Criminology Chapter 1: Philosophy and Social Norms

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason why it is essential to understand the major theories of criminology?

To attribute crime and deviance to religious forces

To create new laws and regulations

To comprehend and evaluate the underlying theories of crime and deviance (correct)

To develop severe punishments for criminals

What is the term for behavior that violates social norms and arouses negative social reactions?

Criminal behavior

Deviance (correct)

Social control

Normative behavior

In traditional societies, what is the primary mechanism of social control?

Religious forces and divine intervention

Informal social control through ostracism and ridicule (correct)

Formal laws and punishments

Economic incentives and rewards

What is the primary focus of the classical school of criminology?

The rational choice of criminals to commit crime Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between social norms in traditional societies and modern societies?

Traditional societies have informal norms, while modern societies have formal laws Signup and view all the answers

Why do people obey customs in traditional societies?

Because they believe in the customs and fear the society's formal sanctions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of specialized groups in modern societies?

To create and enforce formal laws and punishments Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary explanation for crime and deviance in many ancient societies?

Religious forces and divine intervention Signup and view all the answers

What is the physical characteristic of an asthenic person?

Thin with narrow shoulders and flat chest Signup and view all the answers

What is the personality trait commonly associated with athletic individuals?

Aggressive Signup and view all the answers

What is the common behavioral trait of pyknic individuals?

Prone to fraud and deception Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of an ectomorph?

Thin and slender Signup and view all the answers

What is the temperament associated with endomorphs?

Viscerotonic Signup and view all the answers

Who popularized the concept of somatotypes?

William Sheldon Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a dysplastic individual?

No desired body physique Signup and view all the answers

What is the common behavioral trait of asthenic individuals?

Prone to petty theft Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the Chicago School tradition in relation to crime?

The impact of rapid social change on crime rates Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of anomie according to Merton?

The discrepancy between goals and means Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the idea that society can be clearly divided into criminals and non-criminals?

Dualistic fallacy Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the conflict school of criminology?

The conflict between different classes under capitalism Signup and view all the answers

Who found that areas of high social disorganization had higher rates of crime and delinquency?

Shava d Mona Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between crime and non-crime according to conflict theorists?

No fundamental difference Signup and view all the answers

What is the root of the laws of society according to conflict theory?

Conflict between different classes Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the gap between needs and satisfaction?

Anomie Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the reasons why youths with lower self-esteem may become delinquent?

They turn to youths with similar problems for support. Signup and view all the answers

What is a methodological problem with early IQ research?

IQ tests reflect the effects of schooling and familiarity with white, middle-class experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of recent IQ studies?

They use samples of incarcerated offenders. Signup and view all the answers

What did one study find about the effect of IQ on delinquency?

The effect of IQ on delinquency was weak initially and became spurious. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the presumed IQ-delinquency link controversial?

Because of methodological problems and questions about the strength of the link. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of adolescents with low intelligence?

They are more susceptible to the influence of delinquent friends. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason why low intelligence may lead to delinquency?

Low intelligence leads to lower ability to engage in moral reasoning. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea about crime in the text?

Crime is caused by a combination of factors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between levels of various neurotransmitters and behavior?

A complex and reciprocal relationship Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of environmental toxins on the brain?

They can lead to behavioral difficulties Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between environmental conditions and internal processes on chemical changes in the body?

They interact and influence each other Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of biological investigations into criminal behavior?

The frontal lobe of the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is associated with increased levels of environmental toxins?

Behavioral difficulties Signup and view all the answers

What type of facilities are largely to blame for the production of environmental toxins?

Facilities that produce, store, treat, and dispose of hazardous waste Signup and view all the answers

What is a promising area of research that integrates biological, sociological, and criminological theories?

The study of environmental toxins and human behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the reciprocal interaction between chemical changes and environmental conditions?

A complex and cyclical relationship Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social norms are standards of behavior that vary across societies and are enforced through informal social control or formal laws.
Behavior that violates these norms is called deviance, and it arouses negative social reactions.

Theories of Crime

In traditional societies, norms are unwritten and informal, and are enforced through informal social control, such as ostracism and ridicule.
In modern societies, norms are more formal, written, and codified, and are enforced through specialized groups of people, such as legislators, police officers, judges, and correction officials.

Sociological Criminology

The classical school of criminology stressed that criminals rationally choose to commit crime after weighing the potential rewards against the risks.
According to this school, legal punishment needs to be severe enough to deter potential criminals from breaking the law.

IQ and Delinquency

The presumed link between low IQ and delinquency has been proven controversial due to methodological problems and the limitations of IQ tests.
Research has shown that the effect of IQ on delinquency is weak and may not even exist at all.

Supernatural Explanations of Crime

Crime does not evolve from a single source, and supernatural explanations have been attributed to religious forces, the devil, or God.

The Chicago School tradition focused on how rapid or dramatic social change causes increases in crime.
Conflict theory suggests that laws emerge from conflict between different classes under the system of capitalism, and that those who commit crimes are not fundamentally different from the rest of the population.

Somatotypes and Criminal Behavior

Kretschmer proposed that body types are linked to criminal behavior, with:
- Asthenic types being prone to commit petty theft and fraud.
- Athletic types being prone to commit violence.
- Pyknic types being prone to commit fraud and deception, and sometimes violence.
- Dysplastic types being prone to commit crimes against decency and morality.
William Sheldon's somatotypes include:
- Ectomorphs, who are similar to Kretschmer's asthenic type and are associated with introverted and sensitive personalities.
- Endomorphs, who are similar to Kretschmer's pyknic type and are associated with extroverted and sociable personalities.

Neurotransmitters and Criminal Behavior

Fluctuations in neurotransmitter levels may result in certain behaviors, and certain behaviors may contribute to fluctuations in neurotransmitter levels.
The relationship between neurotransmitters and behavior is complex and influenced by environmental conditions and internal processes.

Environmental Toxins

The frontal lobe of the brain is particularly sensitive to environmental toxins, such as lead and manganese.
Exposure to these toxins has been associated with behavioral difficulties, such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression, and lack of self-control.
The impact of environmental toxins on human behavior is a promising area of research that integrates biological with sociological and criminological theories.

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Description

This quiz covers the philosophical foundations of criminology, including social norms, ethics, human behavior, and criminal behavior. Evaluate your understanding of the theories of criminology and their application to crime and justice.