SOC211H5 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Uniform Crime Reports, Middle Ages, Social Disorganization Theory
Document Summary
Routine activities theory: criminal behavior takes place when the following three elements are present. 3)absence of capable guardian: states that people will commit a crime when it is profitable to do so. This theory has some issues, for example many crimes are done impulsively without much planning, and crimes committed often do not benefit the individual as much as it could have (eg robbing a bank vs robbing a convenient store). This being said, it seems to be the case that crime and deviance is still likely if the perceived payoff is high, and the risk of apprehension or punishment is low. Positivist approach: application of the scientific method to the study of human behavior. It is based on 3 assumptions: empiricism (based on 5 senses, objectivism (phenomena is objectively real with consistent characteristics, determinism (world works in a cause and effect fashion) Focus on finding universal patterns to explain the causes of crime and deviance, for example.
