Criminal Behavior: Chapter 1 (Psychological)
1. What is crime?: Legally: conduct or failure to act in violation
of the law forbidding
or commanding it, and for which a range of possible penalties
exist upon conviction
Most crime harms
Crime intrigues people
2. Psych Perspective: "our primary goal is to review and
integrate recent scholarship
and research in the psychology of crime, compare it with
traditional approaches,
and discuss strategies that have been offered to prevent and
modify criminal
behavior"
3. Theories of crime: Theory may refer to personal
experiences, observations,
traditional beliefs, a set of opinions, or a collection of abstract
thoughts.
4. Scientific Theory: set of interrelated constructs (concepts),
definitions, and
propositions that present a systematic view of phenomena by
specifying relations
among variables, with the purpose of explaining and predicting
the phenomena.
These are based on logic and research, but vary widely in
complexity
5. Just-World Hypothesis: a belief that people get what they
deserve in this world
6. Just-world Theory: 1) A general just-world: "He got what he
deserved"
2) A personal just-world: "I usually get what I deserve"
7. Theory Verification: A process whereby a scientific theory
is tested through
, observation and analysis
8. Falsification: The process of testing a theory whereby if it is
discovered that even
one of its propositions is found not to be supported, the theory
cannot be valid
9. Model: A graphic or descriptive illustration intended to add
clarity to a theory
10. Classical Theory: Theory of human behavior that
emphasizes free will as a core
concept
11. Deterrence Theory: Theory that argues that threat of
punishment will prevent
crime
12. Positivist theory: Theory that argues prior experiences or
influences determine
present behavior
13. Conformity Perspective: - views humans as creatures of
conformity who want
to do the right thing
- Represents the humanistic perspective in psych
- Human beings are basically "goof" people trying to fulfill their
fullest potential
14. Strain Theory: prominent sociological explanation for crime
based on Robert
Merton's theory that crime and delinquency occur when there is
a perceived discrepancy
between the materialistic values and goals cherished and held
in high esteem
by a society and the availability of the legitimate means for
reaching these goals.
example of conformity perspective
15. Nonconformist Perspective: assumes that human beings
are basically undisciplined
1. What is crime?: Legally: conduct or failure to act in violation
of the law forbidding
or commanding it, and for which a range of possible penalties
exist upon conviction
Most crime harms
Crime intrigues people
2. Psych Perspective: "our primary goal is to review and
integrate recent scholarship
and research in the psychology of crime, compare it with
traditional approaches,
and discuss strategies that have been offered to prevent and
modify criminal
behavior"
3. Theories of crime: Theory may refer to personal
experiences, observations,
traditional beliefs, a set of opinions, or a collection of abstract
thoughts.
4. Scientific Theory: set of interrelated constructs (concepts),
definitions, and
propositions that present a systematic view of phenomena by
specifying relations
among variables, with the purpose of explaining and predicting
the phenomena.
These are based on logic and research, but vary widely in
complexity
5. Just-World Hypothesis: a belief that people get what they
deserve in this world
6. Just-world Theory: 1) A general just-world: "He got what he
deserved"
2) A personal just-world: "I usually get what I deserve"
7. Theory Verification: A process whereby a scientific theory
is tested through
, observation and analysis
8. Falsification: The process of testing a theory whereby if it is
discovered that even
one of its propositions is found not to be supported, the theory
cannot be valid
9. Model: A graphic or descriptive illustration intended to add
clarity to a theory
10. Classical Theory: Theory of human behavior that
emphasizes free will as a core
concept
11. Deterrence Theory: Theory that argues that threat of
punishment will prevent
crime
12. Positivist theory: Theory that argues prior experiences or
influences determine
present behavior
13. Conformity Perspective: - views humans as creatures of
conformity who want
to do the right thing
- Represents the humanistic perspective in psych
- Human beings are basically "goof" people trying to fulfill their
fullest potential
14. Strain Theory: prominent sociological explanation for crime
based on Robert
Merton's theory that crime and delinquency occur when there is
a perceived discrepancy
between the materialistic values and goals cherished and held
in high esteem
by a society and the availability of the legitimate means for
reaching these goals.
example of conformity perspective
15. Nonconformist Perspective: assumes that human beings
are basically undisciplined
