criminology exam 2

Question 1

biological theory

Answer 1

how the presence or absence of some chemical, hormonal or physical structure relates to criminal behavior
-considered a medical model view of crime and behavior
-under this theory, the responsibility for changing behaviors falls on doctors
-recent look at hormones (the presence of testosterone & estrogen & how they impact mood/behaviors
-men are more violent than women (93% of ppl incarcerated = male)
-PMS and menstrual cycles & their impact on criminal behavior (none)
-abnormal brain development, prenatal exposure to drugs/alcohol (FAS, babies addicted)

Question 2

deficiency of vitamin b12

Answer 2

can cause:
-depression
-withdrawal
-violent behaviors

Question 3

pellagra

Answer 3

deficiency disease caused by lack of vitamin b3
can cause:
-anxiety
-hyperactivity
-depression
-insomnia
-hallucinations

Question 4

zinc deficiency

Answer 4

can cause:
-anger
-aggression
-hostile behavior

Question 5

biological evidence/theory

Answer 5

-can be used to solve crime
-DNA (hair, skin, nails, blood)
-bio theory removes blame from the person who commits the crime (blames it on their imbalances)

Question 6

physiognomy

Answer 6

-believed criminals had certain figures
-sought to identify facial features of people who commit chimes
-1790’s-early 1800’s

Question 7

phrenology

Answer 7

-focused on the shape and contours of the head
-believed they were indicators of criminal behavior

Question 8

Cesare Lombroso

Answer 8

-1876
-“The Criminal Man”
-believed criminals were less evolved men
-attributed this to atavism

Question 9

atavism

Answer 9

-Lombroso’s theory that those who commit crime are less evolved and act less evolved
features involved:
-overly large head
-large jaw & cheekbones
-excessive wrinkles
-protruding lips
-narrow forehead
-large nose

Question 10

3 categories of criminals (Lombroso claim)

Answer 10

1. born criminals: atavistic criminals
2. insane criminals: commits crime bc they are mentally deficient or due to drugs/alcohol
3. criminaloids: commits crimes under special circumstances (poverty)
   -theory later disproved

Question 11

body type thoeries

Answer 11

-different body types commit crimes
-disproved

Question 12

genetic thoeries

Answer 12

-“bad” family produces “bad” offspring
-inherited and runs in family
-eugenics (certain people/traits not desirable - get sterilized)

Question 13

psychological theory of crime

Answer 13

-attributes crime to problems in an individual’s thinking, socialization, trauma or organic brain issues
-more recent theory, last 100 years
-commit crimes bc of mental illness
-fix problems that lead to crime by rehab
-distinction between mentally ill & mentally defective

Question 14

mentally defective

Answer 14

-refers to conservatorship (sectioned) or the individual is committed to a psych. institution at some point
-5150, involuntary hold, 72 hr hold
-reported by mandated reporters

Question 15

mental illness & recidivism

Answer 15

-they are a revolving door!
-mental illness is a major factor in crime/landing in prison
-diagnose mental illness using DSM-5

Question 16

physical & mental illness

Answer 16

-both range in severity from mild to serious
-physical illness: mild = a cold, serious = cancer (terminal illness)
-mental illness: mild = anxiety, serious = bipolar, schizophrenia
-illnesses may present differently for different people
-stigma in our society (mental illness always blamed for mass shootings!)

Question 17

psychotic disorders

Answer 17

-typically very isolated due to living in own reality
-delusions = false beliefs
-hallucinations = auditory or visual
-most well known psych disorder is schizophrenia

Question 18

PTSD

Answer 18

-generally, person was exposed to death, actual or threatened serious injury or sexual violence
-not limited to these things only
-re-experienced as recurring nightmares, memories, flashbacks
-distress, irritable/aggressive bx, self destructive, reckless bx, hypervigilance
-may be result of military service, war, violence, witnessing horrific events, tragedy, natural disasters
-linked to substance abuse (try to drown feelings)

Question 19

mood disorders

Answer 19

-9.5% of US populations
-severe change in mood where individual experiences loss of sleep, loss of pleasure, sense of hopelessness, lethargy, eating, may feel suicidal
-dysthymia, BP 1/2, cyclothymia

Question 20

bipolar 1

Answer 20

extreme mania and extreme depression
-tx = mood stabilizers
-cycle in and out of jails

Question 21

bipolar 2

Answer 21

hypomania and moderate depression

Question 22

psychoanalytic theory

Answer 22

-Sigmund Freud = father of psychoanalysis
-introduced oedipus and electra complex
-Freud thought people are antisocial from the start of their lives & commit crimes because they are not immediately caring for others

Question 23

ID, ego, superego

Answer 23

id = seeks pleasure, gratification (devil)
superego = social authority, conscience (angel)
ego = rational, mediating force

Question 24

Travis Hirschi

Answer 24

-created social control theory
-why do people NOT commit crimes?
-assumes we all want to commit a crime if opportunity arises

Question 25

strong & weak social bonds

Answer 25

strong = do not engage in criminal bx weak = do engage in criminal bx our relationships with other people determine our bx - our actions will affect them as well

Question 26

Internal & External control

Answer 26

internal - societal rules we have internalized external - rewards lost & punishments from being a violator of social norms (commitment to conformity/restraint toward criminal bx)

Question 27

types of social bonds (according to Hirschi)

Answer 27

1. Attachments - most important bonds, close ties to conventional institutions, if we are attached to those who follow social rules we will also 2. Commitment - rooted in rational choice, committed to conventional goals and rules 3. Involvement - time spent devoted to conventional activities 4. Belief - strong belief in societal norms

Question 28

criticisms of social bonding & control theory

Answer 28

-are we all naturally motivated to commit crimes? -what if you have "deviant" parents?

Question 29

General Theory of Crime

Answer 29

moved away from classical bonding theory in 1990's towards this theory -focuses on social control and internal controls -if you have a lot of social control, you will not commit crimes -if you have low self control, you are going to commit crimes as long as there is opportunity -high supervision = opportunity to commit crimes vanishes (stay out of trouble OR lash out) -self control = restraint -those with low self control are impulsive, spontaneous, & value risk/adventure

Question 30

parents

Answer 30

control is either high or low on their kids