the brain. survived but personality changed.
what are conflict subcultures (cloward and ohlin)
arise where the only criminal opportunities are within street gangs. violence is a release for frustration and a source of status earned by winning territory from rival gangs
what are retreatist subcultures (cloward and ohlin)
made up of dropouts who have failed in both the legistimitate and illigitimate oppurtunity structures. often based on drug use
Strengths of subcultures theories
- These theories show how subcultures perform a function for their members by offering solutions to the problem of failing to achieve goals legitimately
- cloward and ohlin show how different types of neighbourhood give rise to different illegitimate opportunities and subcultures
Limitations of subcultural theories
- ignore crimes of wealthy and over predicts working class crime
- assume everyone starts with mainstream goals and turns to a subculture when they fail to achieve them , but some people don’t share those goals in the first place and may be attracted to crime for other reasons
- actual subcultures are not as clear cut as cloward and ohlin claim. Some show characteristics of all three types
What is a subculture
A group within society that has its own set of norms and values that differ from the mainstream
What is status hierarchy
System of stratification based on social prestige this can be linked to occupation ,lifestyle
What are inverted values
Turning society’s values upside down so what is bad becomes good and vice Versa
What are non utilitarian crimes
Crimes committed without financial gain
What are legitimate opportunity structures
A way to work your way up in society while staying within the confines of the law
What are illegitimate opportunity structures
A way to work your way up in society within a criminal or deviant network
What is interactionism
Sees our interactions with each other as based on meanings or labels. Crime and criminals are social constructions
What is labelling theory
No act is deviant or criminal in itself it only becomes so when others label you as such
What is differential enforcement
Social control agencies use typifications to label some groups as criminal more than others
What is primary and secondary deviance
Lemert argues that labelling is a cause of crime, he explains this by distinguishing between primary and secondary deviance
What is self-fulfilling prophecy
When an offender is labelled , society’s reaction pushes them into further deviance . They have lived up to their label
What is the deviance amplification spiral
An attempt to control deviance through a crackdown leads to it increasing rather than decreasing. This leads to greater attempts to control and even more deviance
What is interactionism and crime statistics
Interactionists reject the use of statistics complied by the police because they believe they only measure what the police do rather that what the criminals do
What is the study of the young: the hippies
A study in which police attention and labelling led hippies to retreat into closed groups where drug use took over
what is they key idea of disorders
some brain diseases have been linked with criminal or anti social disorder. dementia, encephalitis lethargica’ brain tumors, Huntington’s chorea.
what are EEG readings
some studies show abnormal EEG readings in psychopathic criminals.
what is the study of cohens the mods and rockers
cohen uses the mods and rockers study to explain the amplification spiral
what are the strengths of brain injuries and disorders theories
- a few extreme cases do show brain injury leads to changes in behavior including criminality.
- some correlation between abnormal EEG readings and psychopathy.
-prisoners are more likely than non-prisoners to have a brain injury.
what was the media exaggeration in the mods and rockers
media exaggeration caused growing public concern
what are the limitations of brain injuries and disorders theories
- crimes caused by brain injury or disease are rare. original personality more important.
- abnormal EEG not necessarily the cause and not found in all psychopaths.
- prisoners higher likelihood of brain injury may be affect of criminality not cause - e.g. getting into fights.
what were the moral entrepreneurs in the mods and rockers
moral entrepreneurs called for a crackdown leading to more arrests and more concern
what is the key idea of biochemical explanations
biochemical substances and processes linked to criminality.
what is the theory about sex hormones in males in biochemical theory
Ellis and Coontz - testosterone peaks puberty at 20 which is the same a criminality.
what are the negative labelling in mods and rockers
negative labelling of mods and rockers as folk devils
what is the theory about sex hormones’ in females in biochemical theory
PMT, PND, lactation all used as defense in court e.g. affected mood/ self control.
what are the strengths of interactionism and labelling theory
- shows that the law is not fixed set of rules but socially constructed
- shifts focus onto how police create crime by applying labels may explain why some groups are overrepresented in crime statistics
- shows how attempts to control can create more deviance
what is the theory about blood sugar in biochemical theory
hypoglycemia linked to aggression.
what is the theory about substance abuse in biochemical theory
prescription and illegal drugs and alcohol linked to crime. can lead to increased aggression.
what are limitations interactionism and labelling theory
- derterministic assumes we have no choice but live up to labels
- gives offenders a victim status
- fails to explain primary deviance
- doesnt say where power to apply a label comes from
- fails to explain why labels are applied to some groups but not others
what are the strengths of biochemical theory
- biochemical factors recognized by the courts.
