criminology-and-criminal-justice-lecture-notes

Criminology

The study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system.

Criminal Justice

The system of practices and institutions aimed at maintaining social control, deterring crime, and punishing criminals.

Mala in se

Acts that are inherently evil or wrong, such as murder or rape.

Mala prohibita

Acts that are considered wrong because they are prohibited by law, not because they are inherently evil.

Defiance

Behavior that departs from social norms but is not deemed criminal.

Crime

An act that is deemed socially harmful or dangerous and is specifically defined, prohibited, and punished by law.

The Dramatic Fallacy

The misconception that the media distorts crime to create an exaggerated impression of criminal events.

Cops and Court Fallacy

The mistaken belief that police and courts are the primary active agents preventing crime.

The Not Me Fallacy

The belief that one is fundamentally different from criminals; that crime is committed by others, not oneself.

The Innocent-Youth Fallacy

The notion that children are innocent victims rather than being overrepresented as offenders.

The Ingenuity Fallacy

The belief that most crimes require high levels of skill and cleverness.

The Organized Crime Fallacy

The exaggerated belief in the organization and sophistication of criminal conspiracies and groups.

The Agenda Fallacy

The use of crime by various stakeholders to advance personal moral, religious, or political agendas.

The Vague-Boundary Fallacy

The idea that crime can and should have flexible definitions to aid cross-cultural study without subjective influences.

The Random Crime Fallacy

The belief that crime occurs randomly rather than in predictable patterns related to social behaviors.

Homicide

The intentional unlawful killing of a human being by another.

Aggravated or first-degree murder

The intentional killing of another with premeditation and deliberation.

Second-degree murder

The intentional killing of another without premeditation.

Involuntary manslaughter

Unintentional killing resulting from reckless behavior.

Negligent manslaughter

Unintentional homicide due to negligent actions.

Mass murder

The killing of multiple people at one location.

Spree murder

The killing of several people across different locations over a short period.

Serial murder

The killing of three or more victims over a longer period with cooling-off intervals.

Rape

An act involving sexual violence that can be significantly impacted by a country's legal definitions and societal perceptions.

Interpersonal violence

Physical force causing harm by one or more persons to another.

Nonphysical harm

Effects that cause fear, anxiety, and related emotional distress.

Corporate violence

Harm caused to individuals or communities by corporate activities, such as pollution.

Political violence

Violence motivated by political objectives, including terrorism and genocide.

Terrorism

The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, to pursue political aims.

Ethno-nationalist terrorism

Terrorism carried out by groups seeking to achieve political objectives for a particular ethnic or national group.

Anarchist terrorism

Political violence aimed at undermining state authority and promoting chaos.

Radicalization

The process by which individuals come to support terrorism and extremist ideologies.

Myth of Pure Evil

The misconception that violent offenders are motivated solely by an intrinsic desire to harm others.

Friction on the Individual Level

Personal grievances and motivations that can influence one's path towards crime or terrorism.

Grievances

Feelings of injustice or mistreatment that can lead to violent reactions.

Moral disengagement

A process where individuals justify harmful actions by disassociating from the consequences.

Cultural belief systems

Frameworks that guide behaviors and perceptions regarding morality, authority, and control.

Dehumanization

The process of viewing others as less than human, often leading to legitimizing violence against them.

Routine Activities Theory

The theory that crime occurs when a motivated offender meets a suitable target without capable guardianship.

Positivism

The view that criminal behavior is determined by biological, psychological, or social factors.

Biological Positivism

The belief that genetic and physiological factors can predispose individuals to criminal behavior.

Psychological Positivism

Focus on mental conditions and individual traits influencing criminal behavior.

Eugenics

The controversial study seeking to improve the human race through controlled breeding.

Phrenology

The belief that skull shape and size reflect personality and criminality.

Dark Triad

A trio of negative personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.

Retribution

The theory of punishment asserting that offenders must suffer for their wrongdoing.

Restorative Justice

An approach to justice focused on repairing the harm caused by crime through reconciliation.

Victimology

The study of victims, their relationships with offenders, and societal responses to victims.

Victim precipitation

The theory that victims may contribute to their own victimization through their actions.

Fear of Crime

The anxiety or fear individuals feel regarding their potential victimization.

Secondary Victimization

The additional suffering victims experience from societal reactions to their victimization.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs.

Adjustment Disorder

A psychological response to stressful life changes, potentially leading to criminal behavior.