Criminology Exam

Sheridan College Criminology course exam. First section focuses on the most important topics to know, Second section follows with the remaining topics of criminology..

Psychopathy & Criminal Offending

• Psychopathy is a sociopathic disorder characterized by a lack of morality, empathy, and emotional attachment.

• Traits of Psychopaths: impulsive, manipulative, thrill-seekers, incapable of guilt or remorse.

• Robert Hare’s Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R)

  • Factor 1 (Affective/interpersonal): e.g., fake charm, manipulativeness.

  • Factor 2 (Lifestyle/behavioural): e.g., irresponsibility, impulsivity.

• Psychopaths are more likely to commit violent and repeat offenses.

• They tend to lack fear of punishment, making traditional punishment less effective.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy - Based on labelling theory

• If individuals are labelled as criminals, they might accept that identity and act as such.

• Society's reaction (e.g., discrimination, fewer opportunities..). influences a person’s identity, pushing them further into deviant behaviour.

• Example: A youth labeled a "troublemaker" is rejected by peers and school, joins a gang, and commits crimes.

General Deterrence

• Targeted towards society as a whole.

• The main idea: if people see others getting punished, they’ll avoid crime.

• 3 Key Elements of Deterrence:

  • Severity – punishments must be harsh enough.

  • Certainty – people must believe they will get caught.

  • Swiftness – punishments must happen quickly after the crime.

Proactive Policing

• Cops taking action to prevent crime before it occurs.

• Includes patrols, investigations, and community engagement (not just responding to calls).

• Aims to prevent criminal behaviour patterns and lower crime rates through early intervention.

White Collar vs. Blue Collar Crimes

• White Collar Crimes:

  • Non-violent crime committed by high-class individuals for financial gain (for example, embezzlement or fraud).

• Blue Collar Crimes:

  • Violent or street crimes typically committed by lower class individuals (such as, assault, robbery etc..)

Labelling Theory

• Focuses on how behaviour is shaped by society's reaction to deviance.

• Those who are called "criminals" could adopt a deviant character.

• Primary deviance: Minor acts without self-identifying as deviant.

• Secondary deviance: After society's reaction, an individual embraces the label and starts living a deviant lifestyle.

• Tagging: Government authorities defining individuals negatively.

Differential Association Theory

• Developed by Edwin Sutherland

• Criminal behaviour is learned through close relationships (family, peers).

• People learn:

  • Techniques (how to commit crimes).

  • Attitudes (justifying crime).

• The more someone is exposed to pro-crime views, the more likely they are to offend.

Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory

• Crime results from weak social bonds/connections to society.

• 4 Elements of the Social Bond:

  • Attachment – emotional connection to others (family, friends).

  • Commitment – invested in goals (e.g. school).

  • Involvement – engaging in legal activities lowers the chance of criminal activity.

  • Belief – respect for rules and laws

The Dark Figure of Crime

• Crime that’s not reported or recorded by law enforcement.

• Example: domestic violence or sexual assault victims who deem crime as too small and never report to police.

Formula: Actual Crime - Reported Crime = Dark Figure of Crime

Locational Factor Theory (Crime Pattern Theory)

• Crime is more likely to happen in areas familiar to the offender.

• Routine Activities Theory + Crime Pattern Theory:

  • Typical locations: poor lighting, alleyways, heavy traffic etc..

  • Criminals offend close to where they live, work, or hang out.

General Strain Theory (Robert Agnew)

• Crime comes from stress and negative relationships or experiences:

  • Blocked goals

  • Loss of something valuable (e.g. breakup, death).

  • Negative treatment by others (e.g. bullying).

• Strain leads to frustration/anger which leads to crime (e.g. theft, violence, drug use) as a coping mechanism.

Merton’s Strain Theory (Robert K. Merton)

• Main idea: Individuals wants success, but not everyone has access to equal opportunities.

• When legal methods become unavailable, people react in 5 ways:

  • Conformity – accepts goals and follow rules.

  • Innovation – accepts goals and achieves them through illegal means (e.g. drug dealing).

  • Ritualism – give up on goals, still follow rules.

  • Retreatism – gives up both completely (e.g. addicts).

  • Rebellion – rejects both and create new goals/rules (e.g. gangs)

Formal & Informal Social Control

• Formal – Enforced by institutions (e.g., police, courts, law).

• Informal – Enforced through relationships (e.g., parents, teachers, peers).

Delinquency

• Delinquency = youth crime or minor offenses committed by adolescents/young people.

• Often linked to peer influence, school issues, or family problems.

Ritualist (Merton’s Strain Theory)

• Someone who follows societal rules but gives up on the goal.

• Example: A person working an unfulfilling job with no ambition, but still doing everything legally.

Crime Event

Precursor: What happened before?

• Situational/contextual factors that led to the crime.

Transaction: What was the crime itself?

• The interaction or act—who did what, when, where.

Aftermath: What happened after?

• Victim harm, police response, consequences.

Purpose of Criminology

• The study of crime, criminals, causes, consequences, and responses.

• Focuses on how society defines and reacts to crime.

Crime Myths (Marcus Felson)

• Crime myths are false beliefs about crime, often spread by the media.

• Examples:

  • Elderly are most at risk (false).

  • Serial killers are common (false).

  • Super Bowl Sunday causes spikes in domestic violence (false).

Classical vs. Positivist Schools

• Classical (Beccaria):

  • Crime is a rational choice

  • Punishment should fit the crime and help prevent it.

• Positivist (Lombroso, Comte):

  • Crime is caused by external factors (biological, social, psychological).

  • Treatment and rehabilitation are more effective than punishment.

Crime Legal vs. Normative Construct

• Legal construct: crime is what breaks the law.

• Normative construct: crime breaks social norms and values (not always illegal).

Consensus vs. Conflict Theory

• Consensus: laws reflect collective values and benefit everyone.

• Conflict: laws benefit the interests of powerful groups; maintain inequality.

Hagan’s Pyramid of Crime

• Consensus crimes: harmful and socially unacceptable (e.g., murder).

• Conflict crimes: society has mixed opinions on (e.g., drugs).

• Social deviations: harmless or odd behaviour (e.g., tattoos).

Crime Pattern & Routine Activities Theory

• Crime Pattern Theory: crime happens in familiar areas, not randomly.

• Routine Activities Theory: crime needs 3 things:

  • Motivated offender

  • Easy target

  • Lack of guardianship/mentor

Victimless Crimes & Indirect Victims

• Victimless crimes: no obvious victim (e.g., prostitution).

• Indirect victims: may still suffer (e.g., sex workers can face violence, health risks).

Direct and Experimental Observation

• Direct: observing real behaviour in natural settings.

• Experimental: testing crime behaviour in labs or controlled environments.

Ethnographic Research

• Involves immersing into communities to understand behaviour.

• Example: living among gang members to study their culture and actions.

Containment Theory

We avoid crime due to:

• Inner controls (goals, morals).

• Outer controls (family, school, rules).