Unit 2 AC4.1 Assess the use of criminological theories in informing policy development

Question 1

Define tranquillisers.

Answer 1

A medicinal drug taken to reduce tension or anxiety.

Question 2

Define castration.

Answer 2

The removal of testicles or sexual function in males.

Question 3

Define superego.

Answer 3

Conscience or moral part of the mind – acting against it leads to guilt and anxiety.

Question 4

Define eugenics

Answer 4

The study of how to increase the occurrence of heritable characteristics regarded as desirable

Question 5

How has Antabuse been used as a biological way of reducing crime?

Answer 5

Causes extreme hangover effects to drinkers – reduces aggression/violence

Question 6

How has Methadone been used as a biological way of reducing crime?

Answer 6

Reduces withdrawal symptoms in heroin addicts – reduces possession crimes and petty theft to fund habits

Question 7

How has Stilboestrol been used as a biological way of reducing crime?

Answer 7

Female hormone used in chemical castration – reduces sexual urges in sex offenders

Question 8

How has Valium been used as a biological way of reducing crime?

Answer 8

Calms potentially violent or troublesome prisoners down

Question 9

How has tear gas been used as a biological way of reducing crime?

Answer 9

Can be used to control and disperse crowds – causes breathing issues and disorientation

Question 10

How has diet been used as a biological way of reducing crime?

Answer 10

Can be modified to change behavior: additives, vitamins, food coloring, etc.

Question 11

How has surgical castration been used as a biological way of reducing crime?

Answer 11

Has been used to control sex offenders’ urges by removing testicles

Question 12

How has lobotomy been used as a biological way of reducing crime?

Answer 12

Brain surgery to change behavior in violent/sex offenders

Question 13

How has eugenics been used as a genetic way of reducing crime?

Answer 13

Based on the idea that undesirable genes (e.g., criminal gene) can be ‘bred out’

Question 14

How has compulsory sterilization been used as a genetic way of reducing crime?

Answer 14

Several countries introduced laws in the early 20th century to sterilize ‘defectives’

Question 15

How was eugenics used in Nazi Germany?

Answer 15

Extreme eugenics policies led to ‘racial purification’ and the Holocaust

Question 16

How can psychoanalysis reduce crime?

Answer 16

Based on Freud’s idea that the analyst can resolve unconscious conflicts that lead to criminal behavior

Question 17

Why did Aichorn think Young Offending Institutions could reduce crime?

Answer 17

Developed more nurturing YOIs to develop a stronger superego among delinquent youths

Question 18

Is psychoanalysis effective?

Answer 18

Not very. Takes a long time, costs a lot, and the analyst is able to abuse their power

Question 19

How can token economies reduce crime?

Answer 19

Based on the idea that positive reinforcement leads to the repetition of desirable behavior

Question 20

How have token economies been used in prisons?

Answer 20

Inmates earn tokens for desired behavior which are exchanged for rewards

Question 21

Are token economies effective?

Answer 21

Improved behavior in prison, slower return to crime on release, but not long-lasting

Question 22

Define ART

Answer 22

Aggression replacement therapy

Question 23

Define SFP

Answer 23

Self-fulfilling prophecy. The individual lives up to the label they have been given

Question 24

Define panopticon

Answer 24

‘All-seeing’

Question 25

Why might aversion therapy reduce crime according to Eysenck?

Answer 25

Based on Eysenck's idea that highly neurotic criminals are harder to condition

Question 26

How does aversion therapy work?

Answer 26

Used on sex offenders to associate sexual arousal with severely unpleasant stimulus

Question 27

Is aversion therapy effective?

Answer 27

Limited, short-term, and an abuse of human rights (when used to 'cure' gay men)

Question 28

How can cognitive behavioral therapy reduce crime?

Answer 28

To correct 'faulty' thinking patterns of offenders

Question 29

What does ART involve?

Answer 29

Used with violent/aggressive offenders. Involves skills training, anger control, moral reasoning

Question 30

Is ART effective?

Answer 30

Lower reconviction rates. Some studies suggest limited behavioral change

Question 31

What is Think First?

Answer 31

One-to-one or group sessions for repeat offenders on probation. Includes problem-solving, consequential thinking, decision making, and perspective taking

Question 32

What needs to be done to reduce crime according to Merton?

Answer 32

Making society more equal would reduce crime

Question 33

Are Merton's arguments effective?

Answer 33

Policies to tackle poverty, create equal opportunities in school, provide education in prisons

Question 34

What is the basis of labeling theory?

Answer 34

Crime is a result of the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Question 35

Why do labeling theorists promote decriminalization?

Answer 35

Decriminalizing minor offenses avoids labeling

Question 36

Why do labeling theorists promote diversion?

Answer 36

Officially or unofficially avoiding young criminals entering the criminal justice system

Question 37

Why do labeling theorists promote reintegrative shaming?

Answer 37

Labelling the act but not the actor

Question 38

Are labeling theorists' strategies to reduce crime effective?

Answer 38

Can deal successfully with minor offenses and young offenders. Avoiding labeling prevents them from being pushed into a deviant career

Question 39

How does CCTV reduce crime?

Answer 39

Leads people to self-regulate as they never know if they are being watched or not

Question 40

Is CCTV effective?

Answer 40

Easy for criminals to overcome. Probably more effective as reassurance for the public

Question 41

How does profiling reduce crime?

Answer 41

Uses statistical data to draw up a picture of likely offenders

Question 42

Can profiling successfully reduce crime?

Answer 42

Can be discriminatory and lead to the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Question 43

What is situational crime prevention (SCP)?

Answer 43

Measures to make crime more difficult, such as locks, security guards, and reshaping the environment to design out crime

Question 44

What is target hardening?

Answer 44

Measures to make crime more difficult, such as locks, security guards, and reshaping the environment to design out crime

Question 45

What is displacement?

Answer 45

Criminals adopt different methods or different targets rather than not committing crime at all

Question 46

What is environmental crime prevention (ECP)?

Answer 46

Measures to make crime more difficult, such as locks, security guards, and reshaping the environment to design out crime

Question 47

What is zero-tolerance policing (ZTP)?

Answer 47

Tough stance on all crime, even the most trivial. Police concentrate on things like begging and prostitution

Question 48

What is incapacitation?

Answer 48

Criminals in prison are unable to commit crimes

Question 49

What is an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO)?

Answer 49

Sanction for causing harassment, alarm, or distress within a designated area

Question 50

What is democratic policing?

Answer 50

Involving the people and allowing them to have a say in the policies that affect them

Question 51

What is a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)?

Answer 51

A support officer in the police force

Question 52

What is the basis of left realism?

Answer 52

The root cause of crime is an unequal and unfair social structure

Question 53

What policies do left realists propose to tackle crime?

Answer 53

Tackle discrimination, inequality of opportunity, lack of good jobs for all, lack of decent housing for all

Question 54

Would left realist policies be effective?

Answer 54

Reduces relative deprivation and thus reduces some crimes

Question 55

What is multi-agency working?

Answer 55

Involving many agencies apart from the police in the fight against crime

Question 56

How effective are multi-agency approaches?

Answer 56

Some successful campaigns have taken this approach

Question 57

What was the New Labour approach to crime?

Answer 57

Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime

Question 58

Have New Labour approaches to crime been effective?

Answer 58

Some successful campaigns have taken this approach