Criminology Quiz (ch 9-10)

developmental theories

view that criminality is a dynamic process, influenced by social experiences as well as individual characteristics

criminal career

engaging in antisocial acts early in adolescence and continuing illegal behaviors into adulthood; pattern of persistent offending across the life course

life course theory

theory that focuses on changes in criminality over the life course brought about by shifts in experience and life events

• individual characteristics + social experiences

propensity theory

view that a stable unchanging feature, characteristic, property, or condition, such as defective intelligence/impulsive personality, makes some people more crime prone

latent trait

the stable feature that can be found in propensity theory

trajectory theory

view that there are multiple independent paths to a criminal career and that there are different types and classes of offenders

• some may start early in life, other laters; may or may not continue committing crimes

population heterogeneity

propensity to commit crime is stable; those who have it continue to commit crime over their life course

• best predictor of future behavior is past behavior

state dependence

propensity to commit crime is constantly changing, affected by environmental influences and changing life events

• life course theorists embrace this concept

• people who are prone to commit crime may avoid it if the right influence is there

problem behavior syndrome

antisocial behaviors that cluster together; substance abuse, smoking, precocious sexuality, early pregnancy, sensation seeking, etc.

• more prone to difficulties than the general population

• linked to individual-level problems

• criminal conduct has found to increase premature death

age-graded theory

state dependence theory developed by Sampson/Laub that assumes the causal association between early delinquent offending and later adult deviant behavior involved quality of relationships encountered at different times in human development

turning points

life events that alter the development of a criminal career

• propensity to commit crime neither stable nor unyielding

• marriage/military service two big ones

social capital

positive, life-sustaining relationships w/ individuals and institutions

• those who can make the right connections and gain advantage can “knife off” crimes

cumulative disadvantage

tendency of prior social problems to produce future ones that accumulate and undermine success

• social problems continue to weigh down their life chances

schemas

cognitive frameworks that help people quickly process and sort through information

criminogenic knowledge structures

view that negative life events are connected and produce a hostile view of people and relationships, preference for immediate rewards, and a cynical view of conventional norms

• this exists on a continuum

general theory of crime

developmental theory that links crime to impulsivity and the lack of self-control

impulsive

lacking in thought and deliberation in decision-making

• insensitive to other people’s feelings, physical, risk-takers, etc.

• more likely to enjoy criminal acts b/c of their low self-control

authority conflict pathway

path to a criminal career that begins w/ early stubborn behavior and defiance of parents

covert pathway

path to a criminal career that begins w/ minor underhanded behavior and progresses to fire-starting/theft

• eventually escalated to more serious forms of criminality

overt pathway

pathway to a criminal career that begins w/ minor aggressions, leads to physical fighting, and eventually escalate to violent crime

adolescent-limited offenders

kids who get into minor scrapes as you but whose misbehavior ends when they enter adulthood

life course persisters

delinquents who begin their offending career at a very early age and continue to offend well into adulthood

• combine family dysfunction w/ severe neurological problems

expressive violence

violence that’s designed not for profit or gain, but to vent rage, anger, or frustration

instrumental violence

violence used in a rational, controlled, and purposeful fashion

• for example, an attempt to improve the financial and social position of the criminal

eros

the life instinct, which drives people toward self-fulfillment and enjoyment

thanatos

the death instinct, which impels people toward self-destruction

• external (violence, sadism, etc)

• internal (suicide, alcoholism, etc)

psychopharmacological relationship

in such a relationship, violence is the direct consequence of ingesting mood-altering substances

• ex: heavy drinking leads to impaired cognitive functioning

economic compulsive behavior

violence committed by drug users to support their habits

systemic link

link between drugs and violence that occurs when drug dealers turn violent in their competition w/ rival gangs

subculture of violence

segment of society in which violence has become legitimized by the custom and norms of the group

• these neighborhoods are built w/ the belief violence is the answer for retribution

rape

under common law, the carnal knowledge of a person forcibly and against their will; can include various acts of sexual penetration

• definition changed in modern times to be more gender neutral

anger rape

type of rape where the goal is to hurt the victim as much as possible; spur of the moment crime

power rape

type of rape where the goal is sexual conquest; all about having power

sadistic rape

type of rape where it’s both about sexuality and aggression; it’s all about ritual

date rape

rape that involves people who are in some form of courting relationship

martial exemption

formerly accepted tradition that a legally married husband could not be charged w/ raping his wife

