CRIM 1001 FINAL EXAM DEFINITIONS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS(RATED A+)
crime - ANSWERbehaviour that violates the criminal law.
-for sociologists and criminologists crime is a social construct and its definition
changes depending on the historical time and place.
interdisciplinary - ANSWERrepresents approaches to social inquiry based on a
common framework that is understood from a variety of disciplines simultaneously.
legalistic definition of crime - ANSWERan intentional act by an individual that is a
violation of criminal law.
positivism - ANSWERbased on principles that science could measure phenomena,
make universal explanations about a particular phenomenon, and ultimately find a
solution.
victim surveys - ANSWERthe objective of these surveys is to provide estimates of
personal experiences of victimization.
criminogenic - ANSWERaims to understand what individual, relational and
environmental factors may produce criminal behaviour.
criminology - ANSWERthe scientific study of crime, criminology and the societal and
institutional response to this through the criminal justice system, media etc.
critical criminology - ANSWERa theoretical paradigm that challenges traditional
understandings about criminology, bringing into view decisions about what acts are
defined as crime and ways different groups of people possess differently through the
criminal justice system.
ethnographic research - ANSWERthe researcher enters into the natural setting and
becomes directly exposed to respondents' lives
ie; researcher who works as a bouncer for violence at bars/clubs/pubs etc.
anomie - ANSWERa social condition where social control breaks down/norms.
people lack guidelines for behaviour and experience a high level of confusion about
basic social norms.
-sometimes people can respond in criminal/deviant ways.
classical theory - ANSWERbased on the view that it is better to prevent crime than
punish it and punishment although necessary to deter criminal behaviour is
unsavoury no matter how it is administered.
-various types of negative sanctions discourage or deter criminal behaviour.
, consensus theory - ANSWERa general body of theories based on overreacting
assumption that morality rules that proscribe behaviour are natural, universal and
unchanging.
-crimes are behaviours that are repugnant to all elements of society
differential association theory - ANSWERargues that people learn to be deviant
when more of their associates favour deviance than favour conformity.
-person becoming influenced by deviant behaviour, then learning that from the
influencer.
Human Genome Project - ANSWERan international genetics program funded
primarily funded by U.S departments of Energy and Health and dedicated to
identifying and mapping all of the human genes that constitute a living human being.
social control theory - ANSWERpresumes that individuals will engage in crime
unless they have moral compass (inner control to avoid criminal behaviour or
deterred from committing crimes due to fear of punishment)
socio-cultural theories - ANSWERfocuses in the field of crime and deviance, on the
context in which and processes by which individuals learn criminal behaviour.
cultures and subcultures are targeted as "transmitters" of deviant values.
societal reaction theory - ANSWERrefers to the process by which societies respond
to deviant behaviours.
-informal reactions, formal reactions ie; police, courts etc.
strain theory - ANSWERwhen opportunities for success are blocked or unavailable, a
criminal subculture may develop
-poverty, abuse, neglect, paternal disappointment etc..
symbolic interactionism - ANSWERtheoretical approach that focuses on the
relationship between individuals and groups in the defining and labelling of certain
acts of deviant rather than focusing on social structures and conditions.
-deviant labels can be understood through as symbols that identify those who are
labelled deviant.
status frustration theory - ANSWERproposes that lower-class youths often do not
meet the attitude and achievement demanded by middle-class culture. frustration
results in lower-class youth forms their own hierarchy and achievements that is
based on criteria of middle-class values.
bio-power - ANSWER-term coined by Michel Foucault
-describes modern societies as characterized by systems of non physical forces
created and implemented in order to except power and control over individual
bodies.
differential association - ANSWER-developed by Edwin Sutherland in 1930s
-people experience different social situations and learn new things. argues crime is
learned in association with others.
labelling theory - ANSWER-extension of symbolic interactionism
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS(RATED A+)
crime - ANSWERbehaviour that violates the criminal law.
-for sociologists and criminologists crime is a social construct and its definition
changes depending on the historical time and place.
interdisciplinary - ANSWERrepresents approaches to social inquiry based on a
common framework that is understood from a variety of disciplines simultaneously.
legalistic definition of crime - ANSWERan intentional act by an individual that is a
violation of criminal law.
positivism - ANSWERbased on principles that science could measure phenomena,
make universal explanations about a particular phenomenon, and ultimately find a
solution.
victim surveys - ANSWERthe objective of these surveys is to provide estimates of
personal experiences of victimization.
criminogenic - ANSWERaims to understand what individual, relational and
environmental factors may produce criminal behaviour.
criminology - ANSWERthe scientific study of crime, criminology and the societal and
institutional response to this through the criminal justice system, media etc.
critical criminology - ANSWERa theoretical paradigm that challenges traditional
understandings about criminology, bringing into view decisions about what acts are
defined as crime and ways different groups of people possess differently through the
criminal justice system.
ethnographic research - ANSWERthe researcher enters into the natural setting and
becomes directly exposed to respondents' lives
ie; researcher who works as a bouncer for violence at bars/clubs/pubs etc.
anomie - ANSWERa social condition where social control breaks down/norms.
people lack guidelines for behaviour and experience a high level of confusion about
basic social norms.
-sometimes people can respond in criminal/deviant ways.
classical theory - ANSWERbased on the view that it is better to prevent crime than
punish it and punishment although necessary to deter criminal behaviour is
unsavoury no matter how it is administered.
-various types of negative sanctions discourage or deter criminal behaviour.
, consensus theory - ANSWERa general body of theories based on overreacting
assumption that morality rules that proscribe behaviour are natural, universal and
unchanging.
-crimes are behaviours that are repugnant to all elements of society
differential association theory - ANSWERargues that people learn to be deviant
when more of their associates favour deviance than favour conformity.
-person becoming influenced by deviant behaviour, then learning that from the
influencer.
Human Genome Project - ANSWERan international genetics program funded
primarily funded by U.S departments of Energy and Health and dedicated to
identifying and mapping all of the human genes that constitute a living human being.
social control theory - ANSWERpresumes that individuals will engage in crime
unless they have moral compass (inner control to avoid criminal behaviour or
deterred from committing crimes due to fear of punishment)
socio-cultural theories - ANSWERfocuses in the field of crime and deviance, on the
context in which and processes by which individuals learn criminal behaviour.
cultures and subcultures are targeted as "transmitters" of deviant values.
societal reaction theory - ANSWERrefers to the process by which societies respond
to deviant behaviours.
-informal reactions, formal reactions ie; police, courts etc.
strain theory - ANSWERwhen opportunities for success are blocked or unavailable, a
criminal subculture may develop
-poverty, abuse, neglect, paternal disappointment etc..
symbolic interactionism - ANSWERtheoretical approach that focuses on the
relationship between individuals and groups in the defining and labelling of certain
acts of deviant rather than focusing on social structures and conditions.
-deviant labels can be understood through as symbols that identify those who are
labelled deviant.
status frustration theory - ANSWERproposes that lower-class youths often do not
meet the attitude and achievement demanded by middle-class culture. frustration
results in lower-class youth forms their own hierarchy and achievements that is
based on criteria of middle-class values.
bio-power - ANSWER-term coined by Michel Foucault
-describes modern societies as characterized by systems of non physical forces
created and implemented in order to except power and control over individual
bodies.
differential association - ANSWER-developed by Edwin Sutherland in 1930s
-people experience different social situations and learn new things. argues crime is
learned in association with others.
labelling theory - ANSWER-extension of symbolic interactionism
