Criminology Theory Overview
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Questions and Answers

Early theories of learning disabilities often categorized them as what?

  • a mental illness (correct)
  • a physical ailment
  • a social construct
  • a personality flaw

    • Labeling perspectives emphasize the role of macro-level factors such as economics and politics in defining crime.

    False (B)

    According to the provided content, what is crime considered a result of?

    human interaction

    The rise of labeling perspectives was accompanied by critiques of the dominant image of Western society in the 1950's, which assumed that there was a ________ in society on core values.

    <p>consensus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of how crime can be a subjective phenomenon?

    <p>Panhandling becoming a crime in the mid-nineties. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Societal reaction theories are considered to be critical theories.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of perspective do most early theories of learning disabilities use?

    <p>micro</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match each item with the correct description:

    <p>Micro-oriented theories = Focus on individual factors Deterministic theories = Suggest individuals have limited choices Social Interactionism = Meaning is constantly negotiated Critical Criminology = Includes feminist theories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Critical criminology theories emphasize which of the following regarding human behavior?

    <p>Agency and the ability to make choices. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes patriarchy?

    <p>A hierarchy of men where those men have access to power. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Critical criminology supports the idea that categories of human identity have intrinsic qualities such as 'criminal' or 'normal'.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ethnomethodology is the study of how the social world is constructed and reconstructed through people's actions and thoughts.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to critical criminology, what is the basis of truth?

    <p>Socially constructed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What research method did Gathman use to study the interactions in an asylum?

    <p>He admitted himself into an asylum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Deviance, according to critical criminology, is a product of ______.

    <p>social construction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following concepts with their descriptions within critical criminology:

    <p>Anti-essentialism = Rejection of inherent traits in categories of identity Social Construction = The process through which meanings and labels are created Power Dynamics = The interplay of influence and control in society Deviance = A socially created category, not an objective reality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to symbolic interactionism, a human being has a ______.

    <p>self</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do critical criminologists believe about the connection between deviance and power?

    <p>Deviance and its control are directly influenced by power dynamics. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Blumer, what is the new central mechanism with which human beings face and deal with the world?

    <p>Acts towards self-making indications to oneself (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Phenomenology is a sociological approach that focuses solely on individual experiences and disregards any broader societal implications.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Infants around 3 years old can recognize their mother's voice, which helps to develop the indication to oneself.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do critical theories view the role of laws in the creation of crime?

    <p>Laws and their application create criminals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Blumer call a word used to refer to symbols?

    <p>object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>Patriarchy = A hierarchy of men with power Ethnomethodology = the study of people's practices and methods Symbolic Interactionism = Focuses on how individuals create meaning through interaction Indication = Taking notations of the stimuli</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Societal reaction theories were influenced by symbolic interactionism, social psychology, phenomenology and ______.

    <p>ethnomethodology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is central to critical criminology's analysis of social issues?

    <p>The role of power, language and discourse. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT typically considered a symbol?

    <p>A natural rock (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to symbolic interactionism, the meaning of symbols is universal across all cultures.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the process of taking a message or symbol and making indications about it?

    <p>stimuli</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The process of turning a stimuli into a(n) _______ can cause a person to react or act on it.

    <p>object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Mead, what role do others' perceptions play in developing our 'self'?

    <p>They influence how one sees oneself. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Individuals respond to situations without reading symbols around them.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name for the shared signs and symbols that we interpret similarly and collectively construct reality into?

    <p>typifications</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Berger and Luckmann introduced what concept in 1966?

    <p>Social Constructionism (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Social constructionism focuses on a macro-level view of society.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to social constructionism, what is the basis of knowledge creation?

    <p>social interaction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term '______' when referring to individuals crossing borders without official documents, can lead to dehumanization.

    <p>illegal alien</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key aspect of the categories of 'man' and 'woman'?

    <p>They are socially constructed categories bounded by gender norms. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

    <p>Social Constructionism = Critically examines taken for granted views of the world Language = Curtailed in interactions and creation of meanings Micro Level = Perspective focused on individual experiences Shared Meaning = Basis of knowledge creation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Social constructionism accepts conventional knowledge as objective and unbiased.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Give an example of how language can influence the perception of groups of people?

