Criminology Exam #2 Flashcards
(39 cards)
What is a theory
-Helps us understand and explain crime causation
-make sense of seemingly unrelated facts
-Testable ideas
- Do not lead to the key explanation of criminal behavior
-Constantly evolving
Demonological Theory
-Supernatural explanations of criminality
- dominated early expansions of crime in the early 18th century
Anomie Theories
Anomie: Normalness in a society
- lack of clear-cut noms with which to guide human conduct
- Social trends in modern urban - industrial societies result in changing norms.
-Lessened social control over the individual
Subculture
Subdivisión within the dominant culture that has its own norms, beliefs, and values
When do subcultures emerge
When people in similar circumstances:
- Find themselves isolated from the mainstream
- Band together for mutual support
Subcultures of delinquency and crime
Emerge from response to speak Al problems that members of the dominant culture do not face
Strain
Explain why delinquent subcultures emerge
Social Disorganization
Take a particular form
Differential Association
How they are passed from one generation to another
Cohens Subculture Theoru
Middle-Class Measuring Rod
- Delinquent subcultures emerge in the slum areas of large American cities
- Rooted in class differentials in parent aspirations, child-rearing practices, and classroom standards
- Environment where a young person is raised in determines the problems faced
Cohens Theory (Schools and how the present a problem )
- Lower class children fall short of the standards they must meet if they want to compete successfully with middle class children
- Lower class children experience status frustration and strain, to which they adopt one of three things (Corner boy, college boy, or delinquent boy)
What is a corner boy
Hangs out in the neighborhood pier group
- Most lower class boys become corner boys
- Eventually, they get menial jobs and live a conventional life style
What are college boys
-Strive to live up to middle-class standards
- Chances of success are limited because of academic and social hardships
What are Delinquent Boys
- Band together to form a subculture in which they can define status in ways that seem attainable
When was the differential opportunity theory established
1960
What is the differential opportunity theory
- Suggest that lower class delinquents remain goal-oriented
- Delinquent behavior committed is determined by the illegitimate opportunities available
Who established the differential opportunity theory
Richard coward and Lloyd ohlin
Who developed the social control and drift theory
David Matza
What is social control and drift
Juveniles feel morally obligated to be bound by the law but may drift into a period between convention and crime
- Exist in a limbo between convention and crime
What are developmental Theories
Help explain the onset continuance, escalation, de-escalation.
- They consider each phase of life in relation to the life span of the offender
What is an Integrated Theory
Combination of criminological theories with a number of social controls
Who established the general theory
Travis Hirschi Gottfredson
What is the general theory
- Designed to explain an individuals prosperity to commit crime
- states that crime is a function of poor self-control
- Offenders have little control over their behaviors and desires
- Inadequate socialization and poor child-rearing practices, couples with poor attachment, increase the probability of impulsive and uncontrollable acts
Application of Social control Theory
- School based parent training programs offered in many states
- Premise that a child’s bond to a family is crucial
