Philosopher 105 Exam 2

Borrowed from Beccaria the notion that laws should provide “the greatest happiness shared by the greatest number”. Was more interested in the certainty of punishment that in its severity. Classical Theorists viewed individuals as acting as a result of “Free will” and as being motivated by hedonism

Admitted environmental, psychological, and other mitigating circumstances as modifying conditions to classic doctrine. Becker advocated a “Cost/benefit” analysis of crime, reminiscent of hedonistic doctrine.

Argues that individuals freely choose crime based on their estimate of their likelihood of being caught. Cornish and Clarke’s rational choice theory proposes that offenders weigh the opportunities, costs, and benefits of particular crimes. “Just deserts” “Three Strikes your out”

Attempted to determine intelligence and personality based on size and shape of the skull

Begun study of 3,000 English convicts and comparison groups of college students, hospital patients and soldiers. Compared these criminals and noncriminals with respect to physical characteristics, personal histories, and mental qualities. Only differences he discovered were that the criminals in general were shorter, weighed less, and more important were mentally defective.

After a 12 yr. study on 14,000 prisoner and 3,200 college students, firemens, and others led to “Criminals are organically inferior. Crime is the resultant of the impact of environment upon low grade human organisms. It follows that the elimination of crime can be effected only by the extirpation of the physically, mentally, and morally unfit, or by their complete segregation in a socially aseptic environment.

Tracing more than 1,000 descendants of Ada Jukes ( a pseudonym) he found 280 paupers, 60 thieves, 7murderers, 140 criminals, etc.. proof positive he claimed of inherited criminality.

Ignore

Soft, round, plump physiques and tend to be relaxed, easy going and extroverted

Hard and muscularly built, and are aggressive, assertive, extroverted, and action-seekers

Thin and fragile

Modifications in the classical model. special treatment of juvenile offenders, indeterminate sentences for career criminals, extension of the insanity ruling, probation, corrections, and rehabilitation were all positivist contributions

Unconsciously motivated and often due to repression (hiding or sublimation into the unconscious) of personality conflicts and unresolved problems experienced in early childhood (overly harsh toilet training, premature weaning, etc.).

Field that seeks to measure psychological and mental differences between criminals and noncriminals.

(outgoing) personality is more delinquent or criminal