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. GCSE Sociology – Monday 27th March 2017
Lesson 18:
Learning Aim: To understand non-sociological explanations and sociological explanations of crime and deviance
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
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. Genes The basic unit of DNA that decides what your physical characteristics are Investigation into genes – looking for genes that cause certain behaviour

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 nurture when 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. Person lives up to that label
Labelled a thief
Person lives up to that label
Person caught shop lifting may go on to commit worse crimes if they accept that label
Deviant career –they have accepted the label of thief or criminal
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?