- sex hormones, alcohol, drugs all know to affect mood/ behavior
what are the limitations of biochemical theory
- biochemical processes may need an environmental trigger too.
- some studies find testosterones not linked to physical aggression.
- infanticide may be cause by isolation rather than hormones.
what does EEG do
measures brain activity
what is testosterone
male sex hormone linked to aggression, murder and rape.
what does PMT mean
pre-menstrual tension - fluctuation in female sex hormones.
what does PND mean
post-natal depression - used as defense in infanticide
what is lactation
breast-feeding. used as defense in female crimes.
what is hypoglycemia
low blood sugar. linked to aggression and alcohol abuse.
how can environmental factors be used as a criticism of biological theories
biology may give potentially criminal characteristics but need environmental factors too. (biology wont always lead to criminality)
what is primary deviance
acts that have not been publicly labelled- usually trivial and uncaught. offender soley in terms of their label - this becomes their master status
how can sample bias be used as a criticism of biological theories
only studying criminals means we don’t know about those that got away - cant generalize
how can gender bias be used as a criticism of biological theories
most biological research only tells us about male criminality.
how can crime is a social construct be used as a criticism of biological theories
biological theories look for universal explanations, but crime varies over time, place and culture.
what is a sfp
the individuals lives up to the label up to the label they have been given
what is the key idea of Freuds psychoanalysis
our early childhood experiences determine our personality and future behavior including criminality
what are folk devils
a group or individuals who is labelled negatively by society
what are the 3 personality types of Freuds psychoanalysis
the 3 types are id, ego and superego
what are typifications
ideas about what a typical criminal like
how does Freuds psychoanalysis link to crime
anti social behavior caused by abnormal relationships with parents (neglect or excessively harsh or relaxed parenting). conflicts between id, ego and superego are unresolved. which leads to a weak, over-harsh or deviant superego.
what is social construction
something that has been made or defined by society rather occurring naturally
what is determinism
the idea that our behaviour is caused by an external force outside of our control -we have free will
what are the strengths of Freuds psychoanalysis
- points to importance of socialization and early family’s relationships in understanding criminal behavior.
- some influence on policies for dealing with crime and deviance
- critics doubt the existence of the unconscious mind
what is the key idea of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory
there is a link between maternal deprivation and deviant or anti-social behavior
what are the limitations of Freuds psychoanalysis
unscientific and subjective - relies on accepting claims of a psychoanalyst about the unconscious mind of someone else. no way to tell if they are correct.
what is attachment in Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory
that a child needs a close, continuous relationship with a primary carer from birth to 5 to develop normally.
what is marxism two classes
society is divided into two main class groups - bourgeoisie and proletariat
what is separation in Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory
if attachment is broken, even for a short time, it can lead to affectionless psychopathy and criminal behavior.
what is marxims societys institutions
all institutions including the law and criminal justice system work to support capitalism and keep the working class in their place
what is the evidence of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory
study of 44 juvenile thieves referred to child guidance clinic. 39% suffered maternal deprivation before the age of 5 compared with 5% of control group of non-delinquents.
what are the strength of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation
- backed up with evidence form the 44 thieves study
- shows the importance of parent-child relationships in criminality.
what is the exploitation of capitalism causes crime
crime is often the only way to survive for the working class as they live in poverty
what are the limitations of Bowlby’s maternal deprivation theory
- retrospective studies rely on memory
- doesn’t explain why 61% were not delinquents
- no evidence of affectionless psychopathy in further studies
- overestimates how far early childhood affects later behavior
- Sammons and Putwain - they say maternal deprivation is not linked to criminality
what is consumerism in capitalism causes crime
advertising pressures people into utilitarian crimes to get goods
what is alienation and frustration in capitalism causes crime
inequality causes people to lash out and commit non- utilitarian crimes
what does id mean
instinctive ‘animal’ part of mind - selfish, pleasures seeking
what is greed and the profit motive in capitalism causes crime
capitalism is a dog- eat - dog system and encourages corporate crimes to gain an advantage
what does superego mean
conscience or moral part of mind - acting against it leads to guilt and anxiety
what does ego mean
referees the urges of id and superego. tries to satisfy the ids urges in a socially acceptable way
what is chambliss in making and enforcing law
laws are made to protect the private property of the rich
what is a weak superego
less guilt feelings and more likely to act on ids urges.
