Characteristics of criminal behaviour

Question 1

definition of crime
- include Andrews and Bonta

Answer 1

Andrews and Bonta offer insight into what criminal behaviour is and includes:
- an act prohibited by law and punishable by the state
-action considered to be a violation of moral or religious code
-action that violates norms of society
-action that causes serious psychological stress and damage to victim

Question 2

´Crime is a social construct`
p1

Answer 2

• no clinical characteristics of criminal behaviour
• crime definition doesn’t consider factors that can influence criminal behaviours e.g. historical context, culture, and how these things change

Question 3

how crime is a social construct (crimes not crimes anymore)

Answer 3

• abortion, homo acts not crimes anymore
• abortion, drinking under 21, homo are crimes in other countries but not UK

Question 4

is criminal behaviour always wrong
p1

Answer 4

• Nelson Mandela was arrested for conspiracy to overthrow state in south Africa because he campaigned against racial prejudice = 27years prison
• gov was pro apartheid meaning they supported racial segregation and discrimination
• Emmeline Pankhurst = arrested and jailed many times in her fight for womens equality

Question 5

types of crime (Farr and Gibbons)
p2

Answer 5

1. Property predatory crime e.g. burglary
   involves attempting to or actually taking personal property of others without permission
2. property fraudulent crime e.g. fraud
   Involves deceit or manipulation with purpose of converting property or services of others to their own
3. Interpersonal violence general eg. murder
   Actions that threaten or cause actual harm
4. Interpersonal violence sexual e.g rape
   Persons are involved in actions that threaten or caused actual personal herm and contain a sexual element
5. Transactional vice e.g. prostitution
   Victimless offences where there is a willing exchange of goods or services
6. Order disruption e.g. riots
   Actions where there is no direct victim but concern is raised about potential victims
7. Folk/mundane crime e.g using phone while driving
   Broad category whereby persons are involved in actions that can range from minor rule violations (no tv license) to serious (load regulation)

Question 6

What is a career criminal
p2
how does traits of criminls relate

Answer 6

Use crime to finance their life so have no real job

• likely that different types of criminals share same characteristics e.g. career criminals

Question 7

Career criminal traits
p2

Answer 7

1. Rationalization = rationalise their behaviour by diverting blame and questioning motives of others and often dont evaluate the consequences of their actions e.g. shoud’ve locked her car if she wanted it safe
2. entitlement = self centered and oblivous to the needs of others. They have right to commit any acts they desire as life is about them
3. Impulsive = inability to control behaviour and lack control over temper = disastrous results
4. Family dysfunction = lack of family support financially and emotionally = lack of emotional stability and asocial behaviour

Question 8

Serial killer traits (V and MO)
p3

Answer 8

1. Visionary = commit their crimes at demand of voices/visions (real or imaginary)
   -No specific target and usually kill quick with no engagement in staging of crime scenes
   -Usually declared insane or incompetent to stand trial
2. Mission oriented = believe they have calling to eliminate a certain group of people
   -in touch with reality apart from self imposed need to eradicate groups
   -may stalk potential victim and generally display organised topology
   -Crime scenes usually clean and staged

Question 9

Serial killer types (H and POO)
P3

Answer 9

1. Hedonistic = 2 types (lust/thrill or comfort orientated)
   -lust/thrill = sexual gratification and violence link and have distinct process they follow and crimes are protracted
   -comfort = kill for personal gain and are more likely to be female - geographically mobile so harder to catch
2. Power/control orientated = derive sexual gratification from dominating and controlling life of another
   -normally sociopaths and derive most gratification by prolonging crimes
   -often strong compulsion to strangle

Question 10

what did Holmes and Holmes report on serial killers
p3

Answer 10

• serial killers share characteristics of being white, male, aged 25-34
  -intelligent or street smart, charismatic and charming

Question 11

how serial killers prove point
p3

Answer 11

• even within one type of crime, the characteristics vary = links to its hard to define criminals