Week 2: readings Flashcards
What is the focus of Kate Fox’s exploration in ‘Watching the English’?
The behavioural norms and cultural rules that define English identity
Fox’s approach combines humour, keen observation, and academic analysis.
What is the primary function of small talk in English culture?
To initiate social interactions without emotional exposure. To gage reciprocity in enganging in a conversation.
Weather discussions serve as a safe and neutral topic. Icebreaker
What is the ‘distance rule’ in gossip?
The more ‘distant’ from you the subject of gossip, the wider the circle of people with whom you may gossip about that person. Gossiping is the most common form of groom-talking.
This allows social bonding.
How is humour perceived in English social interactions?
As integral, managing awkwardness and creating bonds
Humour is the ‘default mode’.
What is the significance of queueing in English culture?
It reflects fairness and order
Queue etiquette is highly valued.
What does ‘self-deprecating humour’ promote in English interactions?
Modesty and relatability
It allows individuals to appear modest while maintaining rapport. Appearing modest is very important to the brittish.
What are ‘class indicators’ in English culture?
Linguistic and behavioural markers that signal an individual’s social class
Examples include vocabulary choices and pronunciation. Vocabulary choices (e.g., “napkin” vs. “serviette”) and pronunciation reveal one’s social class.
What characterizes the English conversational style?
Understatement and indirectness
These are hallmarks of English dialogue.
Fill in the blank: The English tend to _______ frequently to smooth over social interactions.
over-apologise
This reflects their cultural tendency to avoid conflict
What is the role of privacy in English public behaviour?
To value emotional reserve and avoid public displays of affection
Emotional restraint is prized in English culture. Emotional reserve is tied to notions of self-contril and modesty.
What does ‘pub etiquette’ include?
Buying rounds of drinks and respecting personal space
These rules foster inclusivity and fairness.
True or False: The English are open about discussing their emotions in public.
False
They avoid intense personal discussions.
What is a paradox in English behaviour related to pride?
Pride vs. Self-Doubt
The English express pride in heritage while also being self-critical.
What is another paradox present in the English culture?
Politeness vs. Passive-Aggressiveness: While outwardly polite, English communication can often contain passive-aggressive undertones.
What is the significance of class consciousness in English culture?
It influences language, behaviour, and personal presentation
Class distinctions remain embedded in everyday life. Class symbols = hobbies, dress and home decor
How have English rituals adapted to modern influences?
They have evolved while retaining core principles like politeness and humour
Globalisation and technology have impacted these behaviours.
What is the term for participating in the life and culture of the people one studies?
Participant Observation
This is a method used by anthropologists.
Fill in the blank: The English identity is rooted in emotional restraint, a love of rituals, and an obsession with _______.
class markers
What is ‘understatement’ in the context of English conversation?
A style that downplays emotions or achievements
It reflects the English aversion to exaggeration.
Difference in bonding talk between males and females
- Female bonding talk = ritual exchange of compliments (counter-compliments)
- Male bonding talk = mine is better than yours
What historical practices were early crime prevention efforts based on?
Eugenics and biological determinism
Early methods often focused on biological or mental predispositions leading to unethical practices.
What does modern biosocial criminology integrate?
Biological and social factors
This integration aims to create developmental crime prevention programs.
What is the focus of developmental crime prevention?
Addressing early biological and social risk factors
This approach aims to prevent crime before it occurs.
List the types of prevention strategies in crime prevention.
- Developmental prevention - Targets biological and psychological risk factors early in life (ie: impulsivity, aggression, neuropsychological defecits)
- Community prevention - change the social conditions and institutions
- Situational prevention - reducing opportunity to commit crime
- Criminal justice prevention - deterrent and rehabilitative strategies
What are neuropsychological deficits linked to?
Later criminal behaviour
These deficits (deficits in executive function, attention and intelligence) may arise from prenatal drug exposure, childhood trauma, or genetic predisposition.
Define impulsivity in the context of delinquency.
An inability to control behaviour
Impulsivity is a strong predictor of delinquency.
What role do family and parenting programs play in crime prevention?
Improve parenting skills and reduce risk factors for antisocial behaviour
Programs like Nurse-Family Partnership provide support to parents.
