Dissuasion of a potential adversary from initiating an attack or conflict by the threat of retaliation.
A strategy of punishment associated with the Classical School. Deterrence can either be specific, punishing an individual so that she won't commit a crime again, or general, punishing an individual to set an example to society, so that others will not commit the same crime. For the Classical School, punishment was primarily justified in terms of general deterrence. See also Retribution, Rehabilitation, and Incapacitation.
the act or process of discouraging actions or preventing occurrences by instilling fear or doubt or anxiety
The idea that fear of punishment will prevent crimes. For example, some people might be deterred from robbing banks because they know that bank robbers go to jail.
The prevention from action by fear of the consequences. Deterrence is a state of mind brought about by the existence of a credible threat of unacceptable counteraction. (JCS Pub 1-O2)
The idea that the purpose of punishment is to persuade others not to commit moral or legal crimes.
Conditional commitment to retaliate or to exact retribution if another party fails to behave in a desired, compliant manner. Deterrence concentrates exclusively on negative sanctions or threats.
the policy of maintaining a large military force and arsenal to discourage any potential aggressor from taking actions; states commit themselves to punish an aggressor state (52) see also: game theory, prisoners' dilemma
A goal of criminal sentencing which seeks to prevent others from committing crimes similar to the one for which an offender is being sentenced.
Actions that are designed to prevent crime by threatening criminal penalties. See also General Deterrence and Specific Deterrence.
Deterrence is a theory from behavioural psychology about preventing or controlling actions or behavior through fear of punishment or retribution. This theory of criminology is shaping the criminal justice system of the United States and various other countries. It strongly overpowers other theories of human behavor in the corrections industries, such as rehabilitiation and education.