CRIM 103 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Strict Liability, Social Learning Theory
8 May 2018
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Chapter 1 – Introduction to Criminal Behaviour
Crime: Conduct or failure to act in violation forbidding or commanding it, and for which range
of possible penalties exist upon convictions.
- Criminal behaviour is a violation of the criminal code
- Must have acted intentionally or without justification, to be convicted of a crime
- No criminal intent (Strict Liability offenses)
Theories of Crime
Theory: can refer to personal experiences, observations, traditional beliefs, a set of opinions or
just abstract thoughts
- Just orlders (Just World Hypothesis)
o General Just-World: eliee that thigs do’t happe to a idiidual ithout a
reason that their actions reflect on what happens to them. Good people are
rewarded and bad people are punished. (Like capital punishment)
o Personal Just-World: believe that they themselves will get what they deserve,
they are considered adaptive and helpful in coping with dire circumstances.
Scientific Theory: a set of interrelated constructs (concepts), definitions and propositions that
present a systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variables, with the
purpose of explaining and predicting the phenomena.
Theory Verification: If the theory is not verified then the end result is falsification.
Classical Theory – talks about free will as the hallmark of human behaviour
Consensus Theory – People are naturally born good, so horrible innocents have to take place in
their lives for them to turn towards crime. (Strain Theory)
Cognition – attitudes, beliefs, values and thoughts that a person holds about the social
environment, interrelations, human nature and himself or herself.
Control Theory – People are born deviant, they have to experience certain developments not to
commit crimes, such as extra curricular activities. People who are apart of this group usually
have low self-otrol, / if they had self otrol they ould’t e so prie to oit ries.
(Social Bond Theory)
Learning Theory – People are born good nor evil, things in their life happen that influence them
to either be good citizens or be delinquent. Blank Slate (Social Learning Theory)
Development Theory – This theory, integrates all theories in one, the philosophy on how
people oit ries, the attahet they ake oer tie ad they’re interested in the
individual change within. Want to evaluate the risk factors. Moffitt’s Dual Taoo
Anti Social Behaviour– are kids that violate social norms, this behaviour usually applies to
adolescents from (12-17), alcohol can be seen as an antisocial behaviour. If this sort of
behaviour starts at a younger age, then the chances of them committing crimes is higher in the
future.
Covert Antisocial – this happens face to face where the individual could know who you are and
its more of a direct attack, with someone you usually know.
Intentional Behavior – Occurs non accidentally or without any justification of excuse. Example:
driving under the influence, no one is forcing you to partake in drinking and driving but you
yourself make the choice to drink and then put other lives in danger
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