Key Concepts in Criminology and Crime Analysis

Criminology

Study of crime as a social phenomenon.

Quantitative Reasoning

Analysis using numerical data and statistics.

Qualitative Reasoning

Analysis based on non-numerical data.

Inductive Reasoning

Generalizing from specific observations.

Deductive Reasoning

Draw specific conclusions based on general principles or evidence

Eugenics

Study of improving genetic quality of humans.

Macro Level Theories

relate to large-scale issues and large groups of people

Micro Level Theories

Focus on individual or small group behavior.

Case Study

In-depth analysis of a specific instance.

In-text Citations

References within the text to support claims.

Conjecture

Assumptions made without factual basis.

Social Phenomenon

Crime influenced by societal beliefs and norms.

Legal Definition of Crime

Act violating criminal law, punishable by law.

Consensus Approach

Laws reflect societal agreement on crime.

Conflict Approach

Laws serve to maintain power dynamics.

Human Rights Violations

Acts harming basic human rights considered crimes.

CSI Effect

Forensic shows influence juror perceptions of evidence.

Ethnicity Trap

Stereotyping crime based on ethnicity.

Uniform Crime Report (UCR)

National database of reported crimes in Canada.

Victimization Surveys

Surveys capturing personal experiences of crime.

Self-report Data

Data collected from offenders about their actions.

Crime Rate

Number of incidents per 100,000 Canadians.

Typology

Classification system for categorizing different crimes.

Violent Crime

Crimes involving physical harm to individuals.

Property Crime

Crimes involving theft or damage to property.

Break and Enter

Illegal entry with intent to commit an offense.

Identity Fraud

Deceptive use of someone else's identity.

Dark Figure of Crime

Unreported or undetected crimes in statistics.

Decriminalization

Reduction of criminal penalties for certain acts.

Hate Crime

Crime promoting hatred against specific groups publicly.

Terrorism

Illegitimate force causing fear in civilian populations.

White-Collar Crime

Non-violent crime for financial gain by professionals.

Quantitative Approaches

Use of statistical methods in social sciences.

Positivism

Scientific approach emphasizing observable phenomena.

Causal Knowledge

Understanding cause and effect relationships in reality.

Validity

Accuracy of a tool in measuring crime.

Reliability

Consistency of results across multiple measurements.

Self-Report Studies

Anonymous surveys revealing unreported criminal behavior.

Qualitative Approach

Inductive reasoning based on observations and interviews.

Verstehem

Understanding perspectives of research participants.

Definition of the Situation

Behavior influenced by personal understanding of context.

Two-Eyed Seeing

Integrating indigenous and scientific perspectives.

Grey Literature

Non-academic written works excluded from formal research.

Data Sovereignty

Control over data by the communities it represents.

Scientific Racism

Using physical traits to categorize human races.

Racialization

Social construction of race through human actions.

Racial Profiling

Policing based on perceived race or ethnicity.

Systemic Racism

Racism embedded in societal structures and institutions.

Overt Racism

Openly expressed racist beliefs and ideologies.

Social Groups

Collections of individuals sharing common characteristics.

Anonymous Reporting

Confidential submission of crime-related information.

Financial Loss Reporting

Increased likelihood of reporting crimes with losses.

Colonisation

Establishment of a colony to expand territory.

Colonialism

Institutional racism developing through three distinct stages.

Doctrine of Discovery

Catholic philosophy promoting global missionary work.

Terra Nullius

Legal concept allowing claim of uninhabited land.

Market Model

Media operates as a business meeting audience demand.

Public Sphere

Media should serve democracy and diverse interests.

Propaganda Model

Media content reflects interests of powerful elites.

Organisational Model

Media favors previously reported stories and simplification.

Cultural Studies Perspective

Media constructs meaning and impacts representation.

Moral Panics

Exaggerated societal fears based on media representation.

Backwards Law

Rare crimes receive disproportionate media coverage.

Racialization of Crime

Crimes by minorities blamed on cultural heritage.

Symbiotic Relationship

Mutual benefit between police and media organizations.

Intersectionality

Interconnected social categories affecting identity and experience.

Ideal Victim

Victim archetype fitting societal expectations of innocence.

Episodic Framing

Presenting social issues as individual cases.

Institutional Racism

Ongoing racism within established institutions.

Media Portrayal of Offenders

Visible minorities often depicted as criminals.

Media Portrayal of Victims

Framing affects perception of victimhood and identity.

Misrepresentation of Reality

Media normalizes distorted views of societal issues.

Normalisation

Minimizing the impact of serious societal problems.

Pre-18th Century Theories of Crime

Crime theories based on religious beliefs and superstitions.

Blaming social problems

Diverts attention from elite failings and accountability.

Judeo-Christian teachings

Explain evil spirits' roles as temptation and possession.

Brutal punishment

Public executions instilled fear and maintained order.

Scientific revolution

Shifted thinking towards rational governance and social contracts.

Classical school of thought

Introduced fairness and due process in justice systems.

Rational human beings

Assumption that people act to advance personal interests.

Social contract

Governance requires fair rule and accountability.

Progressive criminal law

Foundation for modern criminal justice in Canada.

Equal punishments

Identical penalties for different ages and circumstances.

Neo-classical theories

Additional reforms addressing individual case circumstances.

Lombroso's positive school

Identified physical traits distinguishing criminals from non-criminals.

Atavism

Concept of less evolved humans based on physical traits.

Stigmata

Physical characteristics indicating criminality, like skull size.

Mitigating circumstances

Factors influencing the severity of legal penalties.

Biological positivism

Theory suggesting criminals are born, not made.

Determinism

Belief that behavior is predetermined, negating free will.

Gene X Environment

Interaction of genetics and environment affects behavior.

Diathesis stress model

Predisposition plus stress increases risk of criminality.

Heritability studies

Research showing genetic influence on criminal behavior.

Epigenetics

Transgenerational changes affecting behavior through generations.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers influencing rapid behavioral responses.

Serotonin

Regulates mood and emotional stability.

Dopamine

Transmits pleasure signals in the brain.

MAOA Gene

Linked to aggression and criminal behavior in studies.

Psychological criminology

Explores psychological factors influencing law-breaking behavior.

Attachment theory

Links parenting styles to future criminal behavior.