1st year criminology

What are forces of psychodynamic theories

Forces are powerful urges, feelings and conflicts within the unconscious mind

What is a superego

What do we learn morals from

Through interactions with our parents during early socialisation

What does the superego do when we do/think of actions on the ID

The superego punishes us with feeling guilt and anxiety if we act/ think on urges

What is a weakly developed superego

The individual feels less guilt than what they should

What is a too harsh superego

Deep-seated guilt feeling - craves punishment as a release

What is a deviant superego

Deviant moral codes- the superego would not inflict guilt feelings on him for contemplating criminal acts

Who founded operant learning

B.F Skinner

What is operant learning

The idea that If a particular behaviour results in a reward, it is likely to be repeated - but if behaviour is punished it is unlikely to be repeated

What viewpoint do right realists have

Conservative political outlook- crime as a growing problem

What practical solutions do they look at

Concerned on practical solutions to reduce crime

How do they reduce crime

Reduce crime- control and punishment

-rather than rehabilitating offenders or tackling causes such as poverty

What do right realists reject

Right realists reject Marxists view that poverty creates crime

What are the 3 factors of the cause of crime to right realists

•biological differences between individuals

•inadequate socialisation

•offending is a rational choice

What are biological differences between individuals

Makes some more likely to commit crime

-personality traits associated with criminality

What is inadequate socialisation

Underclass who fail to socialise their children properly - lack of discipline

What is offending is a rational choice

Assumes we are rational beings with free will- deciding to commit crime is a choice based on rational calculation of the

consequences

What view do left realists have

Socialist political outlook- inequality in capitalist society as the root of crime

What do they argue on victims

Main victims are disadvantaged groups-working class- ethnic minorities and women

What is their proposal to reduce crime

Propose to reduce crime by making society fairer and equal

What are the 3 causes of crime

•relative deprivation

•subculture

•marginalisation

What is relative deprivation

How deprived off someone feels in relation to others

Media encouraging material possessions

Society is becoming more unequal due to cuts, unemployment, job insecurity and low pay

What is a subculture

Way of solving relative deprivation- a group with the same values - criminals show societies materialistic goals may resort to crime

What is marginalisation

Ones that lack organisations to represent their interests and lack clearly defined goals - sense of powerlessness/ frustration and resentment of injustice which they express through crime like violence and rioting

What is boundary maintenance

Boundary maintenance- crime produces a reaction that unites society's members against the wrongdoer reminding them of the boundary between right and wrong and reaffirming their shared values