SSCI 2810U Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Homicide, Actus Reus, Social Contract
Document Summary
Slide 2: pre-classical perspectives of crime saw criminality of being a result of supernatural. Religious explanations were common within criminal behaviour (ex. Individuals engaging in criminal behaviour were seen as possessed by devils and evil spirits). Exorcism and surgeries were used to break out the evil spirits. Slide 3: criminal activity was believed to be caused by a full moon, because the moon had a destructive influence. Crime does indeed increase during the full moon. One explanation because there"s more light out, follows there are more people out. When more people are out, it creates more opportunity for criminal activity. Slide 4: idea that criminality was the result of evil spirits and harsh punishments were common during the middle ages. Common punishments include: beheaded, torture (heads cut off) and burned at stake. Slide 5: enlighten thomas hobbes came up with the social contract. If an individual follows the rule of society, they in-turn will be provided with protection .
