word
Deterrence Theory
deh-TER-ents THEE-oh-ree
/dɪˈtɛrəns ˈθiːəriː/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
deterrencetheory
Dictionary meaning
The criminological theory that the threat or application of punishment discourages potential offenders from committing crimes; distinguished as specific deterrence (affecting the punished individual) and general deterrence (affecting society at large)
Examples
- Deterrence theory predicts that increasing the certainty of arrest will reduce crime more effectively than increasing the severity of sentences.
- Classical criminologist Cesare Beccaria laid the foundations of deterrence theory in his 1764 treatise On Crimes and Punishments.
Synonyms: classical deterrence, rational choice theory, crime prevention by threat
Pronunciation tips
Stress the second syllable: deh-TER; 'deterrence' has three syllables
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