PSYC39H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Cesare Lombroso, Cesare Beccaria, Juvenile Delinquency
Chapter 1: Introduction to Criminal Behaviour
Chapter Objectives:
1. Emphasize that criminal behaviour has multiple causes, manifestations, and developmental
pathways
2. gIdentify the different perspectives of human nature that underlie the theoretical development
and research of criminal behaviour
3. Introduce various theories that may help explain crime
4. Describe the three major disciplines in criminology: sociological, psychological, and psychiatric
5. Point out that the study of criminal behaviour and delinquency, from a psychological
perspective, has shifted from a personality toward a more cognitive and developmental focus
6. Define criminal behaviour and juvenile delinquency
7. Introduce the reader to the various measurements of criminal and delinquent behaviour
-Strict liability offenses: offenses that do not require criminal intent
oMens rea does not need to be proven when compromising the actus reus
Theories of Crime:
-Just-world hypothesis: everything that happens to someone is their own fault, because this
world is a just place
oThe robber deserves the punishment, and the individuals that were robbed did not
protect their belongings
-Personal just-world: belief that it is a method of adaptation based on circumstantial events in
people’s lives
oDalbert and Filke: manz said that prisoners with a personal just-world mindset seem to
be more positive about their experience
oJust-world hypothesis believers show less compassion w others, therefore are cold
motherfuckers
- Scientific theory: a set of interrelated constructs, definitions, and proposition that present a
systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variables, with the purpose of
explaining and predicting the phenomena
- Theory verification: process of theory testing
oFalsification occurs when the theory is not verified or if its propositions are not verified.
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Document Summary
Chapter objectives: emphasize that criminal behaviour has multiple causes, manifestations, and developmental pathways, gidentify the different perspectives of human nature that underlie the theoretical development and research of criminal behaviour. Introduce the reader to the various measurements of criminal and delinquent behaviour. Strict liability offenses: offenses that do not require criminal intent: mens rea does not need to be proven when compromising the actus reus. Just-world hypothesis: everything that happens to someone is their own fault, because this world is a just place: the robber deserves the punishment, and the individuals that were robbed did not protect their belongings. Scientific theory: a set of interrelated constructs, definitions, and proposition that present a systematic view of phenomena by specifying relations among variables, with the purpose of explaining and predicting the phenomena. Purpose of theories of crime is to find the reasoning behind criminal behaviour, providing a summary of a collection of research, to provide a direction for further research.
