deterrence

de·ter·rence

D0171400 (dĭ-tûr′əns, -tŭr′-)n.1. The act or a means of deterring.2. Measures taken by a state or an alliance of states to prevent hostile action by another state.

de•ter•rence

(dɪˈtɜr əns, -ˈtʌr-, -ˈtɛr-)

n. the act of deterring, esp. of deterring a nuclear attack by the capability for retaliation. [1860–65]

deterrence

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.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	deterrence - a negative motivational influencedisincentiverational motive - a motive that can be defended by reasoning or logical argument
	2.	deterrence - a communication that makes you afraid to try somethingdeterment, intimidationdiscouragement - the expression of opposition and disapproval
	3.	deterrence - the act or process of discouraging actions or preventing occurrences by instilling fear or doubt or anxietyinterference, hinderance, hindrance - the act of hindering or obstructing or impedingdiscouragement - the act of discouraging; "the discouragement of petty theft"nuclear deterrence - the military doctrine that an enemy will be deterred from using nuclear weapons as long as he can be destroyed as a consequence; "when two nations both resort to nuclear deterrence the consequence could be mutual destruction"

deterrence

noun prevention, obstruction, inhibition, hindrance, disincentive, discouragement, dissuasion policies of nuclear deterrence

deterrence

nounThe act of preventing:determent, forestallment, obviation, preclusion, prevention.

Translations

Abschreckungdissuasion

Deterrence

A theory that criminal laws are passed with well-defined punishments to discourage individual criminal defendants from becoming repeat offenders and to discourage others in society from engaging in similar criminal activity

Deterrence is one of the primary objects of the Criminal Law. Its primary goal is to discourage members of society from committing criminal acts out of fear of punishment. The most powerful deterrent would be a criminal justice system that guaranteed with certainty that all persons who broke the law would be apprehended, convicted, and punished, and would receive no personal benefit from their wrongdoing. However, it is unrealistic to believe that any criminal justice system could ever accomplish this goal, no matter how many law enforcement resources were dedicated to achieving it.

As a result, philosophers, criminologists, judges, lawyers, and others have debated whether and to what extent any criminal justice system actually serves as a deterrent. Deterrence requires the would-be criminal to possess some degree of reflective capacity before the crime is committed, at least enough reflection to consider the possible consequences of violating the law if caught.

Since many crimes are committed during "the heat of the moment" when an individual's reflective capacities are severely compromised, most observers agree that some crimes simply cannot be deterred. Individuals who commit crimes for the thrill of "getting away with it" and outwitting law enforcement officials probably cannot be deterred either. In fact, such individuals may only be tempted and encouraged by law enforcement claims of superior crime-prevention and crime-solving skills.

Cross-references

Criminology; Justification; Motive.

deterrence

noun

Synonyms for deterrence

noun prevention

Synonyms

prevention
obstruction
inhibition
hindrance
disincentive
discouragement
dissuasion

Synonyms for deterrence

noun the act of preventing

Synonyms

determent
forestallment
obviation
preclusion
prevention

Synonyms for deterrence

noun a negative motivational influence

Synonyms

disincentive

Related Words

rational motive

noun a communication that makes you afraid to try something

Synonyms

determent
intimidation

Related Words

discouragement

noun the act or process of discouraging actions or preventing occurrences by instilling fear or doubt or anxiety

Related Words

interference
hinderance
hindrance
discouragement
nuclear deterrence