Criminology-Exam 1 (AU Criminology w/ Jeff Black
Terms from exam 1) 2023
criminology
the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior
interdisciplinary science
involving two or more academic fields
criminal justice
referring to the agencies of social control, such as police departments, the courts, and
correctional institutions that handle criminal offenders
utilitarianism
the view that people's behavior is motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and the
avoidance of pain
classical criminology
the theoretical perspective suggesting that (1) people have free will to choose criminal
or conventional behaviors; (2) people choose to commit crime for reasons of greed or
personal need; and (3) crime can be controlled only by the fear of criminal sanctions
positivism
the branch of social science that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences and
suggests that human behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological, or
economic forces
scientific method
using verifiable principles and procedures for the systematic acquisition of knowledge;
typically involves formulating a problem, creating a hypothesis, and collecting data
through observation and experiment, to verify the hypothesis
biosocial theory
approach to criminology that focuses on the interaction between biological and social
factors as they relate to crime
sociological criminology
approach to criminology, based on the work of Quetelet and Durkheim, that focuses on
the relationship between social factors and crime
anomie
a lack of norms or clear social standards. because of rapidly shifting moral values, the
individual has few guides to what is socially acceptable
Chicago School
group of urban sociologist who studied the relationship between environmental
conditions and crime
socialization
process of human development and enculturation. socialization is influenced by key
social processes and institutions
conflict theory
the view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and that those who
maintain social power will use it to further their own ends
critical criminology
the view that crime is a product of the capitalist system
, developmental theory
the view that criminality is a dynamic process, influenced by social experiences as well
as individual characteristis
rational choice theory
the view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential
offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act
trait theory
the view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits
social structure theory
the view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime
social process theory
the view that criminality is a function of people's interactions with various organizations,
institutions, and processes in society
valid
actually measuring what one intends to measure
reliable
producing consistent results from one measurement to another
ex post facto law
a law applied retroactively to punish acts that were not crimes before its passage, or
one that raises the grade of an offense, or that renders an act punishable in a more
severe manner than it was when commited
white collar crime
illegal acts that capitalize on a person's status in the marketplace. White-collar crimes
may include theft, embezzlement, fraud, market manipulation, restraint of trade, and
false advertising
penology
subarea of criminology that focuses on the correction and control of criminal offenders
rehabilitation
treatment of criminal offenders that is aimed at preventing future criminal behavior
capital punishment
the execution of criminal offenders; the death penalty
mandatory sentences
a statutory requirement that a certain penalty shall be carried out in all cases of
conviction for a specified offense or series of offenses
victimology
the study of the victim's role in criminal events
deviance
behavior that departs from the social norm but is not necessarily criminal
crime
an act, deemed socially harmful or dangerous, that is specifically defined, prohibited,
and punished under the criminal law
decriminalized
having criminal penalties reduced rather than eliminated
consensus view
the belief that the majority of citizens in a society share common values and agree on
what behaviors should be defined as criminal
Terms from exam 1) 2023
criminology
the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior
interdisciplinary science
involving two or more academic fields
criminal justice
referring to the agencies of social control, such as police departments, the courts, and
correctional institutions that handle criminal offenders
utilitarianism
the view that people's behavior is motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and the
avoidance of pain
classical criminology
the theoretical perspective suggesting that (1) people have free will to choose criminal
or conventional behaviors; (2) people choose to commit crime for reasons of greed or
personal need; and (3) crime can be controlled only by the fear of criminal sanctions
positivism
the branch of social science that uses the scientific method of the natural sciences and
suggests that human behavior is a product of social, biological, psychological, or
economic forces
scientific method
using verifiable principles and procedures for the systematic acquisition of knowledge;
typically involves formulating a problem, creating a hypothesis, and collecting data
through observation and experiment, to verify the hypothesis
biosocial theory
approach to criminology that focuses on the interaction between biological and social
factors as they relate to crime
sociological criminology
approach to criminology, based on the work of Quetelet and Durkheim, that focuses on
the relationship between social factors and crime
anomie
a lack of norms or clear social standards. because of rapidly shifting moral values, the
individual has few guides to what is socially acceptable
Chicago School
group of urban sociologist who studied the relationship between environmental
conditions and crime
socialization
process of human development and enculturation. socialization is influenced by key
social processes and institutions
conflict theory
the view that human behavior is shaped by interpersonal conflict and that those who
maintain social power will use it to further their own ends
critical criminology
the view that crime is a product of the capitalist system
, developmental theory
the view that criminality is a dynamic process, influenced by social experiences as well
as individual characteristis
rational choice theory
the view that crime is a function of a decision-making process in which the potential
offender weighs the potential costs and benefits of an illegal act
trait theory
the view that criminality is a product of abnormal biological or psychological traits
social structure theory
the view that disadvantaged economic class position is a primary cause of crime
social process theory
the view that criminality is a function of people's interactions with various organizations,
institutions, and processes in society
valid
actually measuring what one intends to measure
reliable
producing consistent results from one measurement to another
ex post facto law
a law applied retroactively to punish acts that were not crimes before its passage, or
one that raises the grade of an offense, or that renders an act punishable in a more
severe manner than it was when commited
white collar crime
illegal acts that capitalize on a person's status in the marketplace. White-collar crimes
may include theft, embezzlement, fraud, market manipulation, restraint of trade, and
false advertising
penology
subarea of criminology that focuses on the correction and control of criminal offenders
rehabilitation
treatment of criminal offenders that is aimed at preventing future criminal behavior
capital punishment
the execution of criminal offenders; the death penalty
mandatory sentences
a statutory requirement that a certain penalty shall be carried out in all cases of
conviction for a specified offense or series of offenses
victimology
the study of the victim's role in criminal events
deviance
behavior that departs from the social norm but is not necessarily criminal
crime
an act, deemed socially harmful or dangerous, that is specifically defined, prohibited,
and punished under the criminal law
decriminalized
having criminal penalties reduced rather than eliminated
consensus view
the belief that the majority of citizens in a society share common values and agree on
what behaviors should be defined as criminal
