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Study Guide for Criminology Exam: Chapters 5-9

Chapter 5: Theories of Crime

1. Classical Criminology

  • Key Thinkers: Cesare Beccaria, Jeremy Bentham.

  • Main Ideas:

    • Rational Choice Theory: Criminals make a rational choice to commit crime.

    • Deterrence: Punishment should be certain, swift, and proportionate to the crime to deter crime.

2. Biological Theories

  • Early Theories:

    • Phrenology: Study of skull shapes to determine criminal tendencies.

    • Lombroso's Atavism: Criminals are evolutionary throwbacks.

  • Modern Biological Theories:

    • Genetics: Heritability of criminal behavior.

    • Neurophysiological Factors: Brain abnormalities and neurotransmitter imbalances.

    • Biochemical Imbalances: Hormonal influences on behavior.

3. Psychological Theories

  • Key Concepts:

    • Personality Disorders: Traits that predispose individuals to criminal behavior.

    • Psychopathy: Characterized by lack of empathy and remorse.

    • Cognitive Development Theories: How moral reasoning affects behavior.

  • Famous Theories:

    • Eysenck's Theory of Criminal Personality: Links personality traits to criminal behavior.

    • Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development: Pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional stages.

4. Sociological Theories

  • Structural Theories:

    • Strain Theory (Robert Merton): Discrepancy between societal goals and means.

    • Social Disorganization Theory (Shaw and McKay): Crime linked to urban environments and community breakdown.

  • Social Process Theories:

    • Differential Association (Edwin Sutherland): Criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others.

    • Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura): Behavior learned through observation and imitation.

    • Labeling Theory (Howard Becker): Being labeled as deviant leads to further deviance.

Chapter 6: Social Structure and Crime

1. Strain and Anomie Theories

  • Merton’s Strain Theory:

    • Adaptations: Conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion.

  • Agnew’s General Strain Theory:

    • Sources of Strain: Failure to achieve goals, loss of positive stimuli, introduction of negative stimuli.

    • Coping Mechanisms: Legal and illegal ways to handle strain.

2. Social Disorganization Theory

  • Key Concepts:

    • Zones of Transition: High crime areas near central business districts.

    • Collective Efficacy: Social cohesion among neighbors and their willingness to intervene.

3. Subcultural Theories

  • Key Concepts:

    • Subcultures of Violence: Norms and values that legitimize the use of violence.

    • Gang Subcultures: Shared values and behaviors within gangs.

  • Key Figures: Albert Cohen, Cloward and Ohlin.

4. Conflict Theories

  • Key Concepts:

    • Power Relations: Crime results from social and economic inequalities.

    • Social Inequality: Law as a tool of the powerful.

  • Key Figures: Karl Marx, Richard Quinney.

Chapter 7: Social Process and Crime

1. Differential Association Theory

  • Key Ideas:

    • Criminal Behavior is Learned: Through interaction with others.

    • Importance of Peer Groups: Influence on behavior.

  • Key Figure: Edwin Sutherland.

2. Social Learning Theory

  • Key Concepts:

    • Modeling: Imitating the behavior of others.

    • Reinforcement: Behavior is reinforced by rewards and punishments.

  • Key Figure: Albert Bandura.

3. Labeling Theory

  • Key Concepts:

    • Primary and Secondary Deviance: Initial act of deviance and subsequent deviance resulting from societal reaction.

    • Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Being labeled as deviant leads to further deviance.

  • Key Figure: Howard Becker.

4. Control Theories

  • Social Bond Theory (Travis Hirschi):

    • Elements: Attachment, commitment, involvement, belief.

  • Self-Control Theory (Gottfredson and Hirschi):

    • Importance of Self-Control: Low self-control leads to criminal behavior.

Chapter 8: Crime Typologies

1. Violent Crimes

  • Types: Homicide, assault, robbery.

  • Key Statistics: Trends and patterns in violent crime.

2. Property Crimes

  • Types: Burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft.

  • Key Statistics: Trends and patterns in property crime.

3. White-Collar and Corporate Crime

  • Key Concepts: Occupational crime, corporate crime, regulatory enforcement.

  • Famous Cases: Enron scandal, Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme.

4. Organized Crime

  • Key Concepts: Characteristics of organized crime groups, activities (drug trafficking, human trafficking).

  • Examples: Mafia, drug cartels.

Chapter 9: Criminal Justice System

1. Police

  • Roles and Functions: Law enforcement, order maintenance, service.

  • Issues: Use of force, police discretion, community policing.

2. Courts

  • Structure: Federal vs. provincial/territorial courts, specialized courts.

  • Key Concepts: Due process, adversarial system, plea bargaining.

3. Corrections

  • Types: Jails, prisons, probation, parole.

  • Key Concepts: Rehabilitation, deterrence, retribution, incapacitation.

4. Juvenile Justice System

  • Differences from Adult System: Emphasis on rehabilitation, different legal procedures.

  • Key Concepts: Juvenile delinquency, diversion programs.

Additional Key Concepts

I. The Importance of Parenting

  • Essential for Child Development: Parents should guide children, especially during adolescence.

  • Negative Peer Influence: Peers can lead children away from parental guidance, exacerbated by phones and social media.

II. Coercion Theory and Parent-Child Relationships

  • Cycle of Escalation: Coercive actions learned through escalating demands and anger.

  • Attachment Disruptions: Lead to trust issues and insecure attachments in adulthood.

III. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Parenting

  • Behavior Influence: Thoughts and feelings shape behavior.

  • Conditioning: Positive and negative reinforcement used in parenting practices.

IV. Techniques of Neutralization in Criminal Behavior

  • Justifying Criminal Behavior:

    1. Denial of responsibility.

    2. Denial of injury.

    3. Denial of the victim.

    4. Condemnation of the condemners.

    5. Appeal to higher loyalties.

V. Confirmation Bias and Law Enforcement

  • Existing Beliefs: Influence on memory and interpretation.

  • Impact: Stereotyping and quicker judgments in law enforcement.

VI. Medical Model of Psychopathology and Criminal Behavior

  • DSM-5 Diagnoses: Mental disorders related to criminal behavior.

  • Overrepresentation: Anti-social personality disorder, psychosis in criminal populations.

VII. Anti-Social Personality Disorder and Psychopathy

  • Characterization: Disregard for others' rights, criminal behavior.

  • Assessment: Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).

VIII. Personal Experience with Psychosis

  • Steroid-Induced Psychosis: Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia.

  • Understanding Psychosis: Impact on behavior and legal responsibility.