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

rational choice theory

Sociology; Criminology

A perspective which holds that criminality is the result of conscious choice, and which predicts that individuals choose to commit crime when the benefits outweigh the costs of disobeying the law.

peacemaking criminology

Sociology; Criminology

A perspective which holds that crime-control agencies and the citizens they serve should work together to alleviate social problems and human suffering and thus reduce crime.

broken windows thesis

Sociology; Criminology

A perspective on crime causation which holds that physical deterioration in an area leads to increased concerns for personal safety among area residents, and to higher crime rates in that area.

hacker

Sociology; Criminology

A person who views and uses computers as objects for exploration and exploitation.

psychopath or sociopath

Sociology; Criminology

A person with a personality disorder, especially one manifested in aggressively antisocial behavior, which is often said to be the result of a poorly developed superego.