Midterm Flashcards
consensus theory of crime
crime is defined in a manner broadly agreed upon by society
conflict theory of crime
crime is determined by socially powerful groups to maintain and promote social dominance
instrumental violence
premeditated acts that are carried out unemotionally against strangers; goal oriented
reactive violence
occurs in response to frustration, to cause harm against the victim; spontaneous acts committed when emotions (anger) are high against known victims
macro theory
large scale theory that explains phenomena at a societal or broad group level (sociological theory)
micro theory
small scale theory that explains phenomena at an individual level (psychological theory)
inter-individual differences
exist between two or more people
intra-individual differences
variations within the same person
age-crime curve
the distribution of criminal behaviour over lifespan which consistently shows that crime rates rise sharply throughout adolescence, peak in early adulthood, and taper off during old age
correlational research designs
examines relationships between two or more variables (third variable: uncontrolled factor that may be responsible for changes occurring in a study variable)
longitudinal research designs
involves making several observations of same study participants over a period of time
classic experimental designs
- random assignment
- experimental group
- control group
- assignment of participants to different study conditions on the basis of chance
- study participants who are exposed to variable or condition under investigation
- participants who aren’t exposed to variable and are used for comparison purposes
quasi-experimental designs
incorporates some of the features of a true experiment (can be used when random assignment isn’t possible)
meta-analysis
involves combining results of many studies on a particular subject to generate a statistical estimate of overall magnitude of findings
- value rests on having clear inclusion criteria outlining which studies are to be included
- powerful way to summarize and understand the significance of research findings
evolutionary psychology
field of study concerned with understanding how natural selection shapes and influences mental processes and behaviour (population as a whole)
behavioural genetics
field of study concerned with understanding influence of genetics on expression of characteristics and behaviours within a population (individual in population)
twin studies (strength and weakness)
- strength: can show whether behavioural similarity is due to genetics or environment
- weakness: twins more likely to share same environment than non-twins
adoption studies (strength and weakness)
- strength: type of natural experiment showing whether behaviour influenced by biological or adoptive parents
- weakness: less common, may not be generalize-able
monozygotic & dizygotic twins
monozygotic: develop from a single fertilized egg that has split (genetically identical)
dizygotic: develop from two eggs that are independently fertilized by different sperm (vary genetically)
concordance rate
percentage of two individuals who match one another with respect to presence of a particular characteristic or condition (the percent that the other twin will also have the same trait)
diathesis-stress model
diathesis: genetic vulnerability of predisposition to develop a psycho-pathological condition
differential susceptibility model
individuals exhibit gene-based differences in their sensitivity or reactivity to environment
selfish and antisocial behaviour
acting in ways that increase chances of own survival and reproductive success at the cost of someone else’s
altruism
success is seen with all offspring by an individual raised well including close relatives
inclusive fitness
reproductive success of both individual and their close genetic relatives (helping close genetic relatives also sees their shared genes successfully pass on to more generations)
Cinderella effect
parents form stronger bonds to own children, which is why the risk for step children to be harmed by step parents is higher
reciprocal cooperation
involves providing a non-related individual a benefit on basis that they will return favour and thereby increase survival and reproductive success
cheating behaviour
accepting benefit without reciprocating favour
parenting effort
that proportion of the total reproductive effort invested in rearing offspring (encourages pro-social behaviour)
mating effort
proportion of total reproductive effort allotted to acquiring sexual partners
- signs are numerous sex partners and early onset of sexual behaviour
female reproductive strategies
reproductive success: ability to secure mates to assist them in raising offspring
- parenting effort
male reproductive strategies
reproductive success: multiple strategies
- mating effort
intrasexual competition
rivalry among the members of one sex, usually for mates or resources
- males: an evolved psychological desire for status, power, and material resources