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Questions and Answers
What does the crime funnel illustrate about crime reporting?
What does the crime funnel illustrate about crime reporting?
Why are victimization surveys important in criminology?
Why are victimization surveys important in criminology?
What was the primary belief associated with the divine right of kings?
What was the primary belief associated with the divine right of kings?
How is lex talionis best defined?
How is lex talionis best defined?
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What is a significant impact of the malleus maleficarum on society?
What is a significant impact of the malleus maleficarum on society?
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What are the three main components classical theorists agree are crucial for effective punishment?
What are the three main components classical theorists agree are crucial for effective punishment?
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What does the mini-max theorem imply about human behavior?
What does the mini-max theorem imply about human behavior?
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Which of the following does NOT represent one of the seven great sins?
Which of the following does NOT represent one of the seven great sins?
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What architectural concept did Bentham introduce to facilitate surveillance in prisons?
What architectural concept did Bentham introduce to facilitate surveillance in prisons?
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Which statement represents a criticism of classical theory?
Which statement represents a criticism of classical theory?
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In the context of crime, what does social harm refer to?
In the context of crime, what does social harm refer to?
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What role do institutions outside of police play in crime prevention?
What role do institutions outside of police play in crime prevention?
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The concept of decisional proportionality is most closely aligned with which principle?
The concept of decisional proportionality is most closely aligned with which principle?
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Why might crimes that lack identifiable victims be challenging to measure?
Why might crimes that lack identifiable victims be challenging to measure?
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Why is it often difficult to define deviance?
Why is it often difficult to define deviance?
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What is the relationship between conformity and social norms?
What is the relationship between conformity and social norms?
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What is 'synopticism'?
What is 'synopticism'?
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Why is it important to define crime and deviance clearly?
Why is it important to define crime and deviance clearly?
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Which of the following statements about deviance is true?
Which of the following statements about deviance is true?
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What does the term 'net-widening' imply in the context of deviance?
What does the term 'net-widening' imply in the context of deviance?
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What are the four requisites for establishing causality?
What are the four requisites for establishing causality?
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How does reliability differ from validity in research studies?
How does reliability differ from validity in research studies?
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What is one effect of poorly worded research questions?
What is one effect of poorly worded research questions?
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When are experiments particularly appropriate in research?
When are experiments particularly appropriate in research?
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What type of survey examines the same topic over a prolonged period?
What type of survey examines the same topic over a prolonged period?
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What does ontological perspective concern itself with?
What does ontological perspective concern itself with?
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Gottfredson and Hirschi define crime primarily as:
Gottfredson and Hirschi define crime primarily as:
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Which of the following describes nonconformity?
Which of the following describes nonconformity?
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Study Notes
Defining Crime and Deviance
- Difficult to define because deviance is not always immoral or harmful; definitions change over time and vary across cultures.
- Deviance is a social construction, subject to interpretation and differing perspectives.
- Becker argues deviance is achieved through labeling, avoiding responsibility avoids the label.
- Crime is historically defined as behavior violating the law, but this definition is considered useless.
- Modern classical theory defines crime as social harm, but the concept of harm is subjective.
- Criminal laws in Canada have changed significantly since the 1960s.
- Gottfredson & Hirschi define crime as the use of force and fraud, while Downes & Rock avoid a specific definition due to its subjectivity.
Defining Key Terms
- Conformity: Adhering to social norms.
- Nonconformity: Violating social norms without causing a reaction from others.
- Deviance: Violating social norms and causing a reaction from others.
- Social norms are determined by the imagined or real negative reaction of others.
- Crime: Violation of the law.
- Not all crimes are deviant, and not all deviance is criminal.
- Net-widening: Everyone in some way is considered a deviant.
- Synopticism: Presenting or maintaining a common view among others.
Importance of Defining Crime and Deviance
- Unclear or overly broad definitions of crime and deviance hinder the development of effective theories and the understanding of behavior.
Diversity in Crime and Deviance Definitions
- Many theories exist for deviance, as it is a multidisciplinary field influenced by sociology, psychology, and anthropology.
- Depending on the culture, different reactions can be expected to the same deviant behavior.
- Deutschmann argues that one theory cannot explain all types of deviance.
- Ontological and epistemological assumptions contribute to diverse definitions of deviance.
Defining Ontology and Epistemology
- Ontology: Claims about the nature of social reality, focusing on what actually exists.
- Epistemology: Ideas about how to study society, focusing on methods of research.
Method I: Establishing Causality
- Four requisites for establishing causality:
- Covariance: Variables should vary together.
- Temporal sequence: Cause must come before the effect.
- Non-spurious covariance: The dependent variable is directly manipulated by the independent variable.
- Theoretically based research: The research should be grounded in existing theories.
Differentiating Reliability and Validity
- Reliability: Consistency in measurement results.
