Assignment Task

Short Answer Question 1:

Activity: This activity is a reflection on the “psychopathy test” from tutorial one. You can choose to:

• Take the test yourself
• Test someone you know

Write a short answer response to the following questions

• Describe how the test reflects the assumptions or techniques of positivism
• With reference to at least one of the test questions, *critically* comment on the nature of ‘markers of criminality’
• Comment on the limitations or criticisms of this type of testing

Short Answer Question 2:

Activity: Visit the BOCSAR interactive Crime Mapping Tool,

• Choose one area to focus on (e.g. LGA or suburb),
• Choose and offense category
• Generate either a “rate map” or a “hotspot map”

Write a short answer response to the following questions

• Describe the relationship between place and crime you can observe from this data;
• Identify one concept from the Chicago School theories that you think could apply to ‘explain’ the pattern observed in your map, make clear why the chosen concept has the potential to explain the crime pattern.
• Comment on the usefulness or limitations of the Chicago school theories in application to your data

Short Answer Question 3:

Activity: Choose one of the following examples:

• A university student who engages in academic misconduct (e.g. cheating, plagiarism, collusion)
• High suicide rates during a financial crisis
• The formation of youth gangs
• Chronic drug use amongst homeless populations
• Radicalisation/Joining terrorist groups
• White Colar Crime

Write a short answer response to the following questions

• Describe the relationship between your chosen example of deviance and “Anomie” or ‘Strain’
• Identify which of Merton’s Typology’s is applicable and why?
• Comment on the limitations of Mertons theory, and the potential of Agnews General Strain Theory to “fill the gaps”.