Criminology WJEC Year one exam
How do biological theories inform policy? - correct answer--Neurochemicals - diet in prisons
(bost serotonin and reduce sugar.
- Eugenics - controlling reproduction.
- Chemical castration - pills given to sex offenders.
- Capital punishment - death penalty.
How do difference in culture, place and time affect law marking and changing? - correct
answer--Time - views and opinions change over time or campaigners can promote change
and change occurs due knowledge advancements. E.g. LGBT+ rights and gay marriage.
-Place - the same criminal offences are not necessarily in place throughout the world or even
policed in the same way. E.g. adultery in the Middle East.
-Culture - different cultures view crimes differently, even at the same point in time. E.g.
adultery.
How do individualistic theories inform policy development? - correct answer--
Psychoanalysis and treatment for criminal behaviour. The treatment is thought to bring be
repressed thoughts to the surface which allows the offender to deal with the issues which
are causing criminality.
- Behaviour modification - extinguishes bad behaviour and promotes good.
- Token economy in prison - thought to be effective with younger offenders while in prison but
has limited success outside.
- Social skills training - improving of skills.
- Anger managements - if offenders are angry and cannot express themselves in other ways
they behave in antisocial ways. CBT is used to help offenders manage their feelings.
How do sociological theories inform policy? - correct answer-- Penal populism - choosing
laws to punish which will be popular with the public.
- Tough sentencing.
- Prison.
- Zero tolerance approach.
- More CCTV.
- Restorative justice.
- Multi-agency approach.
How have public perceptions of crime changed? - correct answer-- Media is more accessible
than previously so crime information is available all of the time.
- Over reporting in the media of some issues and under reporting others.
- The public reporting more crimes.
- Crime does not always attract the same level of 'shame'.
- We have become more accepting of some crime now.
What are social values, norms and mores? - correct answer--Social values - rules shared by
most in society - respect the elderly.
-Norms - social expectations, they keep deviance in check - mourning colours.
, -Mores - good way of behaving - not acceptable to do drugs.
What are the biological theories? - correct answer-- Lombroso - physiological.
- Sheldon - physiological.
- Jacobs XYY - genetic.
- Adoption/twin studies - genetic.
What are the genetic theories? - correct answer-- Twin/adoption studies.
- Jacobs XYY.
What are the individualistic theories? - correct answer-- Bandura - social learning theory /
behavioural.
- Eysenck - personality based / psychological.
- Freud - psychodynamic.
What are the main principles of functionalism? - correct answer-Working class people are
more likely than others to be denied material benefits. Their opportunities are blocked so
they begin to feel strain and anomie (loss of shared principles or norms), which causes them
to strive harder for material success - causing them to commit crimes so they can achieve
their goals. Crime is functional. It only becomes a problem when it becomes too high or low.
What are the main principles of interactionalism? - correct answer-When someone displays
deviant behaviour, sometimes society gives them a label of a criminals. However, this label
can be overpowering and become the 'master status'. This makes them feel as if they cannot
escape this label and must fall into the label to become a criminal.
What are the main principles of Jacobs XYY theory? - correct answer-Criminality is caused
by an extra Y chromosome. This chromosome produces extra testosterone which causes
them to become more aggressive. This extra chromosome also causes lowered intelligence.
The lack of intelligence leads to them not being aware of the consequences of crime.
What are the main principles of left realism? - correct answer-Some people turn to crime for
material reasons due to us living in a capitalist society. Practical measure are needed to
target the root of the problem. The inequalities that cause crime are created by capitalism.
So, by having a more equal society it would lower crime rates.
What are the main principles of Lombroso's theory? - correct answer-Lombroso said
criminals were 'born criminal'. Looks at physical features and uses them as indicators. He
used the phrase atavistic man. This suggests that primitive features link to a primitive mind
which would cause aggression. It indicates an evolutionary throwback back to primitive
aggression.
What are the main principles of Marxism (social structure theory)? - correct answer-Crime is
the result of unemployment, single parent families, etc - as they're expected to not be able to
afford necessities. Crime occurs to achieve social, political and economic equality. White
collar crime is ignored while crimes being committed by the less powerful are seen as much
more serious.
