PERCEPTUAL DETERRENCE RESEARCH
PAPER
Suggestions re Jeremy Bentham
Influence
1.Review
An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation by Bentham.
(Monroe B1574.B3 16 1948) You are urged to browse through the book in hard
copy just to sense the marvel of eighteenth century political writings.Then,
if you must go on line, I found it at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Bentham-Project/Bentham
is well represented elsewhere on the web through regular search avenues.
2.Look
in the indices of any three Criminology text books and read what the authors
have to say about his views. (ie, Criminology and Justice, by Lydia
Voigt and Wm. E. Thornton, Jr., pp 137-138))
3.Do
not expect to find any reference to perceptual deterrence, here.
4.Concentrate
on any reference to his beliefs on human nature and the rational-man thought
and/or decision process.
5.Note
any references to the ‘social learning process’, and the pain/pleasure
calculus used in the decision to offend!Recall
in class our discussion of risk/reward and pain/pleasure, and its influence
on criminal behavior.
6.Reflect
on the notion of things that may discourage offending, and thereby, modify
crimogenic behaviors.
7.Don’t
get hung up (waste time) on Bentham’s other teachings about penology and
legal sanctions.We’re talking about
Classical Criminology here, and you’re free to make your own interpretations
about the applicability of his thoughts to the crime deterrence and offender-behavior
materials covered in our classes.There
are no absolutes or correct answers to search for in this project.
Note:It
is better to submit late outlines, than no, outlines!
End