Criminology Concepts and Definitions

Questions and Answers

What is a violation of criminal law for which some governmental authority applies formal penalties?

Delinquency

Criminal justice

Crime (correct)

Criminal behavior

What does it mean to criminalize?

To make illegal or treat as a criminal.

What is deviant behavior?

Human activity that violates social norms.

What is delinquency?

Juvenile delinquency or failure to do what law or duty requires. Signup and view all the answers

What does the consensus perspective hold?

That most members of society agree on what is right and wrong. Signup and view all the answers

What is the pluralist perspective in criminology?

A viewpoint that recognizes the importance of diversity and that behaviors are criminalized through a political process. Signup and view all the answers

What is social policy?

A government's course of action designed to promote the welfare of its citizens. Signup and view all the answers

What is criminology?

The scientific study of crimes and criminal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is criminality?

A behavioral predisposition that disproportionately favors criminal activity. Signup and view all the answers

What is criminal behavior?

Human activity that violates the criminal law. Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes the criminal justice?

The law enforcement, court, and correctional agencies that work together to manage criminal offenders. Signup and view all the answers

Who is a criminologist?

One who is trained in the field of criminology. Signup and view all the answers

What is a criminalist?

A specialist in the collection and examination of physical evidence of crime. Signup and view all the answers

What is theoretical criminology?

The type of criminology that describes crime and its occurrence and offers explanations for criminal behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is a general theory in criminology?

A theory that attempts to explain all forms of criminal conduct through a single approach. Signup and view all the answers

What does unicausal mean?

Having one cause. Signup and view all the answers

What is an integrated theory?

An explanatory perspective that merges concepts from different sources. Signup and view all the answers

What is criminalistics?

The analysis of physical evidence generated by a crime scene. Signup and view all the answers

What is translational criminology?

A form of criminology that translates research results into workable social policy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the social problems perspective?

The belief that crime is a manifestation of underlying social problems. Signup and view all the answers

What does the social responsibility perspective assert?

That individuals are fundamentally responsible for their own behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does social relativity refer to?

The notion that social events are differently interpreted based on cultural experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What is the criminal justice system?

The law enforcement, court, and correctional agencies that manage criminal offenders. Signup and view all the answers

What is socialization?

An interactive process through which individuals learn basic skills. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Crime and Behavior Definitions

Crime refers to violations of criminal law that incur formal penalties from governmental authorities.
Criminalize means to make an act illegal or treat it as a criminal offense.
Deviant behavior encompasses human activities that violate established social norms.
Delinquency relates to juvenile offenses, including misdemeanors committed by children or teenagers, and failure to fulfill legal or duty obligations.

Theoretical Perspectives in Criminology

Consensus perspective identifies a general agreement among society’s members on what constitutes right and wrong, aiming for the greater good.
Pluralist perspective emphasizes the importance of diversity, indicating that behaviors become criminalized through political processes.

Key Terms in Criminology

Social policy signifies government actions planned to enhance citizen welfare.
Criminology is the scientific study of crime and criminal behavior.
Criminality denotes a predisposition towards criminal activities.
Criminal behavior includes intentional and negligent actions that violate criminal law, even omissions when one has a duty to act.

Criminal Justice Framework

Criminal justice involves law enforcement, court systems, and correctional agencies focused on apprehending, prosecuting, and controlling offenders while maintaining societal order.
Criminologist is a professional trained in sciences of crime and criminal behavior.
Criminalist specializes in the collection and forensic examination of physical crime evidence.

Theoretical Approaches to Criminology

Theoretical criminology studies various types of crime, providing explanations of criminal behavior.
General theory seeks to explain a wide range of criminal conduct through a comprehensive approach.
Unicausal theories attribute all forms of crime to a single cause.
Integrated theory merges concepts from different areas to provide a multifaceted understanding of criminality.

Specialized Areas in Criminology

Criminalistics focuses on the scientific analysis of physical evidence from crime scenes, including fingerprints and firearms.
Translational criminology aims to convert research findings into effective social policies.
Social problems perspective views crime as a reflection of deeper societal issues, like poverty and discrimination.
Social responsibility perspective asserts that individuals are accountable for their choices, including the decision to engage in criminal behavior.

Additional Concepts

Social relativity suggests that interpretations of social events vary based on personal experiences and cultural contexts.
Socialization is the process through which individuals acquire basic skills and cultural norms through interaction with others.

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Description

Test your understanding of key definitions and theoretical perspectives in criminology, including crime, deviant behavior, and delinquency. This quiz covers important terms and the different viewpoints in the study of criminal behavior, enhancing your knowledge of social policy and criminology.