Week 4: Integrated and Applied Theories
For your opening post, answer ONE of the following questions. Your first post is due by WEDNESDAY. Include any lingering questions you have about the integrated theory readings and lecture or include a question for your peers, to help them think through the material more deeply. Cite your sources, please! Students lose points for not citing their sources. It is very important to cite at graduate level. Your work is not opinion; your writing/work comes from empirical and other academic sources. Personal experiences are permitted, as long as you answer the question prompts.
1. Why would the integration of theories be a good development in criminology? Why do some individuals oppose theoretical integration? What is your view on theoretical integration? Explain. Describe a policy that reflects integrated theory. This policy could reflect some of the integrated theories discussed in the readings and lecture or could reflect your ideas of integrating other theories we’ve discussed so far. Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.
2. What is meant by reciprocal effects? Give an example of a reciprocal effect. How did social support theory add to the field of criminology? What is unique about this theory? What are the policy implications of social support theory? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.
3.How does Agnews way of integration differ from the theoretical integration done by the other authors discussed this week? What theories does Agnew draw on for his theory? What are the major life domains Agnew examines? Is he missing any other major domain? What is the web of crime? How do these different domains interact with one another? Give an example of a lagged effect of crime. Why do most causes of crime have a nonlinear effect? How is Agnews theory a general theory of crime? What major policy implications can come from Agnews general theory? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.
4 . How do morality and self-control interact in Wikstroms situational action theory (SAT)? How do morality and moral contexts interact in Wikstroms SAT? How does Wikstroms SAT integrate various criminological theories? How do propensity and exposure change over the life course in Wikstroms SAT? How could crime be prevented using Wikstroms SAT? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.
5. What is broken windows theory? How would you empirically test broken windows theory? Give examples of how you have seen broken windows theory being applied today and whether it is effective. What are some unintended consequences that could come from zero-tolerance or quality-of-life policing? How do high rates of incarceration impact neighborhoods? Why do you think hot-spot policing reduces crime? What is restorative justice? Could it be used for all types of crime? Why or why not? Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.
6.What is situational crime prevention? How does situational crime prevention theory differ from the traditional theories of crime? How do you use situational crime prevention theory in your everyday life? Why does situational crime prevention theory not really focus on the criminal justice system? Explain why there are hot spots of crime. What are some of the objections associated with situational crime prevention theory, and how would you get around these objections?
7. What is environmental corrections? How does environmental corrections differ from traditional probation/parole? How does environmental corrections address the opportunity structure for crime? Why is more emphasis being placed on rehabilitation today than in the past? Why do Farrington and Welsh argue that prevention is better than rehabilitation? Give examples of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention programs. Which do you think is most effective and why. Make an argument, provide evidence, cite your sources.
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