After you create your blog (IF YOU GET STUCK on the blog creation portion, then move on and in a Google Doc or Word file), then as your first entry you'll need to write your own theory as to why people commit crime. To help, use the brainstormed list we did in class last week along with the theories handout you'll get today and the notes below... To help you build your own theories about why crime happens - which is your first blog entry - below you'll find some notes on Choice, Trait, Social Structure, Social Learning, and Conflict theories:
Choice Theory (Chapter 4 in the Crim textbook) Choice theories assume that criminals carefully choose whether to commit criminal acts. People are influenced by their fear of the criminal penalties associated with being caught and convicted for law violations. The choice approach is rooted in the classical criminology of Cesare Beccaria, who argued that punishment should be certain, swift, and severe enough to deter crime. Today, choice theorists view crime as offense- and offender-specific. Offense-specific means that the characteristics of the crime control whether it occurs. For example, carefully protecting a home makes it less likely to be a target of crime. Offender-specific refers to the personal characteristics of potential criminals. People with specific skills and needs may be more likely to commit crime than others. Research shows that offenders consider their targets carefully before deciding on a course of action. Even violent criminals and drug addicts show signs of rationality.
Trait Theory (Chapter 5 in the Crim textbook) One area of interest is biochemical factors, such as diet, allergies, hormonal imbalances, and environmental contaminants (such as lead). The conclusion is that crime, especially violence, is a function of diet, vitamin intake, hormonal imbalance, or food allergies. Neurophysiological factors, such as brain disorders, ADHD, EEG abnormalities, tumors, and head injuries have been linked to crime. Criminals and delinquents often suffer brain impairment, as measured by the EEG. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and minimal brain dysfunction are related to antisocial behavior. An evolutionary branch holds that changes in the human condition, which have taken millions of years to evolve, may help explain crime rate differences. As the human race evolved, traits and characteristics have become ingrained. Cognitive psychology is concerned with human development and how people perceive the world. Criminality is viewed as a function of improper information processing. Individual reasoning processes influence behavior. Reasoning is influenced by the way people perceive their environment. Psychological traits such as personality and intelligence have been linked to criminality. One important area of study has been the antisocial personality, a person who lacks emotion and concern for others.
Social Structure Theories (Chapter 6 in the Crim textbook) Social structure theories suggest that people’s place in the socioeconomic structure influences their chances of becoming criminals. Poor people are more likely to commit crimes because they are unable to achieve monetary or social success in any other way. Social structure theory includes three schools of thought: social disorganization, strain, and cultural deviance theories. Social disorganization theory suggests that the urban poor violate the law because they live in areas in which social control has broken down. Strain theories view crime as resulting from the anger people experience over their inability to achieve legitimate social and economic success. Cultural deviance theories hold that a unique value system develops in lower-class areas. Lower-class values approve of behaviors such as being tough, never showing fear, and defying authority. People perceiving strain will bond together in their own groups or subcultures for support and recognition.
Social Process Theories (Chapter 7 in the Crim textbook) Social learning theory stresses that people learn how to commit crimes. Social control theory analyzes the failure of society to control criminal tendencies. Labeling theory maintains that negative labels produce criminal careers. Social learning theory suggests that people learn criminal behaviors much as they learn conventional behavior. Control theory maintains that all people have the potential to become criminals, but their bonds to conventional society prevent them from violating the law. This view suggests that a person’s self-concept aids his or her commitment to conventional action. Social reaction or labeling theory holds that criminality is promoted by becoming negatively labeled by significant others. Such labels as “criminal,” “ex-con,” and “junkie” isolate people from society and lock them into lives of crime.
Conflict Theory (Chapter 8 in the Crim textbook) Social conflict theorists view crime as a function of the conflict that exists in society. Conflict theorists suggest that crime in any society is caused by class conflict. Laws are created by those in power to protect their rights and interests. Marxist criminology views the competitive nature of the capitalist system as a major cause of crime. The poor commit crimes because of their frustration, anger, and need. The wealthy engage in illegal acts because they are used to competition and because they must do so to keep their positions in society.
Once you've done this, then find an article about a recent crime here in Canada, make a link to the news article on your blogsite and then write how your crime theory explains why the crime happened. An excellent crime news website is the CANOE CNews Crime site...or the Toronto Star Crime site...or Global News Crime site...or the Huffington Post Canada Crime site...or the Vancouver Sun Crime Blog
And to help you here is an example from a previous Criminology family member Mariah Barth...
