SOCI 2450 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Trait Theory, Social Control Theory, Single Parent
19 Jun 2020
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Document Summary
Challenge single factor theories: onset of crime, divide criminals/non-criminals, stability. Variety of factors: ecological, psychological, biological, economic. Explain: nature of crime (escalate vs. stop/start, termination (not from single factor, similar life circumstance (poverty) but not all chronic offenders. Developmental criminology: examines changes in criminal careers over life. Crime: process of individual characteristics + situational factors, combine over life to promote (chronic offender) or stop crime (desistance) Desistance: process where individual subsides or abruptly stops crime. 2 groups: latent trait theories, criminal behaviour controlled by master trait, developmental theories, crime a dynamic process influenced by characteristics + social experiences. Latent trait theory: master trait, personality, intelligence, genetic makeup, people = stable, crime = changing, criminal opportunities change, maturity brings fewer opportunities, reduce crime, early social control + proper parenting. Influencing crime: personal + structural factors, change affects crime, criminal career a passage, personal vs. situational. Developmental theory: multiple traits, social, psychological, economic, people = changing, family, jobs, peers influence behaviour.
