Midterm content

• Definitions of criminology.

• Schools of criminological thought and why theoretical praxis matters.

• Impetus for criminology to emerge as an academic discipline in the 1950s.

• Various definitions of crime (such as crime as a social construct) and criminality.

• Perspectives on crime, criminality and punishment throughout the years.

• Transition from sovereign power with public and corporal punishment to disciplinary power.

• Enlightenment thinkers Cesare Beccaria (deterrence theory) and Jeremy Bentham (panopticon).

• Deterrence theory.

• Foucault's critiques of the following concepts: panopticon, docile body.

• Foucault argues that even though public torture no longer occurs in the criminal justice system, disciplinary power is also sinister.

• Sociological, legalistic, and socio legal approaches (in Module 2).

• Stanley Cohen’s concept of moral panics as well as more recent examinations of the ‘risk society’ and ‘risk’ and who is ‘risky’.
  

• Advantages and disadvantages of the various tools for measuring crime (police data, self-report surveys, random sample surveys, and victimizations surveys).

• Crime severity index

• Biological and psychological theories of criminality, and note the critique that they are reductionist.
  

• Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral reasoning.

• 
  

  Definitions of criminology.This refers to the various explanations and interpretations of criminology as a field of study, exploring its scope, focus, and foundational principles.

• 
  

  Schools of criminological thought and why theoretical praxis matters.This highlights various perspectives within criminology, including classical, positivist, and critical theories, and discusses the importance of applying these theories to real-world situations.

• 
  

  Impetus for criminology to emerge as an academic discipline in the 1950s.This addresses the historical context and societal changes that led to the recognition of criminology as a distinct academic field, driven by emerging social problems and the need for academic inquiry into crime.

• 
  

  Various definitions of crime (such as crime as a social construct) and criminality.This discusses how crime can be defined in different ways, emphasizing the view of crime as a construct shaped by societal norms, culture, and laws, as well as exploring notions of criminality.

• 
  

  Perspectives on crime, criminality and punishment throughout the years.This outlines the evolution of societal views on crime, the nature of criminal behavior, and methods of punishment from historical to contemporary approaches.

• 
  

  Transition from sovereign power with public and corporal punishment to disciplinary power.This describes the shift from overt, punitive forms of punishment to subtle forms of social control and discipline, as theorized by Michel Foucault.

• 
  

  Enlightenment thinkers Cesare Beccaria (deterrence theory) and Jeremy Bentham (panopticon).This highlights the contributions of Beccaria and Bentham to criminology, focusing on the ideas of deterrence in preventing crime and the concept of the panopticon as a model for surveillance and control in society.

• 
  

  Deterrence theory.This theory posits that the threat of punishment can deter individuals from committing crimes, emphasizing the importance of a swift and certain punishment to prevent crime.

• 
  

  Foucault's critiques of the following concepts: panopticon, docile body.This presents Foucault's analysis of the panopticon as a metaphor for modern surveillance and control, arguing that it creates 'docile bodies' through discipline rather than overt violence.

• 
  

  Foucault argues that even though public torture no longer occurs in the criminal justice system, disciplinary power is also sinister.This statement emphasizes that contemporary forms of discipline and control, though not physically violent, can still be oppressive and manipulative in more insidious ways.

• 
  

  Sociological, legalistic, and socio-legal approaches (in Module 2).This introduces different methodologies in criminology, focusing on how societal contexts, legal frameworks, and the interplay between law and society contribute to our understanding of crime.

• 
  

  Stanley Cohen’s concept of moral panics as well as more recent examinations of the ‘risk society’ and ‘risk’ and who is ‘risky’.This explores Cohen's idea that society can overreact to perceived threats, leading to moral panics, and examines how modern society categorizes individuals based on perceived risks related to crime.

Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning consist of three main levels, each with two stages:

1. Pre-Conventional Level

   • Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation

     • Moral reasoning is based on avoiding punishment.

   • Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange

     • Recognizes that different individuals have different viewpoints, and actions are judged based on their consequences.

2. Conventional Level

   • Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

     • The focus is on gaining approval from others and being seen as 'good' by those around you.

   • Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order

     • Emphasizes the importance of obeying laws and fulfilling duties to maintain societal order.

3. Post-Conventional Level

   • Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights

     • Recognizes the importance of individual rights and social contracts, advocating for democratic principles.

   • Stage 6: Universal Principles

     • Decisions are made according to abstract reasoning and universal moral principles, where justice and equality take precedence over social rules.