Criminological Theory test

Absolute Deprivation

A condition of being unable to meet basic needs, often related to poverty.

Adler

A prominent criminologist, known for her work on gender and crime, particularly the impact of women's roles in criminal behavior.

Aging-Out

The process through which individuals cease engaging in criminal behavior as they age.

Altruistic Suicide

Emile Durkheim

Commiting suicide for the sake of others a group or cause

EXAMPLE: Soldiers sacrificing their lives in battle

Anomic Suicide

A type of suicide resulting from a breakdown of social norms.

EXAMPLE:crises or sudden wealth leading to uncertainty, divorce or unemployment

Anomie

A social condition characterized by breakdown of social norms and values, leading to feelings of alienation and purposelessness among individuals.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A psychological condition characterized by persistent patterns of disregard for the rights of others.

Individuals with this disorder often exhibit manipulative, deceitful, and impulsive behaviors, lacking empathy or remorse for their actions.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the nervous system regulating involuntary bodily functions.

Beccaria

An Italian philosopher and criminologist known for his work "On Crimes and Punishments". He advocated for rational legal systems and argued against torture and the death penalty, emphasizing the importance of deterrence and the social contract.

Bloody Codes

death penalty

public executions

for various crimes in 18th and 19th century England, aimed at deterring crime through extreme punishment.

Bonger

Believed crime happens when people are frustrated by a lack of resource and opportunities especially in societies with big gaps between rich and poor

Braithwaite

how we treat offenders after a crime affects whether they’ll re-offend or successfully change

reintegrate

disintegrate

C. Wright Mills

An American sociologist known for his work on the sociological imagination.

Ceremonies of Degradation

Public shaming

loss of status

Chivalry Hypothesis

The theory that women are treated more leniently by the justice system.

Conformist

An individual who follows societal norms and expectations.

Consensus and Conflict

Conflict:the powerful people create the rules what are normal but the un powerful people don’t like that which creates conflict

Consensus: Shared values agree whats right and whats wrong

Containment

A theory suggesting that external and internal factors help prevent deviant behavior.

Conventional Means

Legitimate methods through which individuals achieve societal goals.

Coser

Conflict Theory

Suppression of anger makes it boil over and explode causing you to commit a crime

Criminal Women

a woman who commit crimes has masculine traits or physical differences

woman often commit crimes because of poverty abuse or inequity

the justice system may treat woman leniently due to traditional views and protecting woman

Criminaloids

not born criminals they don’t have natural tendencies toward crime

influenced by environment

appear normal

Cultural Criminology

An area of study that examines the relationship between culture and crime.

Cultural Goals

Societal standards or achievements individuals strive to reach.

Cultural Transmission

The process by which culture is passed from one generation to another.

EXAMPLE: a child growing up in a neighborhood with gangs may adapt criminal behavior as it is normal

Dahrendorf

crime results from conflict between powerful groups who make the rules and less powerful groups who may break them

laws are created by those in power to maintain their position and control others

social conflict is a natural part of society and crime is one way that less powerful groups push back against unfair system

Darwin Draco

harsh punishment

Dramatizations of Evil

Processes by which societies label certain behaviors as deviant which makes them believe and they then become more of a criminal because of it

Durkheim

Believed that crime is a natural part of society and even necessary for social change and progress

Eck

Egoistic Suicide

A type of suicide occurring due to a lack of social integration.

to much independence

Endocrine Theory

A theory that links hormonal influences to behavior patterns.

Factory Zone

Usually overcrowded with unstable families and less social control leading to higher crime rates.

Break down of social norms

Feminine Theorizing

Approaches and theories that center on women's experiences in society.

Ferrell

Edge work pushes the boundaries and move the edge

First Wave Feminism

The movement focusing on legal inequalities and women's suffrage.

Right to vote 19th amendment

Four Wishes

- Security

- Response

- New experiences

- Recognition

- If these aren’t met people may commit crimes to satisfy them.

Functionalism Gerth and Mills

A perspective that views society as a system of interconnected parts.

Gottfredson

- Primary cause of criminal behavior is a lack of self control people with low self control. People with low self control are more likely to commit crimes

- Low self control develops in childhood mainly due to poor parenting lack of supervision and failure to teach children how to control impulses

- Crime as a choice according to the theory crime is a result of people seeking immediate gratification such as excitement or rewards with out considering long term consequences

Gottfredson and Hirschi

Researchers known for their work on low self-control theory.

Hagen

A sociologist focused on the relationships between crime and social structures.