what is a harsh superego
craves punishment to release guilt feelings
what is a deviant superego
successful socialization but into deviant moral code.
what is a primary carer
the main person who looks after the child
what is selective law enforcement in making and enforcing law
white collar and corporate crimes of the rich are much less likely to be prosecuted than working class street crimes
what is attachment
describes the relationship between child and primary carer
what is affectionless psychopathy
inability to form meaningful relationships as a result of broken attachment before the age of 5.
what is socialization
process of learning norms and values
what is the key idea of Eysenck’s personality theory
criminality is the result of a highly neurotic and highly extroverted personality types.
what is the example : carson in making and enforcing law
out of 200 companies who had broken safety laws, only 3 were prosecuted
what is the ideas about crime and law in ideological fuctions of crime and law
these are an ideology that conceal the inequality of capitalism
what are the personality dimensions of Eysenck’s personality theory
extraversion vs introversion
neuroticism vs emotional stability and later added psychoticism
what is selective enforcement in ideological functions and law
divides working class by making them blame each other instead of capitalism for the problems they face in society
what diverts attention in ideological functions of crime and law
nobody focuses on the much more serious ruling class crimes
what is a caring face in ideological functions of crime and la w
laws which seem to benefit working class actually benefit capitalism make it seem caring
how does extraversion link to crime in Eysenck’s personality theory
have a nervous system with a high need for stimulation so constantly seek excitement through rule-braking and impulsive behavior.
what is the strengths of marxism
- shows how poverty can cause working class crime and how capitalism promotes greed and encourages ruling class crime too
- shows how law making and enforcement are biased against the working class and in favour of the poweful
how does neurotics link to crime in Eysenck’s personality theory
are harder to condition into following society’s rules because high anxiety levels prevent them from learning from punishment
how does psychotics link to crime in Eysenck’s personality theory
people with high P score tend to be solitary misfits who are more likely to be criminal and may have serious mental illness e.g. schizophrenia
strengths of Eysenck’s personality theory
- describes how some measurable tendencies may lead to criminality
limitations of Eysenck’s personality theory
- Farrington’s study show that prisoners are not often extraverted
- E measures two separate things - impulsiveness and sociability. these things don’t always correspond.
- personality type and criminality are correlated, but this doesn’t prove personality types cause criminality.
- convicted offenders may not be typical of offenders on the whole.
- Eysenck used self-report questionnaires - people may lie making the results invalid.
What are the limitatations of Marxism
- focuses on class and ignores the relationship between crime and other inequalities
- over predicts the amount of working class crime - not all poor people turn to crime
- not all capitalist societies have high crime rates
What is structural theory
An explanation that focuses on the way in which society is organised
What is capitalism
An economic system in which there are 2 classes. The ruling class exploit the working class for profit
What is proletariat
The working class. They have to sell the their labour in order to survive
What is institution
A complex intergrated set of social norms
What is consumerism
A society which values the buying or consuming of goods
What is the bourgeoisie
The ruling. They own the means of production. They exploit the working class for profit
What is corporate crime
Crime committed by or on behalf of a company
What is ideology
A set of ideas of beliefs
What is criminogenic
Causes crime
What is collar crime
Crime committed by an employee within the workplace
What is selective enforcement
When the law in applied differently to different people
What is political outlook in left realism
Left wing , socialist. See inequality in capitalist society as root cause of crime. Crime reduction by making society fairer and more equal
What is cause : relative deprivation in left realism
The media and growing inequality make people unable to afford the lifestyle that is promoted to them. Some turn to crime to gain what they think they should have
What is cause : subculture in left realism
Criminal subcultures share society’s materialistic goals - legitimate opportunities to achieve them are blocked so they turn to crime
What is cause : marginalisation in left realism
Marginalised groups have no goals or organisations to represent their interests. Their frustration leads them into non-utilitarian crime
Strengths of left realism
- draws attention to importance of poverty, inequality and relative deprivation as causes of crime
- draws attention to reality of street crime especially effects on victims from deprived groups
Limitations of left realism
- Henry and milovanovic : fails to explain crimes of the powerful
