Defined as an
act against the
law and implies
a punishment or
treatment to
avoid someone
re-offending.
Stealing, murder
and fraud are
against the law and
carry a punishment.
They are against
social norms and it
represents what a
particular culture
thinks is wrong.
What is considered wrong
in one country may not be in
another e.g. hitting a child.
Recidivism
Involves someone repeating a
behaviour or crime for which
they have been punished or
treated.
Returning to a
repeating a
behaviour.
For example if someone convicted of
burglary and punished is freed after the
appropriate length of time and then steals
again this will increase recidivism
figures.
Antisocial behaviour
Behaviour that is not
necessarily against the
law but that the majority of
people do not like and do
not approve off.
Can turn into or be crime.
Often behaviour that
affects people
negatively.
Often used for
aggressive
behaviour.
Stereotyping
Fixed, often simplistic
generalisation about a particular
group or class of people.
Often negative, unflattering
and may underlie prejudice
or discrimination.
People are
essentially cognitive
misers and so form
stereotypes of
others so there is
greater predictability
of those around us.
Eye witness testimony
An account people give of
an incident they have
witnessed.
In criminological
psychology an
eyewitness will
provide police with a
statement about a
crime they've
witnessed.
Modelling
Way of learning by
imitating the behaviour of
others.
Individuals will observe criminal
behaviour being demonstrated in
others around them or via media.
Remembers the behaviour and
reproduces it if theres motivation to do
so.
Cognitive miser
Refers to idea that only a
small amount of info is
actively perceived by
individuals when making
decisions.
Many cognitive shortcuts are
used instead to attend relevant
information and arrive at a
decision.