• today, every state recognizes martial rape as a crime

statutory rape

sexual relations between an underage minor/adult person

Romeo and Juliet laws

apply to cases of statutory rape when both members engage in consensual sexual intercourse, but the age gap is narrow; typically 2 to 4 years

• varies from state to state; some have minimum/maximum age limits

virility mystique

belief that males must separate their sexual feelings from their need for love, respect, and affection

• part of male socialization reasons for rape

narcissistic personality disorder

pattern of traits/behaviors indicating infatuation/fixation w/ one’s self to the exclusion of all others, along w/ egoistic/ruthless pursuit of one’s own gratification, dominance, and ambition

• linked w/ rape proclivity

aggravated rape

rape involving multiple offenders, weapons, and victim injuries

consent

victim of rape musty prove that they in no way encouraged, enticed, or misled the accused rapist

shield laws

laws that protect people from being questioned about their sexual history unless such questioning directly bears on the case

murder

the unlawful killing of a human being w/ malice aforethought

first-degree murder

killing a person after premeditation and deliberation

premeditation

considering the criminal act beforehand, which suggests that it was motivated by more than a simple desire to engage in an act of violence

deliberation

planning a criminal act after careful thought, rather than carrying it out on an impulse

felony murder

killing that accompanied a felony, like robbery or rape

second-degree murder

person’s wanton disregard for the victim’s life and their desire to inflict serious bodily harm on the victim, which results in the victim’s death

manslaughter

homicide w/out malice

voluntary/negligent manslaughter

killing committed in the heat of passion/during a sudden quarrel that provoked violence

involuntary/negligent manslaughter

killing that occurs when a person’s acts are negligent and w/out regard for the harm they may cause to others

deliberate indifference

this happens when someone didn’t mean for someone to die/get hurt, but the disregard to the damage they may cause was seen through their actions

• ex: case about the woman who died due to the two dogs attacking her

feticide

intentional/negligent killing of a human fetus

infanticide

murder of a very young child

filicide

murder of an older child

eldercide

murder of a senior citizen

serial killers

person who kills 3+ people in three or more separate events

• thrill killers; strive for sexual sadism/dominance; typically bask in the limelight once captured

• mission killers; want to reform the world/have a vision that drives them to kill

• expedience killers; out for profit/want to protect themselves from a perceived threat

mass murder

killing of 4+ victims by one or a few assailants within a single event

• revenge killers

• love killers

• profit killers

• terrorist killers

spree killers

individuals who kill multiple victims over a relatively short span of tine/often follow no discernible pattern

• more impulsive, more likely to leave careless evidence behind that makes them easier to apprehend

battery

offensive touching, such as slapping, hitting, or punching a victim

assault

either attempted battery or intentionally frightening the victim by word or deed

• actual touching not required

road rage

violent assault by a motorist who loses control of their emotions while driving

child abuse

any physical or emotional trauma to a child for which no reasonable explanation, such as an accident or ordinary disciplinary practices, can be found

neglect

not providing a child w/ the care/shelter to which they’re entitled

relational aggression

psychological and emotional abuse that involves the spreading of smears, rumors, and private information in order to harm a partner

acquaintance robbery

robbery in which the victim(s) are people the robber knows

• victims reluctant to report

• street justice

• robber has inside info (ex: knows how much money the victim has)

• desperation

hate crimes

violent acts directed toward a particular person/members of a group solely b/c they share a discernible characteristic

• can involve convenient, vulnerable targets (ex: homeless person)

• types

  • thrill-seekers

  • reactive/defensive

  • mission-oriented

  • retaliatory

workplace violence

violence such as assault, rape, or murder committed at the workplace

• healthcare/social service workers have the highest rate of nonfatal assault injuries

• nurses/nursing assistants significantly more likely to experience violence than other professional group

stalking

course of conduct that’s directed at a specific person/invokes repeated physical and visual proximity, nonconsensual communication, or verbal, written, or implied threats sufficient to cause fear in a reasonable person

• surveillance

• life invasion

• intimidation

• interference through sabotage/attack

• women more likely to be victims

  • about 75% knew their assailant

  • about 30% had their assailant be a current/former romantic partner