A poacher who stops hunting after hearing about a harsh penalty exemplifies which concept?

The correct answer is general deterrence. This concept refers to the idea that individuals can be discouraged from committing crimes if they are aware of the potential consequences, particularly harsh penalties. In the scenario presented, the poacher stops hunting upon hearing about a strict punishment, which illustrates how the fear of consequences influences behavior.

General deterrence operates on the principle that when the public understands that there are severe repercussions for criminal actions, it can deter not only the individual in question but also others who might consider similar actions. This concept is fundamental in discussions about crime prevention and the effectiveness of legal penalties in shaping societal behavior.

In contrast, specific deterrence would focus on deterring the individual who already committed a crime based on their past actions; egoism relates more to self-interested behavior rather than societal influences on actions; and anomie describes a state of normlessness that may lead to deviance, but is not directly tied to the awareness of penalties for specific actions.