SOC 1500 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-9: Youth Criminal Justice Act, Moral Panic, General Social Survey

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1500
• Professor: Ryan Broll

Document Summary

It is common for criminologists to disagree with one another, many opposing viewpoints exist within the discipline. Defining crime, arguably splits the discipline down the middle. Crime can be defined under two broadly based approaches: objectivist-legalistic position or the social-reaction perspective. Often referred to as a value consensus or normative position. Understands the definition of crime to be factual and precise. Typically defines crime as something that is against the law . Essentially views crime as a violation of legal statutes. Criminality is limited to its legal construction. Laws are simply widely shared customs and beliefs that, over time, become codified into legal statues. What are the causes of criminal behaviour? . The goal of criminology is a quest to understand why people break the law. Several theories are a part of this viewpoint including: biological, psychological, and sociological explanations of offending. Biological approach: studying inmates showed that they were biologically inferior to those from the non-criminal population.