Hammurabi

Ancient ruler known for the Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest written legal codes.

Eye for an Eye

EXAMPLE: thief would lose a hand

Handlers

Individuals who monitor or influence behavior, often in a criminological context.

Hedonistic Calculus

A method of weighing pleasure against pain in decision making.

Hegel

- Believed that laws and the justice system are necessary for individuals to live within society

- Crime and punishment are part of the ongoing development of society where conflict leads to progress

Hickey

- Crime occurs when there in a combination of motivated offender a suitable target and a lack of capable guardianship

Hirschi

- Social control theory

o Attachment: emotional connection to others

o Commitment Investment to conventional goals like career

o Involvement: participation in conventional activities like school and work

o Belief acceptance of social rules and laws

- Weak bonds means people are more likely to engage in criminal behavior

Homo Faber

The concept of humans as producers and creators.

man the maker

Homo Homini Lupus

The phrase meaning 'man is a wolf to man,' reflecting on human nature.

Homo Sociologicus

View of humans as products of social structures.

Hughes

Scholarly contributions related to social structures and crime.

Inner and Outer Crime Triangle

o A motivated offender (inner

o A suitable target (outer triangle

o A lack of capable guardian

Innovator

A term used to describe individuals who create new strategies for achieving goals.

Jock Young

left realism, right realism, effect short term change

Justinian

Roman Emperor known for reforming the law.

Katz

Moral seduction theory

labeling stuff not people so the objects become more desirable so people will commit crimes to get it

Kitsuse

Known for contributions to the study of deviance.

Knifing Off

A term used when one separates themselves from deviant relationships.

Kuhn

Influential thinker in paradigms of scientific change.

Labeling Theory

A concept suggesting that labels assigned to individuals influence their identities.

Learning Theory

A theory focusing on how behaviors are learned from the environment.

Left Realists

A branch of criminology that deals with social justice issues.

Liazos

Contributions focus on the understanding of deviance.

Life Course Changes

The modifications in behavior and roles over an individual’s lifetime.

Lombroso

Theorist known for the biological theories of crime.

Low Self-Control Theory

Theory suggesting that a lack of self-control leads to criminal behavior.

Low Vagal Tone

A condition associated with a lack of emotional regulation.

Marxism

A sociopolitical and economic theory focusing on class relations.

Masculine Theorizing

Approaches that center on men's perspectives in social frameworks.

Master Status

A social status that holds particular importance and relevancy in social identity.

Matza

A sociologist known for theories on delinquency.

Merton

Sociologist who developed the Strain Theory of crime.

Messner and Rosenfeld

Researchers noted for contributions to theories of crime and the American dream.

Minor Physical Anomalies

Physical traits which may be seen as indicators of deviance.

Moffitt

Known for research on developmental pathways to crime.

Moral Drift

The gradual sliding away from societal moral standards.

Moral Entrepreneurs

Individuals who create and promote rules to define morality.

Neo-Classical

A perspective in criminology that focuses on rational choice.

Opportunity Theory

Theory suggesting that crime occurs when opportunities are present.

Phrenology

The study of skull shape related to human behavior.

Pollak

Sociologist who focused on women's crime and factors influencing it.

Positivism

A philosophical theory stating that knowledge comes from scientific observation.

Rational Choice Theory

Theory suggesting individuals make decisions based on perceived costs and benefits.

Reckless

Theorized the containment theory in relation to deviance.

Redemption Scripts

Narratives that individuals use to redefine past behaviors.

Retreatist

An individual who withdraws from the societal norms and expectations.

Revolutionary and Utopian

Concepts pertaining to societal changes aimed at idealism.

Ritualist

An individual who adheres to rituals without believing in their ultimate purpose.

Routine Activity Theory

Theory stating that crime occurs when three elements converge: a willing offender, a suitable target, and an absence of guardianship.

Rusche and Kirchheimer

Scholars known for their work on social control.

Shaming

A social process where an individual is stigmatized or labeled negatively.

Simmel

Sociologist known for his work on sociology and urban life.

Social Bond

The connections individuals have to one another that influence behavior.

Social Dynamite

Individuals viewed as a threat to societal norms.

Social Pathology

A conceptual framework that treats social issues as illnesses.

Somatotyping

The classification of human bodies into types and its relation to behavior.

Specific General Deterrence

Strategies aimed at preventing specific individuals from committing crimes.

Stakes in Conformity

Rewards for adhering to societal norms.

Stark

Contributions to theories of social behavior and crime.

Status Liability

The consequences of one’s social status in society.