Theories & Concepts
This term describes an explanation based on observation, experimentation, and reasoning; it is broader than a single testable idea
Theory
The branch of study that focuses on how genetics and brain activity influence criminal behavior
Neurocriminology
The sociological theory that blames neighborhood conditions (like poverty and broken infrastructure) for higher crime rates
Social disorganization theory
According to Becker, name one of the three things first-time users must learn to become habitual users
Learn techniques of use; learn to perceive pleasurable effects; learn to enjoy social experience
The FBI’s long-running compilation of crimes reported to law enforcement is called this
Uniform Crime Report (UCR)
Name the difference: the relationship where two measures move together versus when one change produces a change in the other
Correlation vs. causation
These chemical messengers transported in blood have been linked to aggression when elevated in males
Hormones (specifically testosterone)
This concept from Durkheim refers to a breakdown or absence of social norms, central to strain theory
Anomie
Define drug abuse as used in the criminological context (one sentence)
Drug abuse: use that causes physical/psychological problems and disrupts relationships/employment
Which reporting system records data on each crime occurrence across many offense categories and gives data sets for offenses, victims, offenders, and arrestees?
National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)
This theory says wrongdoers weigh benefits against costs before committing a crime
Rational choice theory
A chronic brain disorder sometimes correlated with violent behavior (note: correlation, not proven cause)
Schizophrenia
List two of the four neighborhood factors Shaw and McKay identified as contributing to social disorganization
High school dropouts; chronic unemployment; deteriorating infrastructure; concentrations of single-parent families
Name the model of addiction that treats addiction as a disease and emphasizes rehabilitation rather than punishment
Medical model of addiction (enslavement/disease model)
Name the national victim survey that interviews about 90,000 households twice a year about victimization
National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
According to social process theories, criminal behavior is learned through interactions with family and peers; name the specific theory by Edwin Sutherland
Differential association (learning theory)
Trait theories suggest biological or psychological traits incline someone to crime given certain circumstances; give one example of a biological factor studied
Genetics (e.g., hereditary traits) — or neurotransmitter differences, brain injury
Social conflict theories view criminal behavior as a result of what larger societal struggle?
Class conflict (social conflict theory)
What are the three general ways drugs and crime are related (use short phrases)
Drug-defined offenses; drug-related offenses; the drug-using lifestyle
Give two limitations of the UCR that NIBRS attempts to address (brief phrases)
UCR omits many incidents that don't lead to arrest and lacks detailed victim/offender/incident data; NIBRS captures incident-level detail and more offense categories.
Identify the three elements that routine activities theory says must converge for a crime to occur
A likely offender, a suitable target, absence of a capable guardian.
Name the field of psychology that studies how individual behavior is influenced by group behavior in social situations.
Social psychology
Explain, in one sentence, why income level may be more important than race for predicting crime trends (use evidence-based reasoning)
Income level better predicts exposure to disadvantage (poverty, lack of opportunity) that correlates with higher victimization/offending rates.
Contrast, in one sentence, the medical model of addiction with the criminal model of addiction
Medical model: addiction is an illness requiring treatment; Criminal model: addiction is criminal behavior deserving punitive sanctions
Explain why self-reported surveys can provide crime data that official reports may miss (one sentence)
Subjects can admit crimes without legal penalty in self-reports, so they may disclose offenses not reported to police