Criminological theory exam one

macro theories

Cover major groups of people such as a society

micro theories

cover small groups of people, possibly even individuals

criteria for evaluating theory

logical consistency, scope and parsimony, testability, empirical validity, usefulness and policy implications

logical consistency

Must make sense, centeral idea is clear and concise

scope

overall area to which the theory can be applied

parsimony

simplicity of the theory to explain criminal behavior

testability

must be able to test the theory

empirical validity

supports a theory through scientific evidence

usefulness and policy implication

theory can be used as guideline for prevention of crime

criteria for causality

Correlation, temporal order, no alternative explanation

historical criminological theories

classical school, positivist school

spiritualism

stressed conflict between absolute good and absolute evil

deterrence

the attempt to discourage criminality through the use of punishment

Cesare Beccaria

people choose all behavior

Jeremy Bentham

Behavior is the result of free will and hedonistic calculus

assumptions about human nature and crime classical theory

we are rational actors

to be a deterrent, legal punishments must be high in:

certainty, severity, and swiftness

specific deterrence

Arises out of individuals experiences with criminal justice system

general deterrence

srises out of individuals observing others being apprehended and punished

is deterrence supported by empirical evidence?

no it is not

Cohen

developed rountine activities theory

Felson

developed routine activity theory; blocking opportunities

ingredients for crime

motivatd offender, suitable target, absence of guardians

policy implications

make crime more difficult

increase risk of attempting to commit a crime

reduce rewards rewards for crime

strategies for blocking crime

nautral, organized, and mechanical strategies

natural strategies

Space is designed in such a way that people are channeled to go where they will do no harm

organized strategies

Security guards are hired for the express purpose of making crime difficult

mechanical strategies

Alarms, cameras, and other hardware are employed to control access and provide surveillance

main criticism for routine activity theory

offenders will move to other places that are easier to commit crime

positivist theories use _____ _____ for studying crime

scientific method

determinism

belief that much of human behavior results from forces that are beyond the control of the individual

atavism

a reappearance of an earlier characteristic

lombroso different types

born, insane, occasional, passion

ferrri different types of criminals

born, insane, passion, occasional, habitual, involuntary

garofalo different classes of criminals

murderers: lack pity and provity

violent criminals lack pity

theives lack probity

cynics lack pity

sheldon classified physiques into three categories

endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy

endomorph

soft and fat

mesomorph

muscular and athletic

ectomorph

skinny and flat

freuds work with psychoanalysis

ID, Ego, Superego

antisosial personality disorder

pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others that begins in childhood

psychopathy

described as manipulative, callous, charm, impulsive, and lacking remorse

feeblemindedness

The belief by Goring that criminals were mentally defective.

differential ditection hypothesis

Low IQ individuals more likely to be apprehended for commiting crime