PSYC39H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Social Control Theory, Edwin Sutherland, Tabula Rasa
Document Summary
Crime: conduct or failure to act in violation of the law forbidding it, a range of possible penalties exist upon conviction. Criminal behavior: behavior in violation of the criminal code. Unable to prevent crime because reasons behind criminal behavior is complex; there exist no basic truths about the origin of crime. Just-world hypothesis: things happen to people for a reason. Burglar deserve severe penalty and victims did not protect their property. Scientific theory developed scales to measure this hypothesis and test it. Personal just world: i get what i deserve has positive outcomes in adapting and coping with circumstance. General just world: negative outcomes, less compassion for others, derogation of victims. Scientific theory of crime provides explanation that encompasses and systematically connects different variables (psych, social, econ) to criminal behavior and is supported empirically. Verification: terms are clear, can be meaningfully tested and analyzed. Purpose of these theories are to identify causes of criminal behavior.
