CMY3701 Part 1: The rational actor model
of crime and criminal behaviour + Theme
1: The rational actor model
According to Merton an integrated society maintains a balance between two elements
social structure; culture
What specifically refers to shorter processes that use more limited information which
relate mainly to the immediate circumstances and situations?
Criminal event decisions
Durkheim's work was influential in shifting the analysis of criminality away from sources
rooted in the individual to sources rooted in sociocultural factors. He believed that crime
is a/an... in any society and is therefore ...
normal phenomenon; functional.
Social-structure theories focus on ...
social conditions.
According to Kohlberg's stages of development, people make moral decisions, not just on the basis
of what the law says, but on higher principles. This statement refers to the...
post-conventional stage.
Which one of the following theories contend that certain changes in the modern world
have provided motivated offenders with a far greater number of opportunities to commit crime?
Routine activities theory
Neo-classicists (Joyce, 2006) assert that a person is still accountable for his or her
actions but with minor reservations. Which two specific factors will influence the offender to
reform?
Past history and present situation
The Classical school believes that behaviour is guided by hedonism. The concept
hedonism can be described as ... whereby offenders calculate the risks and rewards of
crime.
a pleasure-and-pain principle
Process theories attempt to explain how individuals become offenders. The focus is on... as
experienced by the offender rather than the ...
social interactions; social structure.
What is also referred to as "direct conditioning"?
Differential reinforcement
of crime and criminal behaviour + Theme
1: The rational actor model
According to Merton an integrated society maintains a balance between two elements
social structure; culture
What specifically refers to shorter processes that use more limited information which
relate mainly to the immediate circumstances and situations?
Criminal event decisions
Durkheim's work was influential in shifting the analysis of criminality away from sources
rooted in the individual to sources rooted in sociocultural factors. He believed that crime
is a/an... in any society and is therefore ...
normal phenomenon; functional.
Social-structure theories focus on ...
social conditions.
According to Kohlberg's stages of development, people make moral decisions, not just on the basis
of what the law says, but on higher principles. This statement refers to the...
post-conventional stage.
Which one of the following theories contend that certain changes in the modern world
have provided motivated offenders with a far greater number of opportunities to commit crime?
Routine activities theory
Neo-classicists (Joyce, 2006) assert that a person is still accountable for his or her
actions but with minor reservations. Which two specific factors will influence the offender to
reform?
Past history and present situation
The Classical school believes that behaviour is guided by hedonism. The concept
hedonism can be described as ... whereby offenders calculate the risks and rewards of
crime.
a pleasure-and-pain principle
Process theories attempt to explain how individuals become offenders. The focus is on... as
experienced by the offender rather than the ...
social interactions; social structure.
What is also referred to as "direct conditioning"?
Differential reinforcement