- over predicts working class crime. Not all poor people turn to crime
- focus on the inner city high crime areas makes crime appear to be greater problem than it is
What is the political outlook of right realism
Right wing conservative. See crime as a as a growing problem. Best way to reduce it or via control and punishment
What is cause: biological differences in right realism
Wilson and hernstein : some individuals have biological traits which make them more prone to criminality
What is cause : inadequate socialisation in right realism
The underclass is welfare dependent and does not have the right norms and values. Lone mothers mean boys lack a male role model and turn to gangs
What is offending is a rational choice in right realism
People weigh up the costs and benefits of committing a crime before deciding to do it. They have free will
What is felson in right realism
For a crime to occur there needs to be a motivated offender , a suitable target and lack of a capable guardian
what are the strengths of right realism
- rct is supported by rettigs study where students choice to committ crime was determined by severity of punishment
- feldmans study also found that people would commit crime if risks were low with high rewards
- bennet and wright : burglars said risk of being caught was important in deciding the decision to commit the crime
what are the limitations of right realism
- rettig and feldmans studies were lab experiments - not like real life
- bennet and wright studiedconvicted burglars. may not be the same as successful ones
what is right wing
the view that social inequality is inevitable, natural, normal or desirable
what is conservative
adverse to change or innovation and holding traditional values. favours competition and meritocracy
what is left wing
supports social equality and often in opposition to social hierachy. wants to support the disadvantaged and reduce inequality
what is a socialist
believes in cooperation and collective ownership. favours equality and social welfare
what is relative deprivation
feeling poor or disadvantaged in comparision to those around you
what is the key idea of foucault :the panopticon
in todays society people engage in self - surveilance. we are also under electronic surveillance. surveillance has become an increasingly important form of crime control
what is the panopticon in the foucault theory
a prison designed so that guards could see all prisoners, but prisoners did not know if they were being watched or not
what is self surveilance in the foucault theory
prisoners had to assume they were being watched and behave properly just in case
what is the disciplinary power in the foucault theory
foucault argues this design is now everywhere in society and disciplinary power and self surveillance now reaches every individual
what is the key idea : synopticon in mathiesons theory
as well as surveillance from above, we are now surveilled from below aswell, everybody watches everybody
what is an example of mathiesons synoptic surveillance
motorcyclists can monitor the behaviour of others with dashcams or helmet cameras. this may change behaviour of others they excersise self- discipline
what is actuarial in actuarial justice and profiling
comes from the insurance industry - an actuary is someone who calculates the risk of certain events happening
what is feeley and simon in actuarial justice and profiling
actuarial justice is a new form of surveillance. it aims to predict and prevent future offending. it uses statistical information to reduce crime by compiling profiles of likely offenders
what are the strengths of surveillance theories
- focaults work has led to more research into surveillance and disciplinary power - especially the idea of an electronic panopticon
- researchers have identified other forms of surveillance such as actuarial justice and profiling
what are the limitations of surveillance theories
- focault exaggerates the extent of control
- surveillance may not change peoples behaviour as faucault claims
what is disciplinary power
power that is excersised over people, to develop their capacity for self control, or to encourage them to conform to societys norms and values
what is self - surveillance
when people have to regulate their own behaviour because they know they could be getting watched
what are general criticisms of sociological theories
the underlying causes - sociologists disagree with each other about the causes of crime
overprediction - dont explain why not every disadvantage person turns to crime
biological and psychological factors - neglect factors that might explain why one person might turn to crime but another person in the same social position might not
what is extraversion
an outgoing, sociable, excitement seeking. impulsive, aggressive personality.
what is an introvert
a reserved, inward-looking, serious, pessimistic, self- controlled personality.
what does neurotic mean
anxious, moody, depressed, prone to over- reacting.
what is conditioning
learning through experiences to seek pleasure (rewards) and avoid pain (punishments)
what is genetic inheritance
some individuals are born with a nervous system that causes them to develop a criminal personality.
what is psychoticism
having a personality that is cruel, insensitive, aggressive and lacking in empathy.
