Exploring Crime Theories: from Biological to Sociological Perspectives

1. Before we start: A quick check… • Are you wearing your lanyards?

2. Last lesson - What did we learn? • folk devils • youth crime • street Crime • corporate crime • white collar crime • occupational crime recap on worksheet!

3. Learning Aim: To understand non-sociological explanations and sociological explanations of crime and deviance Lesson 18: GCSE Sociology – Monday 27th March 2017

4. Learning Objectives…All students • Define and give an example of a non-sociological theories of crime, biological/psychological, e.g. genes • Define and give an example of a sociological theory of crime, e.g. labelling theory

5. Some students will: Explain whether socialisation is an important cause of crime

6. A question for you to consider… • Are criminals born or made? • If a person is influenced to be criminal by their genes – is it their fault?

7. Are we born…

8. From Unit 1…What is the…Nature Theory • The idea that we act as we do because we are born that way!

9. Biological explanations of crime Lombroso - a late 19th century Italian army doctor. He worked with criminals and noticed their physical features. He identified distinct features with these criminals: large ears, jaws, flat nostrils, dark skin, and high threshold to pain.

10. This might seem far fetched now!However, other theories have linked chemical imbalances to peoples criminal behaviour. This is taken seriously, drugs such as lithium are used to treat bi-polar disorder

11. GenesThe basic unit of DNA that decides what your physical characteristics areInvestigation into genes – looking for genes that cause certain behaviour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcaDSJ1LplQ

12. Psychological explanations • Psychological….Ideas about how the mind works • Hans Eysenck – extroverts more likely to be criminals than introverts • Therefore personality is seen as linked to criminal behaviour

13. In summary… Biological and psychological theories focus on the individual and their characteristics as the explanation for criminal behaviour

14. Sociologists emphasise nurturewhen explaining crime.

15. From Unit 1…What is nurture theory? • The idea that we act as we do because we are taught how to behave by others

16. Labelling Theory Sees individuals as influenced by the labels other people give us. E.g. If a person is labelled a ‘thief, they may live up to that label. This is called self-fulfilling prophecy

17. Deviant career • The path that a person labelled a criminal follows.

18. Self-fulfilling prophecy

19. Subcultures • Unit 1 – culture is a shared, learned way of life • A subculture is another different way of life within that • They have different norms and values from the rest of society • Some subcultures may be criminal

20. Strain Theory • This approach describes the idea that the pressure to succeed encourages people to turn to crime • Robert K. Merton thought that crime took place when there was little opportunity for people to achieve their goals. People are socialised to want to be rich, have a big house and car. Some cannot achieve this through legal means. The overwhelming desire puts a strain on individuals, putting pressure on them to commit crime

21. Status Frustration Albert Cohan - studied American society. Strong value on placed success. Working class people may fail to be successful- therefore they get frustrated so they invent their own sub culture with opposite norms and values. Gaining respect and success in the subculture this may cause them to take part in criminal life styles.

22. Al Capone - gangster Italian immigrant. He faced discrimination and was ambitious to succeed. To achieve this he got involved in a criminal subculture of organised crime

23. Modern Day Delinquents are those who are not gaining recognition through normal ways, e.g. at school, in a sports team etc so get recognition from peers for being rebellious

24. Stretch and Challenge Question • Explain whether socialisation is an important cause of crime (10)

25. Answer… • Crime and Deviance occur as a result of a failure of socialisation, a failure of norms and values being transferred properly. E.g. For boys without a father around can lead to anti-social behaviour. • Problem children tend to grow into problem adults and then produce problem children. Peer Group influences norms and values more than primary socialisation (family). • Lack of opportunity – e.g. poor education, no jobs – causes people to lose hope but still clamour for status that can only be achieved through crime.

26. Can also talk about status frustration, strain theory and labelling theory • If you had to give a counter argument…what could you say?

27. During Easter – you can revise the final elements… • Gender and crime • Social class and crime • Ethnicity and crime • Crime and statistics

28. Who Commits Crime? • Gender and Crime • Why do women commit 5X less crime then men? • Socialisation – girls expected to be more passive, boys expected to be tough • Opportunity – Girls tend to be more closely supervised (protected). Boys given more freedom • Biology – Are boys more susceptible to testosterone and aggression?