    <p>Using terms like 'dirty, lazy, criminals' to refer to Mexicans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily determines which societal rules become broadly applied?

    <p>The power differential of the groups creating the rules. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Becker's theory of deviance posits that deviance is unchanging and constant across all groups.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the central idea of labelling theory in the context of deviance?

    <p>Different social groups within a society have their own operational rules, and judge behaviors differently to be deviant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The reaction of a _______ matters when determining if an act is deviant.

    <p>group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    What is Theory?

    • A theory is a set of interconnected statements or propositions that explain how two or more events or factors are related.
    • A theory aims to understand two or more factors or phenomena.
    • Theories in social sciences aren't about stating A = B. Instead, they describe relationships between connected factors.
    • Theories offer proposed explanations for problems or questions; for example, Michel Foucault explored why mental illness and homosexuality were demonized in the 1950s and 60s.
    • Criminological theories explain why crimes are committed, who commits them, and how formal/informal social control systems function. If an offender is indigenous, their history is considered during sentencing.
    • Theories describe relationships between events, focusing on "what is" and "what will be," not "what ought to be."
    • Empirical data (e.g., surveys) is used to collect real-life experiences.

    Types of Criminological Theory

    • Criminological theories can be classified as theories of law and criminal justice, and theories of criminal and deviant behavior.
    • Theories of law and criminal justice examine the creation and enforcement of criminal law, exploring how social, political, and economic factors influence legislation. The criminal code was largely based on British common law, and was created in 1892.
    • Theories of criminal and deviant behavior attempt to explain why people commit crimes.

    Types of Criminological Theory (cont.)

    • Criminological theories are composed of macro and micro or structural and processual analyses.
    • Macro theories focus on large-scale societal issues (e.g., capitalism, racial issues).
    • Micro theories focus on individual or small groups within society (e.g., biological/psychological factors, race and gender).

    Criteria for Evaluating Theory

    • Logical consistency: Theories should make sense with central ideas clearly and concisely stated.
    • Scope: A theory's scope encompasses the range of behavior it can explain. Good theories explain diverse behaviors.
    • Parsimony: A good theory is simple and straightforward.
    • Testability: A theory must be able to be tested against empirical evidence.
    • Empirical validity: A theory should be supported by scientific evidence.
    • Usefulness and Policy Implications: A theory should be useful and not harmful (consider dignity).

    Article by Bloomer

    • Herbert Blumer developed social constructionism, a perspective about how people construct reality from interactions.

    Third Article (Social Constructionism)

    • Social constructionism is the idea that nothing has inherent meaning but that it comes from social interaction.

    Symbolic Interactionism

    • Symbolic interactionism theory (Herbert Mead, George Herbert Mead), explains how people interact with and interpret symbols in their environment.
    • "Self" is created by interactions with others
    • Meanings are created through social interaction; and interpretations change meaning through interaction.

    Labeling Theory (Howard Becker)

    • Labeling theory suggests that deviance isn't inherent in the act but is a consequence of applying societal rules, labels, and sanctions.
    • The label given impacts individuals' understanding of themselves, leading to a "deviant career".
    • Labeling theory addresses who applies the label and identifies different groups in society, based on factors such as age, social class, race, and gender. The theory acknowledges that how people respond to rule-breaking can range from ignoring to severe consequences.

    Becoming a Marijuana User (Becker)

    • Becker's study of marijuana use emphasizes social learning and the importance of acquiring skills and understanding of the drug to become a user.
    • Becoming a marijuana user also involves the interpretation of symbols and meanings.

    Social Reaction Theories

    • Social reaction theories are essentially critical theories of criminology, critiquing the dominant paradigms of the 1960s and 1970s.
    • These theories highlight that how rules are defined and enforced reflects power dynamics or group interests in society.
    • They suggest that certain behaviors are not inherently criminal or deviant but become so when they are labeled by those in positions of power.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of theories in social sciences, particularly focusing on criminological theories. You will explore how various factors are related, the significance of empirical data, and the implications of theories on understanding crime. Delve into the nuances of how different theories explain criminal behavior and social control.

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