Sociology of Crime and Deviance

Podcast Beta

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the role convergence hypothesis primarily concerned with?

The socioeconomic status of criminals within society

The racial dynamics within the criminal justice system

The increase in female crime due to similar work roles as men (correct)

The decrease in male criminal behavior over time

Which of the following best describes the observed pattern of crime rates and socioeconomic status?

Crime rates are inversely related to socioeconomic status

Higher crime rates are often associated with lower socioeconomic status (correct)

Crime rates are uniformly distributed across all socioeconomic statuses

Socioeconomic status has no impact on crime rates

What does the differential treatment hypothesis focus on?

Inequalities in the administration of justice for different racial groups (correct)

The influence of socioeconomic status on criminal behavior

The historical context of crime and oppression in society

The differences in crime patterns among racial groups

How does the trauma transmission model relate to crime rates among racial groups?

It suggests that historical traumas impact current behavior in communities Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the increase in egalitarian social values in Western societies?

More criminal opportunities for women Signup and view all the answers

Why might lower class individuals be overrepresented in the criminal justice system?

Limitations in official crime data may skew the representation Signup and view all the answers

Which correlation is noted regarding race and crime rates?

There is an overrepresentation of Black and Latinx individuals in the CJS Signup and view all the answers

Which of these factors is proposed to influence crime rates according to socio-economic status?

The bimodal distribution of crime rates based on levels of SES Signup and view all the answers

What does Beccaria's principle of proportionality advocate regarding punishment?

Punishment should fit the seriousness of the crime. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of deterrence?

The idea that increasing the fear of consequences can discourage crime. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three characteristics of legal punishment that influence deterrence?

Certainty, celerity, and severity. Signup and view all the answers

What does Routine Activity Theory emphasize in its approach to crime prevention?

The convergence of certain elements in time and space facilitates crime. Signup and view all the answers

What principle is associated with Jeremy Bentham's view on punishment?

Laws should aim for the greatest good for the greatest number. Signup and view all the answers

Under which theory is the notion that punishment prevents repeat offending known?

Specific deterrence. Signup and view all the answers

What does situational crime prevention focus on?

Decreasing the perceived availability of criminal opportunities. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key critique of the Positivist School in criminology?

It focuses on biological and determinist explanations of crime. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors does rational choice theory account for in criminal behavior?

Situational factors and social structures. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of Neoclassical theories in criminology?

To change rational calculations and reduce criminal opportunities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of intersectionality primarily concerned with?

The cumulative disadvantages within the criminal justice system Signup and view all the answers

According to the classical school of criminology, crime primarily results from what?

Active choices toward rational self-interests Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of systemic issues like the historic lineage of punitive institutions?

Increased generational burdens on marginalized communities Signup and view all the answers

How does location influence crime rates according to observed patterns?

Crime rates increase with higher community size Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the punishment approach during the historical view of crime?

Severe retribution for violations of divine laws Signup and view all the answers

What does biosocial criminology emphasize?

The interaction between biological and social factors in criminality Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes sociological positivism?

It emphasizes the measurement of objective social qualities. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary focus of critical perspectives in criminology?

Addressing economic and social inequalities Signup and view all the answers

According to the classical school of criminology, criminals commit crimes because they are influenced by:

Rational calculations of benefits and costs Signup and view all the answers

What does the dual hazard prediction in biosocial criminology indicate?

Neglectful or abusive environments increase the risk of activating biological factors. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT true about criminology?

It focuses exclusively on psychological factors. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect differentiates the positivist school from the classical school of criminology?

Focus on free will versus determinism. Signup and view all the answers

How do developmental and life course theories approach the understanding of crime?

They analyze criminal behavior over a person's lifetime. Signup and view all the answers

What do critical race theories in criminology primarily focus on?

The intersection of race and racial inequality in crime. Signup and view all the answers

According to Hobbes, what is necessary for preserving social order?

Establishing necessary rules and laws Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the term 'deviance' in sociology?

Behavior that violates social norms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be classified as a white-collar crime?