Crime happens for many reasons, however I believe that one of the main reasons people commit crime is because of social structures they are immersed in and the people they associate with. Obviously there are many other contributing factors such as brain chemistry, gender, drug usage, inner conflict and just plain choice, the list could go on and on, but the people we surround ourselves with play a huge role in how we behave. I know personally I act differently around my parents then I do when its just my friends and I. others play a huge influence in our lives. As children we learned everything from our parents and mimicked their behavior, then as we entered school we made friends and copied their behavior as well. If we ended up making friends with bad apples then we will most likely be doing and acting the way they are, all feeding off each others behavior in a sense Peer pressure from these same people we hang around with has a major influence on whether or not we are committing crime. For example in this article you have a 13 year old boy planning on robbing a convince store with no previous criminal record and 3 accomplices older then him, I don't personally know the kid but something tells me he was not the one to come up with the idea, maybe robbing the store what he had to do to become a member of the "Indian Posse" gang or just to impress the older boys either way it was most likely him trying to be tough and to impress someone else. I personally know a kid who at the age of 15 tried to shoplift something from a mall, I don't know what it was he was trying to steal but what I do know was he got chased and tackled by mall cops then spent a few hours in jail waiting for his mother to bail him out. This kid is not a bad kid I know that he is a good human being, comes from a good stable he's just your average teenage boy trying to fit in, but the kids he was hanging around with are kind of shady guys, I know for a fact that this boy regrets doing this, and in the long run getting caught for him turned out being more embarrassing then being too chicken to shoplift whatever it was he was attempting to steal. It just goes to show how far people will go to feel some sort of belonging in society and when they themselves feel uncomfortable with the fact that they might be different in someway or defy social norms people can go to extreme lengths to feel loved and important.
- Using pages 37 to 46 in the CRIM textbook outline and explain the crime patterns in relation to ecology, firearms, social class, age, gender and race.
- What is a chronic offender and what is the significance of Marvin Wolfgang's discovery (why is identifying the chronic offender important)?
- How would you explain the gender differences in the crime rate (why do you think males are more violent than females)?
- Using pages 37 to 46 in the CRIM textbook outline and explain the crime patterns in relation to ecology, firearms, social class, age, gender and race. You could also use the link Who Commits Crime? to help and although it's about Saskatchewan check out Influences on Criminal Behaviour - Theory and Evidence
- What is a chronic offender and what is the significance of Marvin Wolfgang's discovery (why is identifying the chronic offender/Long Term Offender important)? More than 115 criminal convictions in B.C.: One chronic offender's story
- How would you explain the gender differences in the crime rate (why do you think males are more violent than females)? Feel free to use the links Gender and Crime in Sociology, Women and the Criminal Justice System, Are men more violent than women?, Gender and Crime
- Women were at higher risk than men of being victims of a violent crime
- Age was the key risk factor in violent victimization
- Drug use, binge drinking and the frequency of evening activities were associated with the risk of violent victimization
- Mental health was associated with the risk of violent victimization
- People who suffered child maltreatment were more likely to be victims of a violent crime
- People with a history of homelessness were more likely to report being a victim of a violent crime
- The risk of violent victimization was higher among people residing in a neighbourhood with low social cohesion
- Aboriginal people, in particular women, were more likely to be victims
- One-quarter of violent incidents took place at the victim’s place of work
- The majority of offenders were male and, on average, in their early thirties
- Most victims knew their attacker
- Most violent incidents did not involve weapons and did not result in physical injury
- Low social cohesion was associated with a higher risk of household victimization
- Households residing in apartments or condos were less likely to be victimized by household crime
- The size of the household was linked to the risk of victimization
- One incident in five resulted in losses of $1,000 or more
- Most incidents of victimization did not come to the attention of the police
I'll go over some notes with you on this and we'll try to understand how violence and violent crime (out next topic in the course) is a traumatic event that impacts human lives. I'd like you to read through the "Nature of Victimization" on pages 53-5 and 57-58 and "Theories of Victimization" dealing with Victim Precipitation, Lifestyle, and Routine Activities on pages 59-62 in the CRIM text. After discussing these sections your job will be to complete the following:
1. Briefly outline and explain the patterns we've identified in victimization (social ecology, household, personal characteristics and repeat victimization)
2. Explain and compare the three theories of crime victimization.
- What happened?
- What type of damage did the victim(s) suffer?
- What needs the victim(s) might have?
- What would be the best approach to ensuring justice for these victim(s)?
