Forensics > Chapter 1 > Flashcards

Chapter 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Crime

A

defined as conduct or failure to act in violation of the law forbidding or commanding it and for which a range of possible penalties exist upon conviction.

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2
Q

Criminal Behavior

  • explanation
  • to be convicted
A
  • intentional (not accidental) behavior in violation of the criminal code.
  • w/out justification or excuse
  • vastly complex
  • no all encompassing psych explanation
    To be convicted, person must have acted intentially and without justification or excuse (defense of one’s life)
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3
Q

Strict Liabilty Offenses

A

a very narrow range of offenses that do not require criminal intent (however, vast majority of crime requires it)

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4
Q

Theory

- 3 important theories

A

may refer to experiences, observations, beliefs set of opinions, or abstract thoughts.

  1. Just World
  2. Classical theory
  3. Positivist
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5
Q

“Just Worldlers”

A

believ that things do not happen to ppl witout a reason that is related to their actions. Good are rewarded; victims deserved it

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6
Q

Just World Hypothesis

- 2

A

a variety of hypotheses; just wordlers prefer capital punishment and hold conservative views. Two tracks:

  1. believe in a general just world
  2. belief in personal just world (I get what I deserve) is adaptive in coping
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7
Q

Scientific theory

- Scientific theory of crime

A

is a set of interrelated constructs, definitions and porpositions that presents a systemativ view of pehnonmena by specifying relations among variables with that purpose of explaining and prediction the phenonmena.

-should provide a general explanation that encompasses and systematically connncets many diff social, economic, and psych variable to criminal behavior and supported by research.

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8
Q

Theory verification

A

process of theory testing; if theory is not verified then results in falsification

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9
Q

Classical theory

  • theorist
  • hallmark of crime
A

created by Italian philosopher in the 18th century, Ceasare Beccaria

  • theory that human behavior is fundamentally driven by a choice made by weighing the amount of pleasure gained with the amount of pain expected. Individuals have free will
  • in order to stopr criminal offending the punishment should be swift and certain and severe enough to deter crime. Emphasizes free will as the hallmark of criminal behavior
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10
Q

Deterrence theory

A

the modern version of classical theory; (cameras on streets persuade individuals to deter from committing crime)

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11
Q

Positivist theory

A
  • Close to idea of determinism; prior experiences or influences; determine present behavior. Nature not nurture
  • Human behavior is governed by causal laws and free will is not known
  • Crime is result of social psych or even bio influences and doesn’t deny the importance of free will and does not maintain that ppl should be held responsible for their actions
  • Many contemporary theories of criminology are positivist bc they search for causes beyond free will .
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12
Q

Theoretical perspective on human nature -3

A
  1. conformist
  2. noncomformist
  3. learning
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13
Q

Conformist perspective

- example theory

A

Views humans as creatures of conformity who want to do right thing. Reps the foundation of the humanistic psych perspective. Humans are basically good.
Example is strain theory

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14
Q

Strain theory

A
  • By Robert Merton
  • argues that ppl are fundamentally conforming beings who are strongly influenced by the values and attitudes of the society; most desire what other members of society desire.
  • In many societies accumulation of wealth/statues is important and strived for. Some may be deprived of these opportunities, thus crime occurs when there is discrepancy between the values and goals and the availability of the legitimate means for reaching them.
  • Strain between goals of wealth and power and the means for reaching them develop. Those facing strain may violate norms and laws
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15
Q

Strain

A

are events and conditions that are disliked by ppl; may be inability to achieve goals, losing something of value or being negatively viewed

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16
Q

Nonconformist perspective

- example theories

A

Assumes that humans are undisciplined who without rules would flout society’s conventions and commit crime indiscrimantley. This perspective sees ppl as unruly and deviant needing to be held in check.
- Social control & General theory of crime

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17
Q

Social control theory

A
  • by Travis Hirschi; person disconnected from rules of society
  • crime occurs when persons ties to the conventional order or normative standards are weak. The socialization that holds ones basic nature in check is faulty. Perceives human nature as bad, antisocial, or imperfect. These tendencies must be controlled by society.
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18
Q

