PSYC3060| Forensic Psychology

• What is the definition of punishment?

  Punishment is the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offence.
• How does revenge differ from punishment?

  Revenge involves vengeful feelings and a desire to harm someone, while punishment is a formal penalty for an offence.
• What are the 7 features of punishment according to Walker (1991)?


  1. Involves infliction of something unwelcome (undesirable)
  2. Infliction is intentional and done for a reason
  3. Those who order it have the right to do so
  4. Occasion for infliction is an infringement of law
  5. The punished person has a voluntary part in the infringement
  6. The punisher's reason offers justification
  7. Belief or intention of the person who orders it
• What is the first feature of punishment?


  It involves the infliction of something assumed to be unwelcome to the recipient.
• Why is punishment inflicted according to the second feature?


  To protect society, prevent future offending, rehabilitate, and deter others.
• Who is regarded as having the right to order punishment?

  The judge.
• What triggers the infliction of punishment according to the fourth feature?


  An action or omission that infringes a law, rule, or custom.
• What does the fifth feature of punishment state about the person punished?


  The person punished has played a voluntary part in the infringement.
• What is required for the punisher's reason to justify punishment?


  The punisher's reason must offer justification for the punishment.
• What does the seventh feature of punishment emphasize?


  It emphasizes the belief or intention of the person who orders something to be done.
• What are the main theories of punishment?

  • Retribution: punishment is deserved and should counterbalance harm done.
  • Utilitarian Theory: punishment is justified by its anticipated future consequences.
  • Humanitarian Approach: focuses on offenders' backgrounds and rehabilitation.
• What does the retribution theory of punishment state?


  The harm done to society by an offender should be counterbalanced by proportionate punishment.
• What is the utilitarian theory of punishment based on?


  It is based on the anticipated future consequences of punishment.
• What is the utility of punishment according to the utilitarian theory?


  It aims to reduce the frequency of offenses and rehabilitate offenders.
• What is deterrence in the context of punishment?


  Deterrence is the action of discouraging an action through instilling doubt or fear of consequences.
• What are the two types of deterrence mentioned?

  Individual deterrence and general deterrence.
• What does the humanitarian approach to punishment focus on?


  It focuses on the backgrounds of offenders, including social and economic factors.
• Why is rehabilitation important in the humanitarian approach?


  Because it considers that offenders may have been childhood victims or criminally abused.
• What are false positives in the context of the humanitarian approach?


  False positives refer to incorrect assumptions about offenders' backgrounds or behaviors.
• What are the key conclusions regarding punishment theories?


  • Punishment serves various purposes: retribution, deterrence, and rehabilitation.
  • Understanding offenders' backgrounds is crucial for effective punishment.
  • Different theories provide frameworks for justifying punishment.
• What are the categories of crime theories?

  Individual, Group, Community, Societal
• What are the levels of crime theories?

  1. Individual Level: Characteristics of individual criminals
  2. Group and Socialization: Peer and family influences
  3. Community Level: Different areas provide different opportunities for crime
  4. Societal/Macro Level: Society structured to create crime
• What does Social Learning Theory emphasize?

  Observational learning and imitation
• What is the key concept of Social Learning Theory?

  "Monkey see, monkey do"
• What is vicarious learning in Social Learning Theory?


  Learning consequences by observing others
• What study is associated with Bandura's Social Learning Theory?

  Bobo Doll Study
• What are some reinforcements that increase criminal behavior?

  Money, social approval, sex, social inclusion
• What is a limitation of Social Learning Theory?

  Unclear why criminal behavior is sometimes learned
• What does the Intelligence Hypothesis suggest?

  Low intelligence leads to poor learning skills
• What are the detrimental effects of low intelligence according to the Intelligence Hypothesis?

  1. Poor marketable skills/unemployment
  2. Poor ability to avoid risks
  3. Get caught easily
• What did Cullen et al. (1997) find about intelligence and crime?

  Intelligence is weakly correlated with crime
• What does Self-Regulation Theory focus on?

  Ability to control behavior predicts aggression
• What did Baumeister & Heatherton (1996) study?

  Failure to control impulses leads to aggression
• What did De Wall et al. (2007) find about self-regulation?

  Self-regulation ability predicts intimate partner violence
• What are prefrontal deficits associated with according to Raine (2002)?

  Aggressive and antisocial behavior
• What biological factors affect criminal behavior?

  Intelligence, self-regulation, aggressiveness
• What hormone is linked to aggressiveness?

  Testosterone
• What did Forsman & Langstrom (2012) find about genetics and violence?

  Genetics may link adult violence across generations
• What is the heritability of aggression?

  Approximately 50%
• How do genes impact aggression?

  Via hormones and neurotransmitters