Introduction to Criminology: Exam 2 Study GuideNamesBeccariaAn essay on crimes and punishments (1764)Cesare BeccariaRevolutionary documentInformed the US constitution Banned the VaticanFirst “scientific” approach to crimeIdeas are at the foundation of nearly ALL modern criminal justiceDeterrence derives policyAn essay on crimes and punishmentsAuthored by Cesare Beccaria in 1764Major influence on US criminal justice systemConcept of deterrence Beccaria’s argumentsEveryone is motivated to engage in crime though the pursuit of their self interest People are rational and engage in crime to:Minimize their pain and maximize their pleasureWhether people engage in crime is largely dependent of the:SwiftnessCertainty Severity of punishment (appropriate severity) Concept of deterrenceSwiftnessSwiftness of punishment builds an association between the pains of punishment and their criminal actsCertaintyMost important aspect according to beccaria Scientific studies show that perceived certainty or risk of punishment is the most important aspect of deterrenceSeverityFor punishment to be effective the possible penalty must outweigh the potential benefits of a given crimeHowever, too much severity would lead to more crime (i.e. 3 strikes laws)“if punishments are very severe, men are naturally led to the perpetrationof other crimes, to avoid the punishment due to the first”Lombroso1859 Cesare Lombroso, Italian prison physicianThe “born criminal”: have the signs of someone who will commit a crime in the future, you have failed to evolve, you are a bruteAtavism: biological throwback (back to caveman like characteristics)Measured numerous physical attributes like sloping forehead, shoulders,ear placement, skull size, arm/leg/jaw lengthProblem: determinism – from the day you are born, it is determined whether or not you will be a criminalCriticisms of the TheoryCharles Goring’s The English ConvictUsed the newly invented correlation coefficient (mathematically determines the strength or degree to which particular measurements of independent variable relates to the strength or degree of the dependentvariable)On several dimensions students at Cambridge scored higher on criminogenic factors than did those incarcerated (therefore proving Lombroso wrong)Problem: biological criminology failed to account for a variety of social factors that influence criminalityNevertheless, further developmentSomatotyping: ectomorph/mesomorph/endomorphEveryone ranked 1 to 7 on theseMesomorph physical characteristics: heavy chest, predominance of muscle, motor organs, large wrist/hands (athletic build)Corresponding temperament: assertive and aggressiveBiologically determinedGenealogical Studies – Early GeneticsThe Jukes-1000 descendants (280 paupers, 60 thieves, 7 murders, 140 criminals, 40 VD victims, 50 prostitutes)Kallikak families-2 marriages with different outcomes“feebleminded barwench” (480 descendants-24 alcoholics, 8 ran brothels, 3 criminals, 3 epileptics)“respectable woman” (nearly all described as normal)Showing there is a correlation between crime and genesCesare Lomrose – on criminal man (1876)Contained biological and evolutionary factors to explain criminality Lombroso classified criminals into 4 categoriesBorn criminals (atavistic characteristics)Insane criminals (i.e. idiots, imbeciles)Occasional criminals or criminaloids (crime by opportunity and with innate predisposition)Criminals of passion (crime out of anger, love, honor)Lombroso theory declined in the early 1900’s Lack of empirical supportConcern with policy implications of the theory (i.e. selective breeding and sterilization, justification for racist policies)DurkheimSociological theories (Durkheim – father of sociology)Social forces effects your behaviorEmile DurkheimContext of his writingsFrench revolution/industrial revolutionThe nineteenth century in France was an age of great turmoilFrench revolution of 1789The rapid industrialization of French society“Impossible to find revolutions of comparable magnitude anywhere in human history”AnomieA state where norms (expectations on behaviors) are confused, unclear or not presentRules on how people ought to behave were breaking downPeople did not know what to expect from one anotherIndividuals cannot find their place in society without clear rules to help guide themExamples:Hurricane KatrinaGreat depressionSocial periods of disruption (economic depression) brought about greater anomie and higher rates of crime, suicide, and deviance. Durkheim felt that sudden change caused a state of anomieThe system breaks down resulting in anomie.The system breaks down resulting in AnomieCan be:During times of great prosperityDuring times of great depressionEmile Durkheim (division of labor, 2 societies)Mechanical societyCharacterized by uniformity of the lives, work and beliefs of membersEach social group in society is relatively isolated (basically self-sufficient)Individuals live under identical circumstancesThere is little division of laborOrganic societyDifferent segments of society depend on each other in a highly organized division on laborNo longer uniformity but diversity of functions of the parts of societyDurkheim argued that all societies were at some stage between the mechanical and organicNo society being totally one or the otherImpact of DurkheimFocused attention on the role that social forces play in determining human conductPhineas GagePhineas GageRailroad worker in early AmericaHad a spike driven through his skullChanged his personality extremelyShows us that there is something on the innards…showed that maybe physiognomy and phrenology might not be so offTravis HirschiHirschi and his former students (Sampson & Laub)Primary question – accounting for the age-crime curveDebate: cross-sectional versus longitudinal dataStatic versus dynamic factors (propensity v. career criminals)Control: Hirschi two theoriesSocial bond theory presented in 1969 in causes of delinquencySelf-control theory presented in 1990 in general theory of crimeHirschi (1969): social bonds and delinquencyArgued criminological theories have a flowed premise:Assume criminal behavior requires, the creation of criminal motivationHirschi believed criminal motivation is inherent in everyoneAll possess a drive to act in selfish and aggressive ways that lead to criminal behaviorHumans seek gratifications and crime is often a means of gratification For Hirschi the proper theoretical question is why
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