What is the Perry Preschool Project?
A preschool program for disadvantaged children
It targets cognitive and social development to reduce long-term crime rates.
How do nutritional interventions impact crime prevention?
Improve brain functioning and reduce aggression
Better nutrition in childhood correlates with decreased antisocial behaviour.
What is the public health perspective on crime prevention?
A proactive approach to mitigate risks before harm occurs
It parallels disease prevention strategies.
What ethical considerations must biosocial criminology address?
Respect individual rights and avoid discriminatory practices
Ensuring ethical interventions is crucial in biosocial criminology.
True or False: Early crime prevention focused primarily on social factors.
False
Early crime prevention was largely based on biological determinism.
Fill in the blank: __________ is defined as a personality trait linked to delinquency and characterized by difficulty controlling behavior.
Impulsivity
What is the significance of addressing neuropsychological deficits early?
It can significantly reduce long-term criminal tendencies
Early intervention is key to preventing future delinquency.
Which nutritional supplement has been linked to improved brain function and reduced aggression?
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
These supplements can help mitigate cognitive deficits associated with antisocial behaviour.
Describe the goals of developmental crime prevention programs.
To mitigate biological and social risk factors early in life
The focus is on creating supportive environments for children.
What does biosocial criminology emphasize in terms of crime causation?
The interplay between biological and social factors
This approach moves away from purely biological determinism.
What is the central focus of Thornhill and Palmer’s analysis of rape?
Biological and evolutionary perspectives
What does the adaptation hypothesis propose about rape?
It evolved as a reproductive strategy
How do the authors use cross-species comparisons in their analysis?
To highlight similar coercive mating behaviours in animals
What is one criticism of the evolutionary perspective on rape?
It undermines efforts to hold perpetrators accountable
What is the role of cultural norms in the authors’ argument?
They shape how biological predispositions manifest
Why do Thornhill and Palmer emphasize fertility in their analysis?
It explains why younger women are often targeted
What prevention strategy is recommended by the authors?
Educating the public about biological predispositions
How does the byproduct hypothesis differ from the adaptation hypothesis?
It views rape as a consequence of other traits like aggression
What role does male competition play in the evolutionary analysis of rape?
It creates pressures that lead to coercive behaviours
How can integrating biological and cultural perspectives help address rape?
By providing a more comprehensive understanding of the issue
Define the adaptation hypothesis and how it explains rape.
The adaptation hypothesis proposes that rape evolved as a reproductive strategy to maximise male reproductive success in ancestral environments.
Explain the byproduct hypothesis and its view of sexual violence.
The byproduct hypothesis views rape as an unintended consequence of other traits, such as aggression or high libido, rather than an adaptive behaviour.
How do cultural norms interact with biological predispositions in shaping behaviour?
Cultural norms influence how biological predispositions manifest, either mitigating or exacerbating behaviours like aggression or coercion.
Why do the authors emphasise cross-species comparisons in their analysis?
Cross-species comparisons show that sexual coercion exists in non-human animals, providing insight into the evolutionary basis of human behaviours.
What prevention strategies do the authors recommend based on their evolutionary framework?
The authors recommend prevention strategies like public education about risk factors, reducing conditions that facilitate coercion, and promoting gender equality.
What are the two main hypotheses regarding the evolutionary framework for rape?
- Adaptation Hypothesis
- Byproduct Hypothesis
What is a key term that examines human behaviour through evolutionary adaptations?
Evolutionary Psychology
What is the definition of sexual coercion?
Non-consensual sexual behaviour used by individuals to achieve reproductive or dominance goals
What does the term ‘reproductive success’ refer to?
The ability to pass on one’s genes to the next generation
What is the Fertility Hypothesis?
The idea that rapists target younger, more fertile women due to evolutionary reproductive drives
What is the significance of male aggression and sexual drive in the context of rape?
Traits that may interact in ways conducive to coercive behaviours
What factors increase the likelihood of rape according to Thornhill and Palmer?
- Male Aggression and Sexual Drive
- Youth and Fertility of Victims
- Lack of Opportunity for Consensual Mating
What is a potential effect of unwanted pregnancy on the victim’s trauma?
It may affect the degree of trauma the victim experiences
