210 Week 1 Study Guide SP24 (1)

Week 1 Study Guide Lecture Material: Crime Myths and Realities 1. Describe what psychologists mean by each of the following terms: (a) fundamental attribution error, (b) self-serving bias, and (c) projection bias. (a) Fundamental attribution error: tendency to attribute others' behavior to internal characteristics while underestimating situational factors. (b) Self-serving bias : tendency to attribute successes to internal factors but failures to external factors. (c) Projection bias: assuming others share the same beliefs, attitudes, or characteristics as oneself 2. Describe at least three myths that some people falsely believe about crime. Myth : Crime rates are constantly rising. Reality : Crime rates can fluctuate over time, sometimes decreasing. Myth: Strangers are the main perpetrators of crime. Reality: Many crimes are committed by individuals known to the victim, such as acquaintances or family members. Myth: Certain demographics are inherently more criminal. Reality: Crime is influenced by numerous factors; attributing it solely to specific demographics oversimplifies the issue. 3. Describe how and why each of the following can feed into myths about crime: (a) popular culture, (b) the media, and (c) politicians. (a) Popular culture : Through dramatization and stereotypes, it can distort reality, reinforcing misconceptions about crime and criminals. (b) The media : Selective reporting and sensationalism can exaggerate crime incidents, shaping public perception and fueling misconceptions. (c) Politicians : They may exploit crime narratives for political agendas, simplifying complex issues and promoting fear to rally support for certain policies or initiatives. 4. What does it mean to study crime from a scientific perspective?  Studying crime scientifically entails using empirical data and research methods to analyze patterns, causes, and impacts of criminal behavior, aiming for a systematic understanding that informs evidence-based interventions and policies. 5. To what degree can criminology legitimately be viewed as an interdisciplinary field?  Criminology is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from fields such as sociology, psychology, law, biology, economics, and more to understand the multifaceted nature of crime, its causes, and its effects on society. Lecture Material: Human Nature and the Definition of Crime 1. Compare and contrast the general views of Hobbes, Rousseau, and Locke concerning whether human beings are more selfish or more prosocial.  Hobbes thought people are mostly selfish , always looking out for themselves and wanting power, so he believed strong rules were needed to keep everyone in line. Rousseau , on the other hand, felt that deep down, humans are actually pretty good and want to help each other, but society messes that up. And Locke , he thought people are a mix of both – we

care about ourselves, but we also know how to work together and make deals. So, he figured government should make sure we all get to keep our rights while still getting along. 2. Describe the general set up of the “prisoner’s dilemma” as well as what research finds about the conditions under which individuals are most or least likely to “rat” on their accomplice.  So, imagine you and a buddy get caught for a crime, but you're kept separate. They give each of you a choice: stay silent or confess. If you both stay quiet, you'll get a lighter sentence, but if one rats out the other, that person gets off easy while the other gets hammered. Research shows people are more likely to rat when they're worried the other person will rat them out, too, or when they think it's their only chance to avoid a harsh punishment. 3. What do a majority of people do when faced with the prisoner’s dilemma and in what way does the answer partly depend on how well they know their accomplice?  Most people tend to rat out their accomplice, especially if they don't know them well or don't trust them. However, if they have a strong bond or trust with their accomplice, they're more likely to stay quiet, hoping the other person will do the same to protect each other. Trust plays a big role here - the more you trust your partner, the more likely you are to stick together. 4. How does research about the prisoner’s dilemma illustrate the need for law in modern society?  By showing that, without clear rules and consequences, individuals may prioritize self- interest, potentially leading to betrayal and chaos. Laws provide a framework for cooperation, deterrence against betrayal, and a means to enforce fairness, fostering social order and stability. 5. Describe the major predictions of consensus theory and conflict theory and describe what the existing research finds about which theory is more correct.  Consensus theory predicts society is based on social harmony through shared values, while conflict theory emphasizes it is based on power struggles and inequalities. Research suggests both theories offer valuable insights, with their relevance depending on the specific social context being examined. 6. Describe the major ways in which criminologists define crime in their research and why they often avoid defining crime simply as the violation of legal statutes.  Criminologists define crime not only as breaking the law but also as behavior that violates societal norms and values, causing harm or disturbance. They avoid solely legal definitions because laws can vary across societies and change over time, so focusing only on legal statutes may overlook harmful behaviors that aren't yet considered illegal or ignore culturally specific norms. Lecture Material: Measuring Crime 1. What are reliability and validity?  In criminology, reliability means that if you measure something, you'll get consistent results each time you measure it. It’s about consistency  Validity, on the other hand, means your measurement actually reflects what you're trying to study accurately, not just some random thing. It’s about accuracy 2. Compare and contrast the three major data sources that criminologists use to study crime. Official data : arrests and convictions. It's reliable because it's documented, but it might miss some crimes that go unreported.

4. Describe what it means for crime to be “socially constructed” and discuss how the socially constructed nature of crime may make it difficult to study crime scientifically. 5. How is civil law different from criminal law? 6. What is INTERPOL and what does it do? 7. Compare and contrast mala in se versus mala prohibita crimes, and give an example of each. 8. How is “crime” different from “criminality?” 9. Describe how at least one crime theory was influenced by its historical context. 10. Describe the role of theory in criminology. 11. How is an association/correlation different from a causal relationship and why does it matter? 12. What are the major characteristics of “good” scientific and criminological theory. 13. What do criminologists mean by level of analysis and what is the difference between ultimate and proximate explanations of crime? 14. Generally speaking, what does ideology mean, and what is at least one good example of a way in which ideology can be a problem in the scientific study of crime? 15. Summarize the argument that Walsh and Hemmens make to suggest that theory is important for good practice and policy, rather than being unrelated to good practice and policy. Reading Material: Walsh and Hemmens, pp. 41-56 1. Explain the relevance of the story at the beginning of the chapter to the issue of measuring crime. 2. What are the three major types of data that criminologists use to measure the extent of crime throughout the U.S.? 3. What is the UCR and what are the main differences between Part I and Part II UCR crimes. 4. What types of data does the FBI collect for Part I crimes and what types of data does the FBI collect for Part II crimes? 5. What is a rate, how is a rate calculated, and why do we calculate rates? 6. Do UCR data suggest that property crimes or violent crimes are more frequent? 7. Do UCR data suggest that property crimes or violent crimes are more likely to result in arrest? 8. What does it mean for a crime to be cleared and in what ways can a crime be cleared? 9. Describe the major problem with asking whether “crime is going up or down.” 10. What are the major problems with UCR data and what are the potential consequences of these problems? 11. What is NIBRS, in what main ways is it similar to the UCR, and in what main ways is it different? 12. What is the NCVS and what major types of data does it provide? 13. What are some of the major problems with data from the NCVS? 14. In what major ways do data from the UCR and NCVS agree and in what major ways do they not? 15. What are self-report surveys, what are their major strengths, and what are their major weaknesses? 16. What types of crime tend to be most underreported in UCR data, in NCVS data, and in self- report survey data?