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Polling data have consistently shown that Americans believe that crime in the U.S. is out of control--despite the fact that many types of crime, including violent offenses, have been relatively stable or have even decreased over the past several years. Such beliefs exert a powerful control over how people choose to live their lives: Women, for instance, may be less willing to venture outdoors at night. The fear of crime, too, can change our thinking about crime: Would you be more or less likely to support a "three strikes and you're out" crime policy based on your perceptions and experiences? Criminology is an exciting branch of sociology whereby criminologists attempt to scientifically study the making of laws, what happens when laws are broken, and how people react to the breaking of laws. As we move through the course, you will notice that criminological thought often blends both sociology and psychology together in its own pointed studies to explain why it is that people act the way they do.
COURSE FORMAT: Lecture
Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS SOC Grading Mode: Graded
Prerequisites: SOC151 Links to Web Resources For This Course.
Last Updated on MAR-30-2006
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459