FPsyc3900_Winter_2025_Lecture_1_Introduction_and_Crime_in_Canada_student

Criminal Behaviour

Intentional conduct that violates a criminal code.

Crime Severity Index (CSI)

A measure developed to track changes in police-reported crime, taking into account changes in volume and severity.

Prevalence Rates

The number of offenders in a given area over a specific time period divided by the population of that area.

Incidence Rates

The number of new incidents of crime committed in a given area during a specific time period.

Official Statistics

Data primarily based on crimes recorded by police, including Uniform Crime Reports.

Victim Surveys

Surveys asking community members about their experiences of being victims of crime.

Self-Reports

Surveys where individuals disclose their own involvement in criminal behavior anonymously.

Meta-Analysis

A statistical method that aggregates results from multiple studies to find an overall effect size.

Antisocial Behaviour

Actions that harm or disregard the well-being of others, often linked to criminal activity.

Cross-cultural consistency

The agreement across different cultures about certain behaviors being classified as criminal.

Funneling Effect

Describes the reduction of crime reports as cases move through the criminal justice system.

Major Problem in Crime Measurement

Different estimates of crime based on varying sources such as official records, surveys, and self-reports.

Media Influence

The impact of media depiction on public beliefs and perceptions of criminal behavior.

Sociodemographic Correlates of Crime

Factors, such as age or socio-economic status, that are associated with crime rates.

Social Construction of Crime

The idea that definitions of crime are influenced by societal attitudes and norms rather than being objective.

Intimate Partner Violence

Abuse or violence between partners in an intimate relationship.

Criminal Justice System (CJS)

The network of courts, law enforcement, and corrections agencies involved in the enforcement of criminal law.

Criminal Responsibility Age

The legally defined age at which a person can be considered responsible for a crime.