CRIM 101 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Zygosity, Child Neglect, Twin Study
26 Jun 2018
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Midterm Review Exercises
1) Provide some examples of neurotransmitters that have been associated with violent behaviour.
1) Dopamine: controls the rewards and pleasure centres of the brain and creates pleasurable
sensations; higher levels may cause aggression
2) Serotonin: plays a role in depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder; serotonin disfunction
can lead to impulsiveness. If you have low levels of serotonin, you would be less likely to
cope with stress, and more likely to suffer from anti-social personality disorder
3) The warrior gene, also known as Monoamine oxidase A and B, which is associated with
likelihood of male violence.
2) Demonstrate your knowledge on critical criminology by listing theories linked to this branch of the
discipline.
Many of earlier critical criminologists were influenced by Marxism. They were interested in class
relations, the social structure of capitalism, and how capitalism produces social inequality. Over the years,
critical criminology diverged from its earlier Marxist roots, coming to encompass feminist criminologists,
critical race scholars, post-structuralist criminologists, and peace-making criminologists. Earlier critical
criminologist, in particular Neo-Marxists, are often regarded as conflict theorists because they took the
position that society was built on social conflict, not social consensus.
Neo-Marxists argued that capitalism was to blame for crime because it created the conditions of social
inequality that lead to crime – if you eliminated capitalism, you eliminated crime – combination of
Marxist theory, Howard Becker’s labelling theory, and Stanley Cohen’s work on moral panics.
Left realism, associated with the thinking of Jock Young, was a response to a number attacks levelled
against the earlier critical criminologists, Neo-Marxists. Left realism accepted that crime was a genuine
social problem (that it was not just about moral panics) and took the position that criminologists should be
able to offer some practical solutions for the problem.
Post-structuralism is associated with the thinking of French philosopher Michel Foucault and a group of
his followers referred as the Foucauldians. They argue that it is impossible for an individual to stand
outside of a social system in order to critique it.
Peace-making criminology includes re-integrative shaming, restoring justice, and even those who favour
the total abolition of prisons. Argues that we should treat criminals with empathy – as human beings, who
despite their past behaviour, still need understanding and kindness.
Critical race theorists have deconstructed ideas of race as “biological.” They argue that race is a social
construct – a label, stigma or symbol placed upon an individual by society, which affects the individual’s
life opportunity. Post-colonial theory developed from “struggles for political freedom among many
former colonies of Britain, France, and other European powers.”
Feminist criminology focusses “on the forces that shape women’s lives and experiences.” They reject
traditional research method of gathering and analyzing quantitative data, arguing that it overlooks the
lived experiences of women. Liberal feminism examines similarities and differences between male and
female offending. Radical feminism emphasizes male dominance, women as victims of domestic violence
and sexual assault, and the need for law reform. Intersectional feminism explores the intersection between
race, class and gender.
3) Demonstrate your knowledge on biological approaches to crime by detailing the main criticisms
made to early twin studies.
Studying human genetics can be difficult from an ethical, numerical and biological perspective. Good
scientific studies require a large number of identical research subjects and while clones do exist in terms
of twins, there are small sample sizes. Even large-scale studies, such as drug trials, are influenced by
biological factors and environmental factors
1) There were small sample sizes
2) Political and racial bias
3) Methods to determine zygosity
4) Twins were raised in the same environment
4) Demonstrate your knowledge on the Canadian criminal justice system by explaining the differences
between summary and indictable offences
Summary offences are less serious, for example, theft under $5,000. These offences proceed directly to
trail in Provincial Court with no preliminary inquiry. Generally, result in maximum sentence of six
months, imprisonment, or a fine of $5,000. Indictable offences are more serious, such as murder, robbery
and assault. They often involve a preliminary hearing, to determine if sufficient evidence exists to
proceed to trial and may result in a lengthy term of imprisonment.
5) Demonstrate your knowledge of the Canadian criminal justice system by sorting trial results from
more common to less common.
In adult criminal court, most common outcome is finding of guilt (over 60% of cases). After finding of
guilt, sentences range frim absolute charge, which means no penalty and no criminal record, to life in
prison with no chance of parole for up to 25 years. Over 50 % of cases via absolute or conditional
discharge are dealt with community service order, prohibition order, or suspended sentence. Most
common sentence, 45% of convicted offenders, is probation, a sentence which is served in the
community, with conditions, under supervision of probation officer. The average length of probation is
about one year. Custody (imprisonment) is the second most common sentence (slightly over 30% of
sentences). Over 80% of custodial are for less than six months, and the average length is 30 days. If a
sentence is less than two years, it is served in provincial correctional institution. If a sentence is two years
or longer, sentence is served in federal correction institution. The third most common sentence is a fine,
which is about 30% of the sentences. Fines are usually less than $1,000.
6) Demonstrate your knowledge of the media's portrayal of crime by explaining features commonly
found in media depictions of victims, offenders and the police
Document Summary
Many of earlier critical criminologists were influenced by marxism. They were interested in class relations, the social structure of capitalism, and how capitalism produces social inequality. Over the years, critical criminology diverged from its earlier marxist roots, coming to encompass feminist criminologists, critical race scholars, post-structuralist criminologists, and peace-making criminologists. Earlier critical criminologist, in particular neo-marxists, are often regarded as conflict theorists because they took the position that society was built on social conflict, not social consensus. Neo-marxists argued that capitalism was to blame for crime because it created the conditions of social inequality that lead to crime if you eliminated capitalism, you eliminated crime combination of. Marxist theory, howard becker"s labelling theory, and stanley cohen"s work on moral panics. Left realism, associated with the thinking of jock young, was a response to a number attacks levelled against the earlier critical criminologists, neo-marxists.
