Criminological Theory Quiz 1 (Intro-Classical & Neoclassical Thought)

Homicide Stats

One every 30 minutes/ 2 per hour

Robbery Stats

1 every 2 minutes/ 30 per hour

Aggravated Assault Stats

1 every 39 seconds/ 92 per hour

Burglary Stats

1 every 22 seconds/ 164 per hour

Motor Vehicle Theft Stats

1 every 43 seconds/ 84 per hour

Rape/ Sexual Assault Stats

One every 3-4 minutes/ 15-20 per hour

Four Perspectives of Crime

Legalistic, Political, Sociological, Psychological

Legalistic Perspective

Human conduct in violation of criminal laws of a state, the federal government, or a local jurisdiction

Political Perspective

Result of criteria that have been built into the law by powerful groups and are then used to label selected undesirable forms of behavior as illegal

Sociological Perspective

Primarily an offense against human relationships, and secondarily a violation of the law

Psychological Perspective

Problem behavior, maladaptive behavior

Deviance

activity that violates social norms

Delinquency

Violations of the law committed by young people

Emile Durkheim Functionalism Perspective

Crime is inevitable and a normal aspect of social life

Social Regulation

Reaffirming the boundaries of acceptable behavior, when police make arrests it shows society the action is unacceptable

Social Integration

Social cohesion, when horrific crimes committed whole community joins together in outrage

Social Change

Criminals help the law to reflect the wishes of the population and legitimize social change

Criminology

interdisciplinary profession built around the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior

Criminality

behavioral predisposition that disproportionately favors criminal activity

Criminal Behavior

Human activity, both intentional and negligent, that violates the criminal law

Criminal Justice

scientific study of crime, the criminal law, and the components of the criminal justice system, including police, courts, and corrections

Theoretical Criminology

posits explanations for criminal behavior

Theory

series of interrelated propositions that attempts to describe, explain, predict, and ultimately control some class of events

General Theory

attempts to explain all forms of criminal conduct through a single overarching approach

Unicausal Theory

one cause

Integrated Theory

merges concepts drawn from different sources

Evidence-based (purpose and validity)

uses rigorous social scientific techniques, especially randomized, controlled experiments and the systematic review of research results

Golden Age of Research

1900-1930

Golden Age of Theory

1930-1960

Golden Age of Verification

1960-2000

Mores

Proscriptions covering potentially serious violations of a group’s values (murder, rape, and robbery)

Folkways

Time-honored customs whose violation is less likely to threaten group survival

Laws

Codified into formal structures for enforcement purposes Ex. The Code of Hammurabi

Mala in se

Acts said to be fundamentally or inherently wrong regardless of time or place

Mala prohibita

Acts said to be wrong only because they are prohibited

Demonic Era

ongoing war between good and evil

The Enlightenment (Age of Reason)

17th and 18th centuries, founding figures of modern theories and frameworks

Thomas Hobbes

Negative view of human nature and social life, war of all against all, people are naturally selfish and aggressive

John Locke

Human qualities are shaped by interpersonal encounters and other experiences.

Punishment should be based on evidence, the rule of law, and should focus on reform through education, work, and moral instruction.

Utilitarianism

crime results from the exercise of free will