General Info
Mala in se = bad in and of itself (rape)
Mala prohibitum = bad bc defined as such (prositution)
'Statistics' are ______ as 'theory' is to "why"
WHAT
The first essay specifically regarding criminology is _________ by __________
Beccaria
What is the thermic law of crime; give two examples of how it is seen in the world
Hotter = more crime
South & Summer time
What demographic of people (broadly) are most likely to be victims of crime?
Explain the differences between folkways, mores, and laws
Folkways = traditions, customs (informal)
Mores = semi-formal customs that include moral judgements
Laws = formal, codified rules that often carry punishment
The 'dark figure of crime' refers to?
All of the crime that occurs that we do not know about
____________ prompted the rise of classical criminology, and ___________ prompted the rise of biological positivism
The Enlightenment; Darwinism
Demonological theory viewed crimes as _____
Sins
What specific year was the peak of crime in the US and what is one factor that contributed to it?
1993; opioid epidemic/war on drugs/harsher punishments
Explain undercriminalization and overcriminalization, with examples
Under = law fails to address mala in se (racism)
Over = extending law to non-deviant behaviors (drug use)
What does 'normative' mean in opposition to 'positive/empirical'?
Ought to be (instead of what is observable)
While most criminological theories aim to explain trends in criminal behavior, classical theory was primarily concerned with...
Critiquing the system
Beccaria gave us which amendment?
8th - no cruel or unusual punishment
How does the negativity bias impact our view on crime?
We focus on the bad and recall it easier; inundated with crime news
What is the definition of "crime"?
Something that breaks the law
What does it mean to 'operationalize' something?
Define it in a way that it is measurable and testable
Give three examples of 'turning points' discussed in life course theory
Marriage, education, employment, moving
What did we learn from Phineas Gage?
That damage to regions of the brain can impact behavior (frontal lobe)
What theory believes all truth is relavtive
Postmodernism
Define mens rea and discuss its role in criminal court
Guilty mind; whether someone is guilty of the act that they committed (actus reus)
Reliability is to _______ as validity is to _______
Consistency; accuracy
Social process theories believe that crime is....
Consider Routine Activities Theory: what can be changed to reduce rates of crime?
Absence of a capable guardian
Define and give an example of a strict liability crime
Mens rea does not matter
Drinking and driving, bigamy, statutory rape, posession
Name the four 'deviant acts' that are considered universally bad across space and time
Lying, cheating, stealing, indiscriminately killing
Give one example we discussed in class of a historical research study that was problematic, leading to current standards of research methods
What are the five factors of social disorganization?
Low SES, ethnic heterogeneity, high residential mobility, family disruption, high population density
What are the four bonds of Hirschi's social bond theory?
Attachment, commitment, involvement, belief
The four justifications for punishment are...
Retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, incapacitation
The three stages of Comte's progression of knowledge are; and which one is considered the 'best' stage for humans?
Theological, metaphysical, scientific
The most available yet least accurate measure of crime is....
Prison population
What is the Pygmalion Effect and how does it relate to labeling theory?
Pygmalion = self-fulfilling prophecy
Labeling = you become what you are labeled, esp if you internalize it
Come to the board and draw Merton's Deviance typology (hint: made up of 5 squares)
Conformity Innovation
Ritualism Retreatism
Rebellion
What are hermeneutics and what is one example of a hermeneutic circle that I (Prof. Lynch) am a part of
Hermeneutics = interpretation differs depending on individuals, contexts
Criminolgy, PhD student, AU student, GW prof, person from PA, living in DC, etc.