what is correlation
relationship between two variables - not cause and effect
what is validity
how true a test is - does it actually measure what it sets out to measure
what is the key idea of Sutherlands differential association theory
criminality is the result of imitation and learned attitudes in groups that favor law breaking
what study was used for Sutherlands differential association theory
group attitudes in the workplace often normalized behavior. members able to justify their crimes - everyone else is doing it.
strength of Sutherland differential association theory
- crime often runs in families
- Matthews said that juvenile delinquents are more likely to have friends who commit anti-social acts - they learn from peer groups.
limitations of Sutherlands differential association theory
not everyone exposed to criminal influences become criminal
what is the key idea of skinners operant learning theory
if a behavior results in a reward it will be repeated. if it results in an undesirable outcome it will not.
how does skinners operant learning theory link to crime
Jeffreys differential reinforcements theory (DRT) suggests that crime must therefore have more rewards for criminals than punishments
strengths of skinners operant learning theory
- if a behavior results in a reward it will be repeated. if it results in an undesirable outcome it will not.
- DRT suggests that crime must therefore have more rewards for criminals than punishments
limitations of skinners operant learning theory
- animals are not the same as humans
- theory ignores mental processes such as thinking, attitudes and values.
- ignores free will of humans - deterministic
what is the key idea of banduras social learning theory
much of our behavior is learned form imitating others (models)
what is imitation
we are more likely to imitate people of higher status than us, and if we see them being rewarded
what is the evidence behind banduras social learning theory
bobo doll study. children most likely to imitate violent adult model when they see them rewarded.
strengths of banduras social learning theory
- takes account of our social nature =- we learn from others experiences
- banduras study shows importance of role models in learning deviance
limitations of banduras social learning theory
- based on lab studies so lacks validity
- not all observed behavior is easily imitated - we may see criminals rewarded but lack the skills to copy.
- ignores free will of humans - deterministic
what is imitation
we acquire criminal skills through observing those around us.
what is learned attitudes
socialization within a group teaches them attitudes and values about the law.
what is behaviorism
the idea that rewards and punishments shape our behaviors - even criminality
what is positive reinforcement
behavior is strengthened by a positive outcome (reward)
what is negative reinforcement
behavior is strengthened by an undesirable outcome
what is determinism
the idea that our behavior is caused by an external force outside of our control - we have no free will.
what are models
people whose behavior we imitate
what study was used for Yochelson and Samenow’s criminal personality theory
240 male offenders, most of whom had been committed to a psychiatrist unit
What is the key idea of Yochelson and Samenow’s criminal personality theory
criminals are prone to faulty thinking and this makes them more likely to commit crime
how Yochelson and Samenow’s criminal personality theory links to crime
criminals show a range of biases and errors in theri thinking and decision-making which may lead to crime e.g. lying, secretiveness, the need for power and control
strengths of Yochelson and Samenow’s criminal personality theory
- this has led to other research e.g. PICTS
- successful treatment e.g. CBT have been developed from these ideas
limitations of Yochelson and Samenow’s criminal personality theory
- Yochelson and Samenow didn’t use a control group of non-criminals to compare thinking error with.
-their sample was unrepresentative - only males, and mostly in psychiatric hospitals. cant account for all criminals
-high sample attrition rate - only 30 left in study by the end
key idea of Kohlberg’s moral development theory
our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and stages from childhood to adulthood.
how does Kohlberg’s moral development theory link to crime
criminals are stuck at a less mature level of moral development and likely to think only of reward and punishment, not about how their actions affect others.
what is CBT
cognitive behavioral therapy - treatment to ‘correct’ faulty thinking patterns - most likely treatment of cognitive theories
what are the strengths of Kohlberg’s moral development theory
- some studies support delinquents having less mature stages of moral development
- found the theory to be truer for planned crimes such as theft and robbery than impulsive crime link violence
what are the limitations of Kohlberg’s moral development theory
- focuses on moral thinking rather than moral behavior. someone may be perfectly capable of thinking morally, whilst acting immorally
what is cognition
thinking / mental processes such as attitudes, beliefs, reasoning, decision-making, self concept and how we interpret the world around us.
what is cognitive theory
the idea that how we think, interpret a situation will affect how we respond
what is PICTS
psychological inventory of criminal thinking styles - a questionnaire aimed at reveling criminal thought patterns
what does representative mean
if the result of a study can be generalized to the whole population
what is an attrition rate
the number of participants who drop out of a study
