6 Social Factors and Crime Free Online FlashCards

How do social conditions relate to individual offending?

Social conditions can change the probability of crime, but they do not determine whether any particular person will offend.

What do strain theories propose?

Strain theories propose that blocked opportunities and persistent disadvantage can create pressure to pursue valued goals through illegal means or respond to frustration.

What does social disorganization theory examine?

It examines how concentrated poverty, residential turnover, and weakened local institutions can hinder social ties and collective responses to problems.

Which aspects of family life can influence behavior?

Care, supervision, conflict, stability, and support matter; family structure alone is not a reliable explanation of crime.

How can social conditions affect victimization?

People can face greater exposure to violence or property crime because of where they live, work, travel, or spend time.

What does criminalization mean?

Criminalization is the process through which behavior is defined, policed, and punished as crime.

What can buffer neighborhood and family-related risks?

Supportive schools, trusted adults, stable housing, and community organizations can buffer risks created by hardship or weak local networks.

How do relative and absolute deprivation differ?

Relative deprivation is perceived disadvantage compared with others; absolute deprivation is material hardship.

What is collective efficacy?

Collective efficacy is residents’ mutual trust and willingness to act together toward shared goals.

How can neighborhood opportunity and exposure affect crime?

Neighborhood settings can affect opportunities for offenses and exposure to victimization; these are situational patterns, not fixed traits of residents.

How does social learning theory explain behavior?

People learn behaviors and attitudes through interaction, including observing others, receiving rewards or encouragement, and absorbing definitions of rule-breaking.

How do risk factors differ from protective factors?

Risk factors are associated with a greater likelihood of harm; protective factors can reduce or buffer that risk.