CJ 100 MWF 9-9:50 Lecture 12Outline of Current Lecture II. CriminologyIII. Classical IV. Positive SchoolV. IQ testing EraVI. Rise of Sociological theoriesCurrent LectureCriminology--What is the study of criminology?--Scientific study of criminal behavior--Draws from sociology, psychology, biology, and law--Why do people commit crimes?The “demonic perspective” of crime-The dominant theory of crime was the main theory in the early 1700sShift away from this prospective--Age of Enlightenment--Cultural movement aimed at promoting rational thought while opposing superstitions--Major influence in the American Revolution and the Bill of RightsClassical CriminologyThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.--Classical criminology was a product of the Age of Enlightenment--First attempt to explain crime through scientific terms--Cesare Beccaria was the first and most prominent “classical Criminologist” with his work and essay on crime and punishment (1764)About Classic criminology--Individuals are rational beings (rational choices)--Maximize pleasure and minimize pain (coast/benefit)--Crime is committed through FREE WILL (not by evil spirits) More about Classical Criminology--Unless individuals are deterred, they will commit crimes (specific vs general deterrence)--Classical theory focuses on natural forces that can be observed (absence of effective punishments= more crime) Three Elements of Classical Crim1.Swiftness of Punishment2.Certainty of Punishment3.Severity of PunishmentBlind Justice--Law applies equally to EVERYONEProblems with Classical Crim--Are all people rational?—teenagers, mentally unstable people, feeding familyLombroso and the Positive School--Positivity was also about physical traits--Argued many criminals were “genetic throwbacks” (primitive people stuck inmodern society)-- Criminals are different from non-criminals --Determinism- Idea that most human behavior is determined by factors beyond free will and free choice-- Lombroso’s idea of the “Born Criminal” Positive school of Criminology--First attempt at a biological approach with crime--Lombroso’s developed a list of physical traits*Large jaw and cheekbones*Swollen or protruding lips*Arm span greater than the individual’s height*Excessive wrinkling--Emergence of the concept of a “Born Criminal” --This was rooted in identifying these basic physical characteristicsClassical vs Positive--Classical school = individuals freely choose to engage in crime--Positive school = criminals have no choice in their actions--Problems with Positive school? After Lombroso—IQ testing era--Intelligence Quotient- still focuses on the individual differences (early 1900s)--IQ developed by Alfred Binet --Binet said IQ could be changed and used to help slow learnersIQ testing – United States--HH Goddard- IQ used to deport, incapacitate, sterilize and target low- IQ individuals (early eugenics)--Goddard believed that IQ could not be changed (static, innate, genetic)--Labeled a low-IQ as “feeble-mindedness”Goddards “feeble- Mindedness”--Three subgroups for low-IQ individuals (high to low)1.Morons2.Imbeciles3.Idiots--According to Goddard, the biggest threat to the progress of humanity was the morons--This produced mass sterilizationSupreme Court weighs In--Buck v Bell—Discussed the issue of sterilizing the low-IQ individuals--Upheld the use of sterilization for the purposes of limiting reproduction who were deemed feeble minded (protection of health of the state--Sterilization over IQ- scores continued until the 1970sBody Type Theory--mid 1940’s William Sheldon (Model of Somatotyping)--Somatotyping- lings body type to risk for delinquent and criminal behavior1.Endomorph- jolly/lazy2.Mesomorph- risk-taking/aggressive3.Ectomorph- introverted/shyTravis Hirschi and IQ--1970s- examined the effect of intelligence on youths--Findings: even among youths in the same race and social class, intelligence has a significant effect on delinquency and criminality--Study showed IQs of delinquents or criminals are about 10 points lower than those of noncriminal Rise of Sociological Theories--Growth of cities and industry (urbanization)--Social changes were implicated in the rise in crime--Forces outside indicidual control resulted in criminal behavior (environmental factors) Univeristy of Chicago Research--Understanding crime was not an individual basis but studying the collective group--Researchers focused on the trait of neighborhoods in Chicago--Ernest burgess “concentric zone model” ***less crime rate the farther you move from the city. Zone of transition is the hightest crime rate
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