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

Key questions raised last lesson… Are criminals born or made?

Explanations of crime and deviance BIOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGICAL - CESARE LOMBROSSO PSYCHOLOGICAL – HANS EYSENCK SOCIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONALISM MARXISM INTERACTIONISM FEMINISM

A bit if theory for you… Before we move on…

Interactionists Looks at smaller scale social interactions between individuals or small social groups Does not consider the ‘big picture’ All behaviour is based on what we think about others and what they might (or might not) think of us! Howard Becker – Interactionist sociologist, conducted a study called ‘Outsiders’. He believed it gaining a negative label did impact on people but that people have a choice to accept it or not.

Response If a negative response is received it may be believed. They in turn accept that view as true…

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

Now have a go at Task 1 - True or False quiz on your worksheet

GCSE Sociology – Wednesday 19th April 2017 Lesson 19: Learning Aim: To understand the links between social class, gender, ethnicity and crime GCSE Sociology – Wednesday 19th April 2017

Learning Objectives…All students Define and give an example of cultural and material deprivation Explain how Marxism views crime and the working class Define and give an example of the norms of masculinity Define and give an example of the demonisation of women As a recap - Define key terms of ethnic minorities, racism, immigration and victiminisation

Some students will: Make clear connections with class, gender and ethnicity when discussing how social class is linked to crime (essay question)

Starter Make a list of typical male and female crimes. Are there any similaries of differences? Are there more offences for males and females?

So…who commits more crime? Men? Those in poverty? Working class? Young people?

Conviction rates by gender More males commit crime than women – 5% of prison population is female Women tend to commit crimes such as shop lifting

Social Class and crime rates Young, working class males more likely to be prosecuted, convicted and sent to prison. Why? Failure in education Low status - it could be because of cultural and material deprivation….who remembers what these mean? What issue is there with conviction rates….we know that white collar crime is less likely to reported

What can you remember about Marxism What can you remember about Marxism? How do they see the police and the judiciary? Who is in control in society…? Police more likely to focus on working class crime – this is linked to street crime and youth crime Law courts are middle class institutions – favour the middle class Laws protect the rich and property

Victimisation Working class actually more likely to be victims of violent crime and burglary

Why do women commit less crime then men? Socialisation (Feminist argument)– girls expected to be more passive, boys expected to be tough Norms of masculinity – have been blamed for higher rates Opportunity – Girls tend to be more closely supervised (protected). Boys given more freedom to explore Biology – Are boys more susceptible to testosterone and aggression? However…its been argued that this is changing…

Ladette culture A set of norms which encourages some girls to behave like men https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTrOTnL-kyk

Chivalry Factor Is the way that women are treated more favourably by the courts

Demonisation of women Is the way that women who commit certain crimes, which go against the caring nature of females, are presented by the media

Bias against women

Starter - discussion How is ethnicity linked to crime?

Ethnicity and conviction rates Ethnic minority group are over represented in the prison population This would seem to suggest that ethnic minorities are more likely to commit crime. However, we know that nothing is that straight forward in sociology or society!

Why is crime committed by ethnic minorities more likely to be detected?

Is racism the reason for higher conviction rates? Could racism be the reason for higher conviction rates? Paul Gilroy argued that the police are racist. The police have had a troubled relationship with some ethnic communities since 1970s The Stephen Lawrence case highlighted the issue of police racism in the 1990s Do you remember institutional racism. The Macpherson Report?

Are stereotypes to blames for conviction rates Do ethnic minorities suffer from labelling by the police and courts? Are moral panics to blame? The issue of immigration and the negativity that surrounds it. Consider the media representation of immigration Ethnic minority groups are often victims of crime – live in poorer areas, more risk of poverty and crime.

Lesson 20: Official statistics and crime

GCSE Sociology – Thursday 20th April 2017 Lesson 20: Learning Aim: To understand why sociologist treat official statistics on crime cautiously GCSE Sociology – Thursday 20th April 2017

Is crime getting worse?

Official statistics and crime In recent years the trend has been to show crime rates falling overall. A the same time public feeling may be that crime is getting worse. This may be because tabloid newspapers tend to focus on the sensational

Where do official statistics come from?

The main source of statistics is from crimes reported to the police The main source of statistics is from crimes reported to the police! They also then need to be recorded by the police in order to appear in official statistics Sociologists argue that crime statistics are socially constructed

Why do the government ask the police to collect official statistics on crime?

Reported crimes The government need these to decide where to target police resources in the future. The police want to show the public they are doing a good job in reducing crime.

Why are some crimes not reported?

Unreported crime Some crimes may not be seen as serious by the victim They may believe the police wont do anything Victims may be scared to tell the police Crimes might be stressful for victim – sexual assault

Problems with the way that crime is recorded When a crime is reported the police have to record it for it to be counted Since the 1990s, Police forces are under pressure to hit targets and reduce crime – they are judged on this!

Task 1: How might the following affect official statistics on crime? Institutional racism Ageism Chivalry factor Moral panics Labelling And any other sociological ideas you can think of

Task 2: What would Marxism, Interactionism, Feminism and Functioanlism say about official statistics on crime?