Criminology Exam 1 Test Review (Major Terms and
Definitions for the first exam) Passed!!
criminology
The scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior.
deviant behavior
Actions that depart from the social norm. Some are considered criminal, others merely
harmless aberrations.
criminal justice
System made up of the agencies of social control, such as police departments, courts,
and correctional institutions that handle criminal offenders.
criminological enterprise
The various subareas included within the scholarly discipline of criminology, which,
taken as a whole, define the field of study.
valid measure
Measure that actually measures what it purports to measure, measure that is factual.
reliable measure
A measure that produces consistent results from one measurement to another.
victim precipitated homicide
Refers to those killings in which the victim is a direct, positive precipitator of the incident.
white collar crime
Illegal acts that capitalize on a person's status in the marketplace. May include theft,
embezzlement, etc.
penology
Subarea of the criminology that focuses on the correction and control of criminal
offenders.
rehabilitation
Treatment of criminal offenders that is aimed at preventing future criminal behavior.
mandatory sentences
A statutory requirement that a certain penalty shall be carried out in all cases of
conviction for a specified offense or series of offenses.
victimology
Study of the victim's role in criminal events.
precipitation
The thought pattern of the victim about what they did to contribute to their own
victimization.
classical criminology
Theoretical perspective suggesting that people choose to commit crime and that crime
can be controlled if potential criminals fear punishment.
positivism
Branch of social science that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences and
suggests that human behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological, or
economic forces that can be empirically measured.
sociological criminology
, Based on the work of Emile Durkheim that focuses on the relationship between social
factors and crime.
anomie
Lack of norms or clear social standards. Because of rapidly shifting moral values, the
individual has few guides to what is socially acceptable.
socialization
Process of human development and enculturation. Socialization is influenced by key
social processes and institutions.
conflict theory
The view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and that those who
maintain social power will use it to further their own ends.
critical criminology
Crime is a product of the capitalist system.
rational choice theory
The view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the would-be
offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act.
trait theory
The view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits.
social structure theory
Criminality is a function of people's interactions with various organizations, institutions,
and processes in society.
critical criminologists
Examine how those who hold political and economic power shape the law to uphold
their self-interests.
crime
An act, deemed socially harmful or dangerous, that is specifically defined, prohibited,
and punished under the criminal law.
decriminalized
Having criminal penalties reduced rather than eliminated.
consensus view
The majority of citizens in a society share common values and agree on what behaviors
should be criminal.
criminal law
Belief that criminal behavior is defined by those in power in a way as to protect and
advance their own self-interest.
interactionist view
Those with social power are able to impose their values on society as a whole, and
these values then define criminal behavior.
precedent
A rule derived from previous judicial decisions and applied to future cases; the basis of
common law.
common law
Early English law, developed by judges, which became the standardized law of the land
in England and eventually formed the basis of the criminal law of the US.
statutory crimes
Definitions for the first exam) Passed!!
criminology
The scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior.
deviant behavior
Actions that depart from the social norm. Some are considered criminal, others merely
harmless aberrations.
criminal justice
System made up of the agencies of social control, such as police departments, courts,
and correctional institutions that handle criminal offenders.
criminological enterprise
The various subareas included within the scholarly discipline of criminology, which,
taken as a whole, define the field of study.
valid measure
Measure that actually measures what it purports to measure, measure that is factual.
reliable measure
A measure that produces consistent results from one measurement to another.
victim precipitated homicide
Refers to those killings in which the victim is a direct, positive precipitator of the incident.
white collar crime
Illegal acts that capitalize on a person's status in the marketplace. May include theft,
embezzlement, etc.
penology
Subarea of the criminology that focuses on the correction and control of criminal
offenders.
rehabilitation
Treatment of criminal offenders that is aimed at preventing future criminal behavior.
mandatory sentences
A statutory requirement that a certain penalty shall be carried out in all cases of
conviction for a specified offense or series of offenses.
victimology
Study of the victim's role in criminal events.
precipitation
The thought pattern of the victim about what they did to contribute to their own
victimization.
classical criminology
Theoretical perspective suggesting that people choose to commit crime and that crime
can be controlled if potential criminals fear punishment.
positivism
Branch of social science that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences and
suggests that human behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological, or
economic forces that can be empirically measured.
sociological criminology
, Based on the work of Emile Durkheim that focuses on the relationship between social
factors and crime.
anomie
Lack of norms or clear social standards. Because of rapidly shifting moral values, the
individual has few guides to what is socially acceptable.
socialization
Process of human development and enculturation. Socialization is influenced by key
social processes and institutions.
conflict theory
The view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and that those who
maintain social power will use it to further their own ends.
critical criminology
Crime is a product of the capitalist system.
rational choice theory
The view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the would-be
offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act.
trait theory
The view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits.
social structure theory
Criminality is a function of people's interactions with various organizations, institutions,
and processes in society.
critical criminologists
Examine how those who hold political and economic power shape the law to uphold
their self-interests.
crime
An act, deemed socially harmful or dangerous, that is specifically defined, prohibited,
and punished under the criminal law.
decriminalized
Having criminal penalties reduced rather than eliminated.
consensus view
The majority of citizens in a society share common values and agree on what behaviors
should be criminal.
criminal law
Belief that criminal behavior is defined by those in power in a way as to protect and
advance their own self-interest.
interactionist view
Those with social power are able to impose their values on society as a whole, and
these values then define criminal behavior.
precedent
A rule derived from previous judicial decisions and applied to future cases; the basis of
common law.
common law
Early English law, developed by judges, which became the standardized law of the land
in England and eventually formed the basis of the criminal law of the US.
statutory crimes