General theory of crime

A

developed by Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson; one of the most prominent in criminology today, suggests that a deficit of self-control is the key factor in explaining crime

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19
Q

Learning perspective

- 2 theories

A

Views humans as neutral (neither conforming nor unruly); humans learn all their beliefs and tendencies from social environment

  1. social learning theory
  2. diff assoc theory
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20
Q

Social learning theory

A

emphasizes such concepts as imitation as models and reinforcements one gains from ones behavior

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21
Q

Differential association theory

- theorists

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A

says criminal behavior is learned, as is all social behavior, thru social interactions with other ppl. It is not result of mental illness or qualities of goodness or badness. An excess of messages favorable to crime over unfavorable promotes it. Deviant behavior learned by classical and operant condidtiong
- proposed by Ackers and Burges

22
Q

Developmental approach

- 2

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A
  • from mid 20th century to present many favor this approach. Life litters with risk factors thru attributes and family experiences
  • views crime as behavior that beings in early childhood and proceeds to and sometimes thru adult life. Developmental theory cant be placed in any three perspectives (although most like learning)
  • examines the changes and influences across a persons lifetime that contribute to formation of antisocial behavior (called risk factors) (exs: poor nutrition, loss of parent, early failure)
  • Also searches for protective factors that buffer against risk factors (caring adult, good social skills)
23
Q

Difference in degree perspective

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A
  • Humans are tied to their animal ancestry. Human aggression is a result of innate bio needs to obtain food ect. (sim to noncom perspective)
  • Sim to Evolutionalry psych which claims that human cognitive and emotional processes have been selected in our evo envirionment as devices for solving adaptive problems faced by the Pleistocene hunter gatheres. State that Darwin theory provides explanations for many types of antisocial behavior
24
Q

