External Deterrence
Discouraging crime through external consequences like arrest or punishment, rather than through internal moral beliefs.
A crime-prevention approach that relies on external consequences—such as arrest, imprisonment, or fines—to discourage illegal behavior. It assumes people avoid wrongdoing primarily to escape punishment, not because they believe the act is morally wrong. Contrasts with internalized moral constraint, where people refrain from crime due to personal ethical values.
What this means in real life
A teenager avoids shoplifting because they fear getting arrested and going to jail, not because they believe stealing is wrong. The threat of external punishment, not internal morality, stops the behavior.
What it isn’t
It is not the same as rehabilitation or reform. External deterrence aims only to prevent crime through fear of consequences; it does not attempt to change a person's values or help them become a better person.
Commonly misused online
Often conflated with 'harsh punishment' or 'tough-on-crime' policies. External deterrence is actually a neutral concept describing *any* system relying on external consequences—it doesn't require severity, only that punishment is the primary motivator.