How do biological theories inform policy? - correct answer--Neurochemicals - diet in prisons
(bost serotonin and reduce sugar.
- Eugenics - controlling reproduction.
- Chemical castration - pills given to sex offenders.
- Capital punishment - death penalty.
How do difference in culture, place and time affect law marking and changing? - correct
answer--Time - views and opinions change over time or campaigners can promote change
and change occurs due knowledge advancements. E.g. LGBT+ rights and gay marriage.
-Place - the same criminal offences are not necessarily in place throughout the world or even
policed in the same way. E.g. adultery in the Middle East.
-Culture - different cultures view crimes differently, even at the same point in time. E.g.
adultery.
How do individualistic theories inform policy development? - correct answer--
Psychoanalysis and treatment for criminal behaviour. The treatment is thought to bring be
repressed thoughts to the surface which allows the offender to deal with the issues which
are causing criminality.
- Behaviour modification - extinguishes bad behaviour and promotes good.
- Token economy in prison - thought to be effective with younger offenders while in prison but
has limited success outside.
- Social skills training - improving of skills.
- Anger managements - if offenders are angry and cannot express themselves in other ways
they behave in antisocial ways. CBT is used to help offenders manage their feelings.
How do sociological theories inform policy? - correct answer-- Penal populism - choosing
laws to punish which will be popular with the public.
- Tough sentencing.
- Prison.
- Zero tolerance approach.
- More CCTV.
- Restorative justice.
- Multi-agency approach.
How have public perceptions of crime changed? - correct answer-- Media is more accessible
than previously so crime information is available all of the time.
- Over reporting in the media of some issues and under reporting others.
- The public reporting more crimes.
- Crime does not always attract the same level of 'shame'.
- We have become more accepting of some crime now.
What are social values, norms and mores? - correct answer--Social values - rules shared by
most in society - respect the elderly.
-Norms - social expectations, they keep deviance in check - mourning colours.
, -Mores - good way of behaving - not acceptable to do drugs.
What are the biological theories? - correct answer-- Lombroso - physiological.
- Sheldon - physiological.
- Jacobs XYY - genetic.
- Adoption/twin studies - genetic.
What are the genetic theories? - correct answer-- Twin/adoption studies.
- Jacobs XYY.
What are the individualistic theories? - correct answer-- Bandura - social learning theory /
behavioural.
- Eysenck - personality based / psychological.
- Freud - psychodynamic.
What are the main principles of functionalism? - correct answer-Working class people are
more likely than others to be denied material benefits. Their opportunities are blocked so
they begin to feel strain and anomie (loss of shared principles or norms), which causes them
to strive harder for material success - causing them to commit crimes so they can achieve
their goals. Crime is functional. It only becomes a problem when it becomes too high or low.
What are the main principles of interactionalism? - correct answer-When someone displays
deviant behaviour, sometimes society gives them a label of a criminals. However, this label
can be overpowering and become the 'master status'. This makes them feel as if they cannot
escape this label and must fall into the label to become a criminal.
What are the main principles of Jacobs XYY theory? - correct answer-Criminality is caused
by an extra Y chromosome. This chromosome produces extra testosterone which causes
them to become more aggressive. This extra chromosome also causes lowered intelligence.
The lack of intelligence leads to them not being aware of the consequences of crime.
What are the main principles of left realism? - correct answer-Some people turn to crime for
material reasons due to us living in a capitalist society. Practical measure are needed to
target the root of the problem. The inequalities that cause crime are created by capitalism.
So, by having a more equal society it would lower crime rates.
What are the main principles of Lombroso's theory? - correct answer-Lombroso said
criminals were 'born criminal'. Looks at physical features and uses them as indicators. He
used the phrase atavistic man. This suggests that primitive features link to a primitive mind
which would cause aggression. It indicates an evolutionary throwback back to primitive
aggression.
What are the main principles of Marxism (social structure theory)? - correct answer-Crime is
the result of unemployment, single parent families, etc - as they're expected to not be able to
afford necessities. Crime occurs to achieve social, political and economic equality. White
collar crime is ignored while crimes being committed by the less powerful are seen as much
more serious.
