Criminology: Theories and Crimes (Modules 1–7)

Flashcards covering the definitions of criminological theories, individual and sociological views on crime, and developmental perspectives based on the provided lecture notes.

Theory

An abstract statement or set of assumptions that explains why certain things happen or how they are related, providing understanding of a phenomenon.

Criminological Theories

Explanations of criminal behavior and the actions of personnel in the criminal justice system, such as police, judges, and victims.

Criminologist (Wolfgang and Ferracute)

A person whose professional training and analysis are concentrated on a scientific approach to the study of the phenomenon of crime and criminal behavior.

Registered Criminologist

A person holding a valid certificate of registration and an updated professional identification card issued pursuant to R.A. $11131$ (The Philippine Criminology Profession Act of $2018$).

Crime

An act or omission punishable by law.

Consensus view of crime

The belief that criminal law reflects the values and opinions of society's mainstream and that there is general agreement on what behaviors are repugnant.

Conflict view of crime

A radical approach stating that criminal law protects the powerful and privileged, making the definition of crime a political concept.

Interactionist view of crime

The view that crime labels reflect the preferences of people with social power who use their influence to impose their definitions of right and wrong on others.

Rational Choice Theory (RCT)

Inspired by Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham, it holds that crime is a matter of choice where individuals weigh the benefits against the consequences.

Utilitarianism

The principle that a person's actions are based on the promotion of overall happiness or pleasure and the rejection of pain.

Situational Crime Prevention

Measures aimed at making crime more difficult to commit by increasing the effort, increasing the risk, or reducing the rewards of the act.

General Deterrence

A crime control policy that relies on the fear of criminal penalties, aiming to convince potential law violators that the pains of crime outweigh the benefits.

Specific Deterrence

The view that if a particular offender is punished severely, they will never be tempted to repeat their offense.

Routine Activities Theory (RAT)

Proposes that crime depends on the interaction of three factors: motivated offenders, suitable targets, and the lack of capable guardians.

Positivism

Coined by Auguste Comte ($1798$–$1857$), it is the application of the scientific method to the study of society, emphasizing direct observation over conjecture.

Physiognomists

Early researchers like Johan Kaspar J. K. Lavater who studied facial features to determine if they were associated with antisocial behavior.

Phrenologists

Researchers like Franz Joseph Gall who studied the shape of the skull and bumps on the head to link physical attributes to criminal behavior.

Atavistic anomalies

Primitive physical traits inherited by 'born criminals,' such as enormous jaws and strong canine teeth, as described by Cesare Lombroso.

Somatotype School

William Sheldon's theory that body build influences behavior, categorized into Ectomorphs, Endomorphs, and Mesomorphs.

Equipotentiality

The view that all persons are equal at birth and solely influenced by their environment, a concept rejected by Biosocial Trait Theories.

Anomie

A state of normlessness or the feeling of having little hope, which prevents a society from controlling human aspirations.

Innovation (Social Adaptation)

Robert Merton's term for when an individual accepts culturally defined goals but reaches them through non-conventional or illegal means.

Relative Deprivation Theory (RDT)

The view that sharp divisions between the rich and poor create envy and mistrust, leading the poor to feel embittered and deprived.

General Strain Theory (GST)

Robert Agnew's theory that criminality results from negative affective states like anger and frustration caused by destructive social relationships.

Status Frustration

Albert Cohen's term for the culture conflict experienced by lower-class youths because they cannot achieve success through legitimate means.

Differential Association Theory (DAT)

Edwin Sutherland's theory that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others, specifically by exposure to pro-crime values.

Differential Reinforcement Theory (DRT)

The view that criminal behavior is maintained based on whether it is rewarded or punished during social interactions.

Neutralization Theory

The idea that criminals learn techniques to counteract moral dilemmas by creating justifications like 'denial of responsibility' or 'denial of injury'.

Social Bond Theory

Travis Hirschi's theory that criminal behavior is linked to the weakening of the ties (Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, Belief) that bind people to society.

Primary Deviance

Violations or crimes that have very little influence on the actor and are quickly forgotten.

Secondary Deviance

Deviance that occurs when the act comes to the attention of significant others or the criminal justice system, resulting in a permanent label.

Bourgeoisie

In Marxist theory, the capitalist owners of the means of production who represent the higher class.

Proletariat

In Marxist theory, the laborers or workers who sell their labor for wages.

Preemptive Deterrence

A community-based approach in Left Realism that aims to prevent crime before police intervention is required.

Restorative Justice

A humanitarian approach to justice focused on mutual aid, mediation, and healing rather than brutal punishment.

Life Course Theory

The view that criminality is a dynamic process influenced by individual characteristics and social experiences that change over the lifespan.

Latent Trait Theory

The view that a stable 'master trait,' such as low self-control, is established early in life and directs criminal propensity thereafter.

Problem Behavior Syndrome (PBS)

The clustering of delinquency with other social problems like drug use, family dysfunction, and unemployment.