Explaining Crime and Explaining Crime and DevianceDeviance

Biological, Psychological and Biological, Psychological and Sociological explanationsSociological explanations

What makes a criminal?What makes a criminal?

• There are different There are different ways to explain why ways to explain why some people do not some people do not follow society’s rules.follow society’s rules.

• Some theories suggest Some theories suggest that people are that people are “inherently bad”“inherently bad”

• Some that it is a learnt Some that it is a learnt behaviourbehaviour

• Others say that it is a Others say that it is a reaction to reaction to circumstancescircumstances

Biological ExplanationsBiological Explanations

• In the mid 1800s, Cesare In the mid 1800s, Cesare Lombroso proposed the Lombroso proposed the theory that criminal behaviour theory that criminal behaviour was genetic, that all criminals was genetic, that all criminals shared similar physical shared similar physical characteristics and could be characteristics and could be identified as criminals by identified as criminals by these characteristics.these characteristics.

• These included large jaw These included large jaw lines, big ears and high lines, big ears and high cheekbones.cheekbones.

• Are these ideas still relevant Are these ideas still relevant to how we view criminals to how we view criminals

today?today?

Biological ExplanationsBiological Explanations

• Lombroso’s ideas Lombroso’s ideas were taken further were taken further by other theorists by other theorists who believed that who believed that the shape of the the shape of the head determined head determined personality, personality, intelligence and intelligence and the criminal mindthe criminal mind

Psychological ExplanationsPsychological Explanations

• Some psychologists would Some psychologists would explain criminal or deviant explain criminal or deviant behaviour as a result of behaviour as a result of chemical imbalances in the chemical imbalances in the bodybody

• John Bowlby proposed that John Bowlby proposed that it was a dysfunctional it was a dysfunctional childhood with a lack of childhood with a lack of attachment to the mother attachment to the mother that produced criminal and that produced criminal and deviant behaviour in deviant behaviour in adolescence and adulthoodadolescence and adulthood

Sociological ExplanationsSociological Explanations

• Socialisation – Young Socialisation – Young people’s involvement in people’s involvement in criminal and deviant criminal and deviant behaviour can be explained behaviour can be explained in terms of negative in terms of negative influences from family and influences from family and environmentenvironment

• Children are not socialised Children are not socialised effectively into society’s effectively into society’s norms and values by their norms and values by their parentsparents

• What about other agents of What about other agents of socialisation? Media socialisation? Media glamourising violence?glamourising violence?

Sociological ExplanationsSociological Explanations

• The Opportunity StructureThe Opportunity Structure

• Crime and criminal behaviour can be Crime and criminal behaviour can be explained as a reaction to the opportunities explained as a reaction to the opportunities that are available to the individualthat are available to the individual

• In areas where the levels of employment and In areas where the levels of employment and educational opportunities are low, people educational opportunities are low, people may turn to illegal ways of achieving successmay turn to illegal ways of achieving success

• Look at the activity on page 157Look at the activity on page 157

Relative DeprivationRelative Deprivation

• Relative deprivation occurs Relative deprivation occurs when individuals or groups feel when individuals or groups feel that they do not have the same that they do not have the same wealth or lifestyle as others in wealth or lifestyle as others in their societytheir society

• In the West in particular, there In the West in particular, there is a high emphasis on material is a high emphasis on material wealth – to own the right wealth – to own the right clothes, the best car ect.clothes, the best car ect.

• The reality is for some that they The reality is for some that they cannot achieve this and they cannot achieve this and they may feel relatively deprivedmay feel relatively deprived

• This can make groups or This can make groups or individuals feel discontent and individuals feel discontent and this may lead to crime this may lead to crime

Exam QuestionExam Question

• Identify and explain fully two social Identify and explain fully two social factors which might lead people to factors which might lead people to become criminals become criminals

• 8 marks8 marks