- Validity: Accuracy of measurements.
Method II: Impact of Question Wording
- Double-barreled questions combine two questions into one, leading to confusion and inaccurate responses.
- Long questions bore participants and can lead to unreliable responses due to lack of understanding.
- Negative items in questions (using "not") can create bias and skewed responses.
Method III: Research Methods
- Experiments: Scientific observations involving actions and their consequences.
- Surveys: Collecting data through a set of questions asked to a sample population.
- Cross-sectional surveys: Collected at a single point in time.
- Longitudinal surveys: Repeat the same questions over time to track development.
- Personal interviews: Allow for deeper, richer data collection, including body language.
- The interviewer effect can bias responses due to social desirability.
Significance of the Crime Funnel
- The crime funnel represents the process of crime investigation and prosecution.
- As the process progresses, fewer cases are pursued, resulting in an underestimation of actual crime statistics.
- Crime statistics rely heavily on reported incidents.
Importance of Victimization Surveys
- Victimization surveys anonymously measure crime by asking individuals about their experiences as victims.
- Surveys provide a more complete picture of crime than official crime statistics, but they do not capture victimless crimes.
- Some individuals may be reluctant to report traumatic experiences, leading to underreporting.
The Demonic Approach
- Religion influences punishment concepts, originating in the Middle Ages.
- The divine right of kings justified the monarch's power to uphold God's will and punish deviance, viewed as a transgression against God.
- Deviance was often seen as demonic possession, requiring punishment to protect society.
The Seven Great Sins
- Sloth: Laziness and avoidance of responsibilities.
- Anger: Intense rage leading to harmful actions.
- Lust: Excessive desire for sexuality.
- Pride: Believing one is superior to others (narcissism).
- Envy: Bitter feelings towards others for possessing desired things.
- Gluttony: Overindulgence in food or impulses.
- Greed: Excessive desire for more than one needs (usually money).
Defining Lex Talionis
- Lex talionis (Latin for "law of retaliation") advocates for punishment equal to the crime committed, based on the principle of "an eye for an eye."
- This concept creates a balance between the crime and the retribution.
Impact of The Malleus Maleficarum
- Malleus Maleficarum, written by Kramer & Sprenger, influenced witch hunts during the Salem witch trials.
- It suggested witches were primarily women, used magic against other women, and that torture was justified for punishment.
- Common forms of punishment included drownings, hangings, burnings, crushing by stones, and imprisonment.
- Malleus Maleficarum created mass hysteria and associated skepticism of individuals questioning the existence of witches.
- Social, economic, racial and sexist factors contributed to the witch hunts, in addition to religious beliefs.
The Classical Approach: Mini-Max Theorem
- The mini-max theorem suggests individuals are rational calculators, weighing the pleasure of committing a crime against the pain of potential punishment.
- This theoretical assumption does not accurately reflect human behavior as emotions play a significant role in decision-making.
Main Components of Classical Punishment
- Classical theorists believed punishment must be:
- Swift: Punishment occurs swiftly after the crime.
- Certain: The likelihood of being punished is high.
- Severe: The punishment's severity corresponds to the crime's level.
Problems with Classical Theory
- Assumes humans are rational beings when in reality emotions are influential.
- Uses subjective concepts of pain and pleasure without concrete measurement.
- Questionable effectiveness of prisons in deterring crime in the long term.
- Ignores victimless crimes in the definition of social harm, leading to limitations.
Readings: Key Points
- Chapter 1: Gangs: Gangs are distinct from other social groups, with internal order and individuality. They form organically.
- Chapter 2: The Professional Thief: Status of a professional thief is earned and recognized among other professionals.
- Chapter 14: Seductions of Crime: Crimes can be appealing to individuals due to various emotional factors.
- Chapter 15: Code of the Streets: Cycles of crime are perpetuated in street cultures, transmitted through generations.
- Chapter 16: Principles are Moral Legislation: Moral judgments are based on balancing pleasure and pain, guided by the mini-max theorem.
- Chapter 48: Crime and Punishment: Punishment should be proportionate, swift, public, and legitimized by law.
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Chapter 49: Challenge of Crime in a Free Society: Crime prevention is a collective responsibility involving law enforcement and various institutions. Seven objectives are proposed to reduce crime:
- Preventing crime through various measures.
- Developing alternative approaches to dealing with offenders.
- Addressing existing injustice.
- Improving knowledge and training for criminal justice personnel.
- Dedicated research and funding for criminal justice efforts.
- Shared responsibility for crime prevention across society.
- Remember:* These notes are a starting point! Always refer to the original source for comprehensive information and context.
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Description
Explore the intricate concepts of crime and deviance in society through various theoretical perspectives. This quiz delves into the definitions, historical changes, and social implications of these terms, as discussed by theorists such as Becker, Gottfredson, and Hirschi.