Difference in kind perspective

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A
  • argues that humans are distinctly different from other animals
  • We will understand crime better if we study and build theories based on those human qaulities that differ from subhuman features
  • Sees antisocial behavior as a unique human attribute generated by human cog processes
25
Criminology
the multidisciplinary study of crime
26
Sociological Criminology | - major contribution
- has a rich tradition in examining the relationships of demographic and group variables (age race gender SES ethnicity) to crime. - probes situational or environmental factors that are most conductive to criminal action such as time place weapon used and circumstances surrounding crime. - Major contribution of socio is the attention it directs to topics that reflect unequal power distribution in socity. examining how crime is defined and how laws are enforced. It also addresses the underlying social conditions that may encourage crime (edu and employment opportunities)
27
Psychological Criminology - the science of? does? - focuses on (3) - incorporates (3)
- the science of the behavior and mental processes of the person who commits crime. Develops, examines, and evalates strategies that have potential to prevent crime - Focuses on the individual’s criminal behavior rather than group (socio) and how it is: acquired, evoked, & maintained - Incorporates sociology, cognitive, processes and personality - Both social and personality influences oncriminal behavior are considered along with the mental processes that mediate the behavior.
28
Cognition | - a type
- the attitudes, beliefs, values, and thoughts a person has about the social environment, interrelations, human nature and themselves - In serious offenders these cognitions are often distorted - Prejudice is also a cognition that involves distortions of social reality including oversimplication about others. Hate crimes are often rooted in prejudice and cog distortions
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Neuropsychology of criminal behavior
a speciality that combines the scientific study of the nervous system and crime. Studies to what extent damage, deficits or abnormailty of brain may relate to antisocial behavior
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Personality Disposition traits | - traits
- exerted wiedley generalized effects on behavior. - A trait/disposition is a stable and enduring tendency to behave a certain way and distinguishes one person from another. - In past, psychologist assumed that they could best understand human behavior by looking for these traits
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Callouss unemotional traits
associated with psychopathy. They are characterized by lack of empathy and concern for the welfare of others, and lead to aggressive patter of antisocial behavior
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Contemporary psychological perspective of criminology
still include personality traits in their explanations of crime but also include cognitions, developmental factors, and neuropsych
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Criminal/offender profiling
- uses trait psychology & scientific method; the process of identifying traits, behavioral tendcies, geographic location and demo variables of an offender based on charactersitics of the crime - The profiler offers statistical probablity about some demo and behavioral pattersn of certain offenders and predictions of future offenses. - Profling process is dictated by a databased collection on previous offenders who have committed sim crimes. Profiling is a form of behavioral assessment and prediction
34
Psychiatric Criminology - is? - 2 views
-Use a biochemical and neurological approach to explanations of human behavior - Traditional psychiatirc crimo is distingueshed from contemporary psychiatric crimo 1. Traditional view represents the bio urges that drive humans where 2. contem view reps the diverse knowledge gained thru research and clinical exp; far more diverse, research based and less steeped in belief that criminals are acting out unconscious urges
35
Psychoanalytic approach - view of human nature - type of behavior
- explains behavior in terms of motive and drives. View human nature as innately antisocial, driven to get what they want unless they are held in check by internal (conscience) and external (society) forces - assumes we must delve into human personality to find unconscious determinants of human behavior. - acknowledge that behavior varies across situations however there are enduring and generalized underlying motivational dispostions that account for this deiversity. - Surface behaviors indirectly signal or symbolize dynamic underlying attributes. Psycho defenses distort and disguise the true meaning of external or observed behaviors. Therefore the clinician must interpret the signficance of these external behaviors.
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Juvenile Delinquency | - pattern of offending
Juveniles commit a disporportionate amount of crime but it is not necessarily the most serious offenses -offending among juvies is more widespread than adults but as with adults most stop; most stop committing crime once they reach adulthood
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Status Offenses
behaviors forbidden only to juvies bc of their age (running away, curfew violations, underage drinking, skipping school/truancy, incorrgibibility)
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2 Juvenile Groups of Concern
1. those who continue offending 2. those who commit serious crimes. - Those who commit one serious crime receive media attention but this type is rare. Continued offending is more problematic
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How many arrested go to trial?
• Approx 1/5th arrested go to trial
40
Process of arrest - 4
1. first the police label the individual as a suspect then they decide if they should be arrested. 2. The arrested may be charged at which point they become a defendant. 3. The defandant may plead guilty or not guilty then they are tried and labeled an offender. 4. They then may be incarcrated. - At each step there is a funneling process that showes fewer and fewer reach subsequent step
41
Antisocial Behavior | - conduct intended to (3)
includes both the legal designation delinquency and criminal behavior and the actions that violate standards of society and rights of others but are undetected by law enforcement 1. injure people or damage property 2. partake in illegal behavior 3. defiance of accepted rules & authority
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Forensic Neuropsychology: Brain structures assoc with Antisocial Personality Disorder - 4
* Prefrontal cortex - judgement, planning * Amygdala - empathy * Hippocampus * Temporal lobes
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3 perspectives of human nature 1. basic assumption 2. theory
1. Conformist: Humans want to do the right thing; Strain theory 2. Non-comformst: Humans undisciplined; Social control theory 3. Learning: Humans neutral; social learning theory
44
Merton's theory of crime | AKA Strain theory
- Crime is normal aspect of society and helps maintain stability in society with structural inequalities - society intersection between cultural goals and the legal/moral ways to attain them - ppl respond to blocked opportunities thru conformity, rejection of goals, rejection of institutions, rebellion against present system
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Forensic psychology - root - careers (3)
research, practice, or application of psychological knowledge as it pertains to legal system - Latin meaning "forum" where legal proceedings occurred 1. Law enforcement 2. Jury expert witness 3. Jury consulting
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New Jersey
- 1918, 1st inmate classification system developed by psychologists for NJ Department of Corrections - 1st state to hire full-time correctional psychologists on regular basis.
47
The study of criminal behavior - started in? - discplinairys (3)
Since early 1900s psychology used to tray to explain criminal behavior - Interdisciplinary approach of sociology, neurophsiology, developmental psychology
48
Persistent offenders vs. one-time
Persistent repetitve offenders frequently commit serious antisocial crimes. One time offenders commit violent crimes
49
Sociopath
severe form of antisocial behavior
50
Durkheim's theory of crime
crime helps society progress
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