Allie and Mike are both in their mid-seventies. They are both retired, and since their children grew up and left, besides being grandparents, they look after themselves, travel, spend time in the community, and engaged with various hobbies. Mike had a hip replacement a few years ago and has some issue in walking; Allie has high blood pressure and is on heart medication. They have been together for 45 years.One night while returning from a concert performance, Allie was taking the keys from her bag, they were approached by two young men who distracted them by asking for directions. They seemed lost and were very gentle to the couple, apologizing. After spending a few seconds in exchanging information, one of the two young men, grabbed Allie's bag, where she had her purse, keys, her mobile and some photos and small objects, while the other young men hit Mike on his head, took his wallet and left him unconscious on the ground. Allie, in total shock, started shouting and asking for help. She did not have the phone anymore, and as much as she was shaking could not even shout; eventually, after ten minutes, someone called an ambulance and then the police arrived.They were both brought the hospital where Mile spent five days 'under observation' due to a mild concussion. When home, he could not stand on his own feet, as he was always dizzy and losing balance. Consequently, one of their sons moved in, and they also had to have some professional assistance.One of the two young men were arrested three days after the attack thanks to some cameras positioned in a nearby bank. He pleaded guilty, saying that he was under the effects of drug and alcohol and did not have the means to pay back any of the costs or damages.
- Briefly outline and explain the patterns we've identified in victimization (social ecology, household, personal characteristics and repeat victimization)
- Explain and compare the three theories of crime victimization.
- What is victim blaming and what are its consequences?
- Why are some victims less likely to report the victimization they suffered? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
- What can make a person more vulnerable for some type of crimes? Provide a few examples.
Hip hop is a subculture and an art movement that emerged from the Bronx in New York City during the early 1970s. Its development reflected the negative effects of post-industrial decline, political discourse, and a rapidly changing economy. The global influence of hip hop culture has shaped music styles, fashion, technology, art, entertainment, language, dance, education, politics, media, and more.
Hip Hop as a musical artform diffused hierarchically throughout the United States (originally in New York and LA) then through a stimulus diffusion throughout Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Memphis, Detroit, D.C., Philadelphia, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, New Orleans where it was changed by the adopters to reflect their local cultures.
The History and Geography of Hip HopFew ecosystems have been as thoroughly modified by humans as the Netherlands and Florida's Everglades. Because more than half of the Netherlands lies below sea level, most of the country today would be under water if it were not for massive projects to modify the environment by holding back the sea. Meanwhile, the fragile landscape of south Florida has been altered in insensitive ways.So I'd like you to identify in point form the problems in both these locations and explain what have humans done (Describe the human modifications and adaptations to these two environments).
Both the Netherlands and the Florida Everglades face threats to sustainability. Which is better positioned to face future challenges? Explain your answer.
To help check out
Everglades in crisis: can this Florida treasure avert an environmental tragedy?
Why is it Important to Restore the Everglades?
The Everglades Threats to the Ecosystem
The Dutch Have Solutions to Rising Seas. The World Is Watching.
Can the Dutch save the world from the danger of rising sea levels?
Rising sea levels - how the Netherlands found ways of working with the environment
- Dissolving vital nutrients in the bloodstream and delivering them to cells.
- Regulating our body temperature.
- Dissolving waste substances and carrying them out of the body in urine, feces and sweat.
- Protecting tissues, joints and the spinal cord.
We are looking at the ecological connections to water in our observations of and mapping the riparian features of Towhee Creek. Many beings depend on freshwater and understanding the whole can help guide us to make better decisions for the future. Today you'll start with a water analysis.
Mr. Ingram's photo |
We'll start with the high tide line/drift line (supralittoral), work through the inter tidal zone (mesolittoral), and finish with the swash zone (infralittoral). Often the wrack line (last high tide line) is covered in seaweed and other material (i.e. plastic pollution and beach litter). If there are multiple wrack lines, all details describing which wrack line was evaluated should be included in your notes. Identification should be to the species level if possible. Use magnifiers, identification sheets, and field identification books to help you identify organisms. If unsure note it with a question mark and take a picture of it. For algae, identifying to genus is often all that is practical in the field. There are two types of data being collected in the primary survey – percent cover and species presence/abundance. Percent cover takes into account both living and dead material – species presence/abundance only records living organisms.
Our low tide at Point Holmes will be 1.32m (4.3ft) at 11:25 am.
These worldviews reflect how people see the world, how they fit within it, and what their ideas are about what to do with it. This leads us to political parties and environmental worldviews.
- Do you agree with where you were placed on the political spectrum? Why/why not?
- Does the political party you were placed with the Youth Vote Compass match your ideas (worldview) on the environment? Why/why not?
- Which political party do you think has the best environmental policy and why is that?