Organized Crime Theoretical Perspectives and Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, psychological concepts, and sociological theories of organized crime from the lecture notes.

Organized Crime (Government Definition Factors)

A self-perpetuating and persistent association of individuals or groups (an enterprise) that commits crimes in pursuit of power and financial gain.

Ethnic Succession

The phenomenon in which organized crime can surge in groups of people who share a background, culture, language, or urban location.

Routine Activities Theory (Cohen and Felson)

A classical theory suggesting that crime occurs where there is a will, a way, and no worries.

General Theory of Crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi)

A theory stating that people will do what is best for them and makes them feel best while trying to avoid negative outcomes.

Strain Theory (Merton)

A sociological perspective explaining crime as a response to the strain between societal goals and the legitimate means available to achieve them.

Differential Association (Sutherland)

A sociological perspective proposing that criminal behavior and attitudes are learned through interactions with others.

Subculture of Violence (Wolfgang and Ferracuti)

A concept describing a subcultural set of values where violent behavior is accepted or expected as a normal response.

Cultural Transmission (Shaw and McKay)

A sociological theory explaining how criminal traditions and values are passed down through generations within specific communities.

Differential Opportunity (Cloward and Ohlin)

A sociological theory asserting that participation in crime depends on access to both legitimate and illegitimate opportunity structures.

Social Control Theory (Hirsch)

A sociological theory focused on how social bonds and societal controls prevent individuals from engaging in criminal acts.

Psychopaths

Individuals who have limited empathy and lack commonplace restraints on their behavior, guided primarily by self-interest.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

A clinical designation describing individuals with behavioral tendencies similar to psychopathy and sociopathy, distinguished by forensic psychologists from instrumental criminal behavior.

Thinking Errors

Cognitive behavioral patterns and learned ways of thinking that accept criminal behavior, which can be modified when identified and inspected.

Organic Brain Dysfunction

Brain differences that result in variations in aggression, impulsivity, and self-control, which can impact criminality and engagement with criminal organizations.