week 8ish - early postivism Flashcards
1
Q
positivist school key characteristics
A
- human behaviour is determined by factors beyond free will (determinism)
- the use of the scientific method (hypotheses/data/collection/data analysis)
2
Q
early positivist perspectives
A
- earliest positivist perspectives assumed that crime was caused by biology
- key theorist = Cesare Lombroso
- Lombroso was influenced by
3
Q
craniometry
A
the size of brain or skull
4
Q
phrenology
A
shape of the head
5
Q
physiognomy
A
facial features
6
Q
Cesare Lombroso
A
- wrote “the criminal man”, applying the scientific method to the study of criminality (measured the skulls/body types of prisoners
- concluded that criminals were atavistic (evolutionary throwbacks)
-> could be identified through physical stigmata - said that criminals could be identified by
1. retreating foreheads
2. large ears
3. large jaws, strong canine teeth
4. long arms
5. tattoos - lombroso brought the focus on physical appearance into criminology through the scientific method
- heavily critiqued and ultimately was not supported empirically
7
Q
implications of Lombroso
A
- used to support policies of eugenics
- misguided notion that the bad genes that led to diseases like feeblemindedness and criminality could and should be eliminated from the human gene pool through selective breeding (sterilization) and extermination - Buck v. Bell (1927)
- “it is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerative offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind”
8
Q
Monozygotic (MZ) Twins
A
- 1 sperm and 1 egg split into two
- genetically identical
- “identical twins”
- Twin studies have found a higher rate of concordance for criminality amongst MZ twins compared to DZ twins.
9
Q
limitation of twin studies
A
- environment
10
Q
Dizygotic (DZ) Twins
A
- 2 eggs and 2 sperm
- no more genetically similar than 2 full siblings
- “fraternal twins”
11
Q
somatotyping
A
- sheldon (1949)
- argued that there was a link between body type and crime
- argued that there were 3 body types, each with distinct personalities
1. endomorph
2. mesomorph
3. ectomorph
12
Q
endomorph
A
- obese
- outgoing
13
Q
mesomorph
A
- muscular
- agressive
- most likely to be a criminal
14
Q
ectomorph
A
- skinny
- withdrawn
15
Q
early perspectives on intelligence
A
- early positivists said there was a link between feeblemindedness (low IQ) and crime
- an early study argued that feeblemindedness was inherited and time-stable, and that low IQ people were more likely to be criminal
16
Q
contemporary perspectives on intelligence
A
- Hirschi and HIndelang (1977)
- intelligence has an indirect effect on criminiality through school performance
intelligence -> school performance-> crime
17
Q
operant learning
A
- learning to produce or withhold a particular response due to its consequences
- assumes we are motivated by reinforcements/punishments
- B.F. Skinner
18
Q
Reinforcement
A
- seeks to increase the likelihood of a specific behaviour
1. positive reinforcement: something positive gained
2. negative reinforcement: something negative removed
19
Q
punishment
A
- seeks to reduce the likelihood of a specific behaviour
1. positive punishment: something negative is added
2. negative punishment: something positive is removed
20
Q
operant conditioning and crime
A
basic argument
- criminal behaviour is learned through the reinforcement and/or punishment it brings
- social learning theory
examples of operant conditioning in the CJS
- youth custody in B.C.
- try and shape youth behaviour in the centre through rewards and punishment (point based level system)
