Criminology: Unit 2 ~ criminological theories

• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  What must you cover in the exam?

  In the exam, you must cover deviant behaviour, criminal behaviour, definitions and sanctions
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  What is the social definition of criminal behaviour?

  If society has named an act as ‘criminal behaviour’, it os viewed as that.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  What is the legal definition of criminal behaviour?

  behaviour that would break the law and for which you are punished by the legal system.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Give some examples of criminal behaviour

  Fraud, Theft, Burglary, Assault
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  What are the two elements a crime must have?

  An Actus Reus - the guilty act

  A Mens Rea - the guilty mind (intention)
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Give a scenario and apply the two elements it must contain for it to be a crime.

  Person A takes a gun and deliberately shoots person B, person B dies.

  Mens Rea - the intention to kill

  Actus Reus - the act of shooting
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Explain what cautions are and what type of sanction they are.

  A caution is a non-court sanction and they are administered by the police for minor crimes, eg. graffiti on a bus shelter. You must admit to the offence and agree to be cautioned or you could be arrested. A caution is not a criminal conviction.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Explain what conditional cautions are and what type of sanction they are.

  A conditional caution is a non-court sanction. They are given by the police but, you must agree to specific rules and restrictions.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Explain what penalty notices are and what type of caution they are.

  A penalty notice is a non-court sanction and they are given by the police for disorderly behaviour. You can only get a penalty notice if your 18 or over.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Explain what custodial sentences are and what type of caution they are.

  A custodial sentence is a court sanction and they are given by a judge. You immediately get sent to prison if given a custodial sentence. There are mandatory and discretionary sentences.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Explain what community sentences are and what type of caution they are.

  A community sentence is a court sanction and is given by a judge. It can be a combination of unpaid work, probation etc. Drug testing and treatment is also part of procedure.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Explain what fines are and what type of caution they are

  A fine is a court sanction and it can be given by the police of a judge. The amount depends on the seriousness of the offence as well as the financial state of the offender.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Define deviance and give examples of deviance.

  Deviance is behaviour that goes against dominant social norms and individuals receive disapproval for it. Examples of deviance are admired, odd or bad behaviour.
• AC1.1 - Criminal behaviour and deviance

  Give some examples of informal sanctions.

  Some examples are frowning upon, name calling, parents grounding their children or detention.
• AC1.2 - Explain the social construction of criminality

  What affects the social construction of criminality?

  Laws change in different places. This can result in different treatment in different countries.
• AC1.2 — Explain the social construction of criminality.

  How are laws applied to society?

  Rule of law states everyone is subject to the law and it should be equally applied to all.
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  What structure must you follow when writing answers?

  Definition

  Theorist

  Date

  Link to crime

  Example/ Case study

  Relate to scenario
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  Explain XYY theory and what type of theory it is.

  XYY theory is a genetic theory. This theory suggests some crimes may be linked to chromosomal abnormality. Jacob et al (1965) suggested men with XYY chromosome were more aggressive than XY men. Extra chromosome creates condition, ‘Super Males’.
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  Give an example of a man who suffered from XYY syndrome.

  John Wayne Gacy was a serial killer who suffered from XYY syndrome. 29 bodies were found in his house. Died by lethal injection in 1994.
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  Explain what twin studies are and what type of theory they are.

  Twin studies are a genetic theory. Twin studies believe inheritable traits may increase the risk for criminal behaviour. Johannes Lange (1929) performed one of the earliest twin studies. He found identical twins showed a much higher degree of concordance than DZ twins for criminal behaviour.
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  Explain what adoption studies are and what type of theory they are.

  Adoption studies are a genetic theory. Adoption studies look at the impact of nurture on children who are raised by non-biological parents. If they are more similar to biological parent than adoptive parent, there could be a genetic explanation. Mednick et al (1994) found no relationship between no. of convictions of adoptive parents and their adopted children.
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  Explain what ‘face’ theory is and what type of theory it is.

  ‘Face’ theory was developed by Cesare Lombroso. He argued that the criminal is separate species, a species between modern and primitive humans. He claimed those who committed crimes had primitive features, eg. high cheekbones, large ears. ’Face’ theory is a physiological theory.
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  Explain what ‘body type‘ theory is and what type of theory it is.

