CC290 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Relate, Consumerism, Class Conflict
Document Summary
Cc290 lec1/2 the importance of theory in criminology. Conservative perspective: criminals as bad, immoral, believe the cjs works, more power for police. Liberal perspective: rehabilitation, cjs reform, law is imperfect. Radical perspective: dismantle the system, start over, criminality caused by class and inequality. Theory explanation of the relationship between 2 or more events: includes conditions under which the relationships take place, theory is not, popular belief, value-driven explanations, speculation, opinion. Characteristics of simple theories: focus on a single factor, relate two factors to each other, cause & effect, based on, use of systematic evidence and objective observation, rational explanations. Complex theoretical frameworks: require many factors in explanation, specify conditions and processes necessary for relationships to take place, should reflect, careful observation, systematic logic. The interdisciplinary nature of theory: early criminologists, economists, philosophers, anthropologists, physicians, geographers, writers, social reformers, 20/21st century, sociologists, criminologists, neurologists, psychologists, biologists, socio-biologists, social psychologists, lawyers.