Fraud Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes 'mores' from 'folkways' in informal norms?

Mores are upheld with high severity of punishment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system?

To collect official data on reported crimes Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributes to the Crime Severity Index (CSI) in Canada?

Relative severity of crimes based on court sentencing data Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would NOT be classified as organized crime?

Political protests Signup and view all the answers

Cybercrime primarily involves which of the following?

Use of computers and the internet for illegal activities Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of political crime?

It is committed for social or political reasons. Signup and view all the answers

What reporting procedure has the UCR transitioned to for more detailed crime data?

Incident-based reporting procedure Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is true about the impact of crime in society?

The severity of crime affects its classification. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Role Convergence Hypothesis

Argues as women take on roles traditionally held by men, female crime will rise
Predicts a potential increase in criminal behavior among women as work roles become more similar
May correlate with a decrease in criminal behavior among men

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Higher crime rates often observed in lower SES groups
Official crime data may not be fully accurate, potentially skewing the trend
Suggests a U-shaped pattern, with higher crime rates at both very low and very high SES levels
Lower SES individuals may be overrepresented in the criminal justice system

Race

Significant differences in crime rates across racial groups
Black, Latinx, and Indigenous individuals are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system
Two main explanations for these differences:
- Differential offending hypothesis: Actual differences in criminal behavior patterns between racial groups
- Differential treatment hypothesis: Differences in criminal justice outcomes are rooted in systemic inequalities
Historical legacy of slavery and oppression plays a crucial role in shaping racial disparities in the criminal justice system

Location

Crime rates vary based on geographic region
Urban areas tend to have higher crime rates, with increasing rates as city size grows
This could be influenced by various factors including:
- Community characteristics
- Increased police scrutiny in "high-risk" neighborhoods

Intersectionality

Recognizes the complex interplay of factors like age, gender, race, and SES
Underscores the cumulative impact of disadvantages within the criminal justice system
Focuses on the relationship between identity and social power
Key concept for critical criminologists

Supernatural Explanations

Early views of crime focused on divine law violations and demonic possession
Crime was attributed to inherent evil, leading to severe punishments like execution, torture, and exorcism

Origins of the Classical School

Emerged during the Enlightenment era, emphasizing free will, reason, and rational thought
Crime viewed as a violation of the social contract, harming society
Cesare Beccaria proposed that crime results from rational choices based on self-interest:
- Fear of punishment can deter crime by altering the perceived benefits
- Punishment should be proportionate to the crime
- Punishment should be severe enough to outweigh the perceived benefits of crime
Jeremy Bentham introduced the concept of utilitarianism:
- Laws should maximize "the greatest good for the greatest number"
- Punishment is only justified if it prevents a greater evil

Rational Choice

Crime is a conscious decision based on weighing perceived benefits against costs (getting caught and punished)
All criminal activity is seen as stemming from rational decision-making

Rational Choice Theory

Offenders make different calculations based on various factors like:
- Situational elements
- Ethics
- Perceived opportunity
- Social structures

Deterrence

Emphasizes deterring criminal behavior by employing the fear of consequences
Shift in punishment perceptions can influence criminal behavior; both legal and social consequences can act as deterrents
Effectiveness of deterrence depends on:
- Certainty: Perception of getting caught
- Celerity: Speed of consequences
- Severity: Harshness of the punishment

Specific Deterrence

Personal experience with punishment aims to prevent reoffending (recidivism)

General Deterrence

Observing punishment serves as an example to deter future criminal choices by others

The Neoclassical School

Reappeared in the 1970s as a response to rehabilitation-focused criminal justice policies
Focuses on pragmatic approaches to altering rational calculations and reducing criminal opportunities (e.g., Routine Activity Theory)

Routine Activity Theory

Highlights situational factors that influence criminal calculations and the likelihood of victimization
Crime occurs when three elements converge in time and space:
- Motivated offender
- Suitable target
- Lack of capable guardian

