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SOC305 Myths and Misconceptions about Crime

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Myths and Misconceptions about Crime
Name: Janice Ketchum
SOC305: Crime & Society
Instructor: Nadine Acevedo
Date: June 16, 2014

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Abstract
Possible descriptions of criminals in society
Over time, society has come to adopt certain stereotypes about crime and criminals in
general. These are mental representations that are etched in people’s minds regarding the
members of a group or type of people. Crime can be defined as an act that is harmful to an
individual, community or state and punishable by law. While most criminals tend to possess
certain identifiable traits, there are some criminal offenses that may not be open to these
individuals.
Possible descriptions provided by say a hundred people on what constitutes or what a
criminal is pay homage to this. They also show the general information on concepts that people
associate with crime. It is without doubt that criminals are viewed negatively in society and the
traits, personalities and social characters they are attributed to are also largely negative.
Criminals are thought to be unfriendly, hostile and violent. Some people are likely to tell
you that their definition of a criminal is someone with a lot of scary scars, tattoos and marks on
their faces reminiscent of past criminal experience. They are perceived to be uneducated, poor
and shoddy in appearance. Some of these people identify increased criminal behavior to gangs.
These are depictions of your everyday, street criminal. However, not all criminals essentially
have an aggressive, anti-social trait inherent in them.
Definition of Crime in Society
It is virtually impossible to assess a person’s personality and character by their physical
appearance only. In great contrast, a substantial deal of criminal perpetrators is individuals with a
great deal of power and status. Human beings have assumed a psychological mechanism that

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Myths and Misconceptions about Crime Name: Janice Ketchum SOC305: Crime & Society Instructor:? Nadine?Acevedo Date: June 16, 2014 Abstract Possible descriptions of criminals in society Over time, society has come to adopt certain stereotypes about crime and criminals in general. These are mental representations that are etched in people's minds regarding the members of a group or type of people. Crime can be defined as an act that is harmful to an individual, community or state and punishable by law. While most criminals tend to possess certain identifiable traits, there are some criminal offenses that may not be open to these individuals. Possible descriptions provided by say a hundred people on what constitutes or what a criminal is pay homage to this. They also show the general information on concepts that people associate with crime. It is without doubt that criminals are viewed negatively in society and the traits, personalities and social characters they are attributed to are also largely negative. Criminals are thought to be unfriendly, hostile and violent. Some people are likely to tell you that their definition of a criminal is someone with a lot of scary scars, tattoos and marks on their faces reminiscent of past c ...
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