CRIM 210 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Scientific Method, Genital Stage, Machismo

68 views7 pages
Chapter 5: Explaining Crime and Delinquency: The Beginning
Introduction
- Empirical: an adjective describing knowledge that is based on observation, experience
or experiment rather than on theory or philosophy
- Research: A systematic process of information gathering, analysis and reporting of
findings
- Postmodernists: Those who reject or challenge all that has been considered to be
modern
- Theory: an integrated set of propositions that offers explanations for some
phenomenon.
The Scientific Method: Positivism and Criminology
- Comte (founding father of sociology) said society could best be understood by applying
the scientific method shared by mathematicians and physical scientists.
- Positivist: an 18th century, philosophical, theoretical, and methodological perspective
posting that only that which is observable through the scientific method is knowable.
- Human behaviour is determined by natural laws
- Behaviour is determined by factors and some factors that are beyond control.
Casual Relationships
- 3 conditions have to be met before we causality can be established
o have to prove there is a relationship between concepts both within and among
propositions that constitute a theory
o Time priority has to be established (cause before effect)
Have to establish relationship and that it did certainly trigger that event
o “puiousess efes to the fat that thee is o othe asual fato elated to
both the watching and committing of an event
Challenges to Positivism
- the uiese is koale i a ojetie sese, that thee is a ojetie tuth that
can be discovered through the scientific method
- logic of meyhod ensures that objectivity can be attained through myriad of rules and
regulations required in research process
Nineteenth-Century Theorizing About Crime and Delinquency
- Religion was a dominate force in society
- Believed in the devil forcing an individual to commit a crime.
- All research was based on a religious framework to understand behaviour
Classical Criminology
- Classical School of Criminology: the school of thought that assumes people are rational,
intelligent beings who exercise free will in choosing criminal behaviour.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Unlock document

This preview shows pages 1-2 of the document.
Unlock all 7 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in
- Central Tenet was based on free will, taking out the devil and putting individuals
responsible for the crimes they have committed.
- Cesae Beaia, as the fist to ite aout this i o ies ad puishets
- Presumed innocent, offences and punishments be specified to a particular code and
guilty should be punished.
Biological Positivism
- Now looking at offender or the causes of criminal behaviour
- The father of scientific criminology is Cesare Lombroso
- Argued that people committed crimes due to their particular traits.
- 3 broad categories that people were categorized in were delinquent (individuals who
change their ways by help), dependent (their well being depended on others) and
defective (limited ability and be feebleminded (low intelligence aka mentally ill))
- Eugenics: A branch of science based on a belief in genetic differences between groups
that result in superior and inferior strains of people.
- Lower class people were seen as the dangerous class b/c they were struggling to get by
Twentieth Century Theories of Delinquency
- Twins have higher delinquency rates than fraternal twins
- Youg peso’s od tpe o soatotpe affets his o he tepeaet ad
personality, which in turn can lead to delinquent behaviour.
o 3 body types; endomorph (soft and round), mesomorph (muscular and athletic)
and ectomorph (thin and fragile)
o Mesomorph are delinquent
- Average person has 46 chromosomes, extra Y chromosome (delinquent)
- IQ plays a huge role, learning disability could also play a factor, ADHD does also
Psychological Potivism
- Psychological theories did not develop until the 20th century.
- 6 groups of psychological theories on criminal and delinquent behaviour.
Pschoanalytic Theories
- According to this ^ crime and delinquency are symptoms of an underlying emotional
abnormality or disturbance that stems from childhood.
- Sigmund Freud and Erik Erikson
- Individual development occurs in stages and personality abnormalities occur when
individuals fail to resolve conflicts
The underdeveloped/overdeveloped Superego
- Frued there are 3 parts; ID, EGO AND SUPEREGO
o ID: present at birth and is the basic biological an psychological part of the
individual, an instinctual desire.
o EGO: Separates reality from fantasy. Rational part of ur mind/self.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Unlock document

This preview shows pages 1-2 of the document.
Unlock all 7 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in

Document Summary

Chapter 5: explaining crime and delinquency: the beginning. Empirical: an adjective describing knowledge that is based on observation, experience or experiment rather than on theory or philosophy. Research: a systematic process of information gathering, analysis and reporting of findings. Postmodernists: those who reject or challenge all that has been considered to be modern. Theory: an integrated set of propositions that offers explanations for some phenomenon. Comte (founding father of sociology) said society could best be understood by applying the scientific method shared by mathematicians and physical scientists. Positivist: an 18th century, philosophical, theoretical, and methodological perspective posting that only that which is observable through the scientific method is knowable. Human behaviour is determined by natural laws. Behaviour is determined by factors and some factors that are beyond control. Religion was a dominate force in society. Believed in the devil forcing an individual to commit a crime. All research was based on a religious framework to understand behaviour.

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers
Class+
$8 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Class+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
30 Verified Answers

Related Documents