Criminology

Criminology

The scientific study of the nature and causes of crime, the behavior of criminals, and the criminal-justice system.

Industry: Sociology

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Criminology

social responsibility perspective

Sociology; Criminology

A viewpoint which holds that individuals are fundamentally responsible for their own behavior, and which maintains that they choose crime over other, more law-abiding, courses of action.

participant observation

Sociology; Criminology

A variety of strategies in data gathering in which the researcher observes a group by participating, to varying degrees, in the activities of the group.

dramaturgical perspective

Sociology; Criminology

A theoretical point of view which depicts human behavior as centered around the purposeful management of interpersonal impressions.

Daubert standard

Sociology; Criminology

A test of scientific acceptability applicable to the gathering of evidence in criminal cases.

anomie theory

Sociology; Criminology

A sociological approach which posits a disjuncture between socially and subculturally sanctioned means and goals as the cause of criminal behavior.

moral enterprise

Sociology; Criminology

A term which encompasses all the efforts a particular interest group makes to have its sense of propriety enacted into law.

penal couple

Sociology; Criminology

A term which describes the relationship between victim and criminal. Also, the two individuals most involved in the criminal act–the offender and the victim.