describe social explanations of criminal behaviour 10 marks
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Course
Criminal behaviour
Institution
AQA
A star graded essay plans on questions surrounding Criminal Behaviour, primarily useful in paper 3 psychology but also applicable to other papers. Each essay plan is written in an easy to understand table format which is clearly labelled. The tables are used to ensure that all criteria is met in th...
Describe 2 social explanations of criminal behaviour. 10 marks
Gender socialisation A01
Point
What is - The process of learning the norms and values of society
socialisation - Both males and females are socialised differently in order to fit stereotypical traditional
roles.
How are - Sutherland suggests that males are socialised into being risk taking and aggressive in order
females and to fulfil stereotypical masculine norms. (this may lead to them committing violent and
males socialised impulsive crimes such as GBH)
- Whereas females are socialised into bedroom culture as well as nurturing and caring traits
to ensure that they remain in the domestic sphere.
Control theory - Control theory was devised by Heidensohn who suggests that the reason that women only
make up 5% of the prison population is due to their lack of opportunities to commit crime.
- Women face control in 3 main areas, at home (the domestic sphere), in public and at work
(the economic sphere).
- They face control at home as they are often confined to the domestic sphere, this limits
their contact with the wider world
- They face control in the public as cannot stay out late at night or go out on their own due
to their risk of becoming a victim of crime (limiting their opportunities to commit crime in
the public)
- They also face control at work as are less likely to be in positions of power within the
workforce this prevents them from committing cyber and white collar crime.
The chivalry - This suggests that the reason for the high percentage of males in prison is due to the lack
thesis of female criminals that are prosecuted.
- Pollak suggests that as males make up the majority of workers within the criminal justice
system such as police officers or judges (85% are males)
- Police officers are more likely to let female offenders off with a warning rather than
arresting them for offences such as speeding.
- The CPS are less likely to prosecute female offenders and instead use more out of court
settlements.
- Judges are also less likely to give females harsher sentences (especially when they have
children) resulting in females receiving shorter prison sentences compared to male
offenders who commit the same offences.
Social learning theory AO1
Point
What is social - A behaviourist-based theory that suggests that all behaviours is learnt through
learning theory interactions with the environment.
- Bandura, suggests that criminal behaviour is learnt by children by their parents who act as
criminal role models.
- This leads to the child believing that criminal behaviour is normal and does not deviate
from the norms and values of society.
- This may result in them reciprocating this behaviour e.g., leads to them committing crimes
such as burglary or theft.
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