SOCL 4461 Study Guide - Criminology, Labeling Theory, Symbolic Interactionism
Document Summary
Are criminals biologically or psychologically different: how do criminologist categorize theories of crime, types of theories, macro. Focus on aggregate units: cities, neighborhoods, constructions. Social structure and social strain structure: micro. Trait theories, rational choice, social learning: modern efforts seek to integrate both macro and micro. How do biological factors influence crime: classical biological explanations, influential from mid 1700s to 1800s, phenology study of head structure, *early efforts to incorporate positivism, lombroso. Atavism: criminals convert back to animalistic nature. Classical biological explanations fell out because: scientific advances(better measurement methods, changes in social attitudes. Contemporary explanations: biochemical explanations, criminal"s brains are impaired, neurotransmitters, hormones, diet, vitamin, food allergies, useful because. Incorporate environmental influences: genetics, criminal traits are inherited, identifiable and measurable, useful because. Helps explain small numbers of chronic behavior: evolutionary explanations, darwinism. Criminal traits are encouraged by evolution: useful because.