  ‘Body type’ theory was developed by William Sheldon, he made a link between criminality and a persons body shape. Sheldon put forward 3 fundamental body types: endomorphic ~ fat and soft, ectomorphic ~ thin and fragile, and mesomorphic ~ muscular and hard. Many criminals are mesomorphic. This a physiological theory.
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  Explain what ‘brain abnormality’ is and what type of theory it is.

  ‘Brain abnormality’ is damage to the pre-frontal cortex which could cause altered behaviour. Raine et al (1994) studied the brains of impulsive killers and found that damage to the PFC was responsible for this behaviour. This is a physiological theory.
• AC2.1 - Biological theories of criminality

  Explain what neurochemical theory is and what type of theory it is.

  The brains chemistry can be influenced by diet, low blood sugar levels etc. Some studies show that low levels of serotonin are linked to higher aggression. Scerbo and Raine (1993) conducted a meta-analysis on 29 studies into anti-social adults and children, finding low levels of serotonin in all. This is a physiological theory.
• AC2.2 - Describe individualistic theories of criminality

  What is social learning theory and what is the name of theorist that developed SLT.

  SLT believes people learn by watching the behaviour of others. Albert Bandura conducted a series of experiments involving a bobo doll.
• AC2.2 - Describe individualistic theories of criminality

  Where can observational learning take place?

  In the family, In peer groups, TV, Books and Music.
• AC2.2 - Describe individualistic theories of criminality

  What did Freud believe about human behaviour?

  He believed our behaviour is determined by the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.
• AC2.2 - Describe individualistic theories of criminality

  Explain what the three main factors are in psychodynamic theory.

  ID - driven by the pleasure principle (bad)

  Ego - Wants to satisfy ID’s desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways.

  SuperEgo - Moral standards and ideas that we acquire from our parents and society (good)
• AC2.2 - Describe individualistic theories of criminality

  What is attachment theory and who is the theorist that developed this idea?

  Attachment theory, which was developed by John Bowlby (1944), looked into the anxiety and stress that children experience when separated from their primary caregiver.
• AC2.2 - Describe individualistic theories of criminality

  What is ‘personality type’ theory and who developed this theory?

  ‘Personality type’ theory was developed by Hans Eysenck. He believed certain personality types are more likely to commit crime.
• Biological explanations look at how genetics or brain chemistry may influence an individuals likelihood of committing crime.
• AC2.2 - Describe individualistic theories of criminality

  What are the two dimensions of personality and their characteristics.

  Extraversion/Introversion - Extroverts can become bored quickly, Introverts are in control of their emotions.

  Neuroticism/Stability - Neurotics are anxious and irrational, Stable is calm.
• AC2.2 - Describe individualistic theories of criminality

  What personality type is more likely to offend according to Hans Eysenck?

  Anyone who is extrovert, neurotic and psychotic are more likely to offend, hard to control their immature impulses.
• AC2.3 - Describe sociological theories of criminality

  Explain what social structure is.

  This theory believes that a disadvantaged social class is the primary cause of crime, and crime begins in youth. Crime is a result of unfavourable conditions in a community, eg. unemployment.
• AC2.3 - Describe sociological theories of criminality

  What do Functionalists believe about society?

  They believe society is similar to a human body, there are various pillars that must function together to avoid chaos:

  Education, Religion, Family, Economy and Politics.
• AC2.3 - Describe sociological theories of criminality

  What do functionalists believe about crime?

  Crime is inevitable as not every member of society will agree with collective consciousness. Crime strengthens social cohesion.
• AC2.3 - Describe sociological theories of criminality

  What would be a good example of collective consciousness being present in society?

  When Karen Mathews was ‘kidnapped’, she was drugged and hidden by her mother and stepfather because they wanted reward money for ‘finding’ their daughter.
• AC2.3 - Describe sociological theories of criminality

  What do Marxists believe about crime?

  Marxists believe crime is inevitable in a capitalist society. Used as social control by bourgeoisie. WCC is ignored, if crimes are committed by less powerful they are believe to be more serious
• AC2.3 - Describe sociological theories of criminality

  What is strain theory?

  Strain theory is the idea that society encourages us to want material success, but not everyone is given the same opportunities. If people cant achieve their goals, they might turn to crime to aide them, eg. theft.