Situational Crime Prevention

Aims to reduce crime by diminishing the perceived availability of criminal opportunities by:
- Increasing effort, risks, shame, and guilt
- Decreasing rewards and excuses
Employs "target hardening" strategies to change the offender's calculations about crime

Origins of the Positivist School

Emerged in the 19th century as a challenge to the Classical School
Rejected the idea that crime is a rational choice
Argued that criminals are born with inherent traits that predispose them to crime (determinism)

Early Positivist Ideas

Focused on biological factors, searching for individual traits distinguishing criminals from non-criminals:
- Biological deficiencies: Physiological and genetic abnormalities
- Psychological impairments: Deficits in personality development (id, ego, superego)
- Criminal personalities: Traits like psychopathy

Biosocial Criminology

Modern movement emphasizing the interplay of biological and social factors
Biological factors can create predispositions to crime that are activated by social environments
Dual hazard prediction: A neglectful or abusive upbringing is more likely to activate predispositions
Crime is influenced by both nature and nurture, but their relative contributions are still debated.

Sociological Positivism

Shift away from internal factors to external social factors
Assumes there are objective qualities of the social world that can be measured and tested
Many criminological theories are grounded in sociological positivism

What is Criminology?

The scientific study of crime and deviance
Examines the making of laws, the breaking of laws, and society's reactions to those breaches
Employs the scientific method and relies on empirical evidence
A multidisciplinary field, with a strong emphasis on sociological factors
No single dominant school of thought

The Classical School

Emphasizes rational thought and free will
Individuals choose to commit crime by weighing the potential benefits against the costs
Key scholars: Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham

The Positivist School

Crime is not a choice but rather a consequence of underlying factors
Views crime as an "illness" with internal causes
Key scholars: Cesare Lombroso, Earnest Hooton, Hans Eysenck

Sociology Criminology

Crime is a product of social factors, particularly "disorganized" communities
Compares crime rates across neighborhoods to identify patterns
Key scholars: Robert Ezra Park & Ernest Burgess, Clifford Shaw & Henry McKay, Robert Sampson

Critical Perspectives

Conflict theories: Focus on economic inequality
Feminist theories: Focus on gender inequality
Critical race theories: Focus on racial inequality

New Approaches to Criminology

Developmental and life course theories: Explore criminal trajectories over time, including the start and end of criminal behavior
Integrated theories: Combine different explanations into complex models to account for the multifaceted nature of crime

Defining Crime and Deviance

Conformity: Following the rules of order (norms)
Deviance: Norm-violating behavior
Norms: Formal and codified (laws) or informal and unwritten (moral codes)
Mores: Highly important norms with severe punishments
Folkways: Less important norms with less severe punishments
Crime: Violation of law

Types of Crime

White collar crime: Crimes committed by people of high social and occupational status, typically involving corporate settings
Organized crime: Groups banding together for power (e.g., Mafia, motorcycle gangs)
Political crime: Crimes motivated by social and political goals (e.g., vandalism, terrorism)
Cybercrime: Crimes facilitated by computers and the internet

Police Data

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR): System for collecting official police data on reported crimes
Used in both the United States and Canada, providing standardized data for comparison
Crime Severity Index (CSI): Weights reported crimes based on their impact and severity in Canada

UCR Data: Advantages

Provides "official" crime statistics at the national and regional level
Data includes counts, percentages, and detailed information about crime incidents (characteristics of victims, offenders, location, time)
Used for policy planning and criminal justice research

UCR Data: Limitations

Only includes reported crimes, which represents a fraction of actual crime
Dark figure of crime: The unknown amount of crimes that are unreported or undetected
Data may be influenced by factors like police bias, policies, and reporting procedures

Other Data Sources

Victimization surveys: Directly ask individuals about their experiences with crime
Self-reported crime data: Individuals report on their own criminal behavior
These sources can provide a more comprehensive understanding of crime, including unreported incidents.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores various factors influencing crime rates, including the Role Convergence Hypothesis, Socioeconomic Status (SES), and racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Understand how these elements interact and impact crime patterns across different demographics.