Criminology Lecture Notes: Theories, Research Methods, Data, Crime Patterns, and Terrorism

Flashcards covering key concepts from the criminology lecture notes across theories, research methods, crime data, crime patterns, and terrorism.

What is Conflict Theory in criminology?

Crime results from inequality and power struggles; laws benefit the powerful.

What is Consensus Theory?

Crime violates shared societal values; laws reflect general agreement.

What is Classical Criminology?

Crime is a rational choice; punishment should be swift, certain, and proportionate.

What is Positivist Criminology?

Crime is caused by factors beyond control (biology, psychology, social forces).

What’s the difference between Classical and Positivist schools?

Classical = free will, rational choice; Positivist = external causes, determinism.

What is phrenology?

A discredited theory claiming skull shape reveals criminal traits.

How does psychology differ from criminology?

Psychology studies individual minds; criminology studies crime and society’s response.

What is primary data?

Data collected firsthand by the researcher (e.g., surveys, interviews).

What is secondary data?

Data collected by others (e.g., reports, census).

What is participant observation?

Researcher joins the group being studied.

What is non-participant observation?

Researcher observes without joining the group.

What’s the difference between an experiment and a case study?

Experiments test cause-effect; case studies provide in-depth info on a single case.

What are self-report surveys?

Surveys where individuals report their own criminal behavior.

What are limitations of self-report surveys?

Lying, memory errors, exaggeration.

What is the UCR?

FBI report of crimes known to police.

What types of crime does the UCR cover?

Murder, assault, robbery, burglary, drug crimes, and arrests.

What does the UCR cover that the NCVS does not?

Murder, drug crimes, business crimes, and arrest data.

What is the NCVS?

Survey of households about victimization, including unreported crimes.

What crimes does NCVS cover?

Assault, rape, robbery, theft (not murder or drug crimes).

What are limitations of NCVS?

Misses murder, drug use, business crimes; relies on memory.

Who were early criminologists?

Observers and classifiers of criminals using early biology (like Lombroso).

What is criminology?

The scientific study of crime, criminals, and societal responses.

What are disciplines related to criminology?

Sociology, psychology, law, political science, history, anthropology.

What were common crimes in early societies?

Theft, assault, adultery, blasphemy.

How did early societies punish crime?

Public shaming, banishment, corporal punishment.

What constitutional principles guide the U.S. justice system?

Due process, equal protection, rights of the accused, checks and balances.

What is a felony?

A serious crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

What is a misdemeanor?

A less serious crime with less than one year in jail.

What is a violation/infraction?

A minor offense like a traffic ticket.

How do crime rates vary by season?

Higher in summer, lower in winter.

When do crime rates peak by age?

Late teens to early 20s.

What is the aging-out phenomenon?

People commit fewer crimes as they age.

How is gender related to crime?

Males commit more violent/property crime; females more fraud/status crimes.

What is the Wheel of Terrorism?

A model showing terrorism fueled by ideology, media, funding, training, etc.

What are key characteristics of terrorism?

Political motives, civilian targets, symbolic violence, global networks.

What’s the difference between financial and non-financial terrorism?

Financial: trafficking, laundering; Non-financial: bombings, assassinations.