6.1.1+6.1.2 Gender & Crime Flashcards
Explain some differences in male and female offences.
- Anti-social behaviour is shown more by men than women
- More men are convicted, arrested, and sentenced
- Men are less likely to report female aggression
- Evolution has led men to be more aggressive and so may account for increased crime rate
Describe brain injury in relation to gender differences in crime.
> NHS reports men more likely to get brain injury
Men’s frontal lobe develops slower than women’s (responsible for PFC- rational though), more likely to commit dangerous physical acts eg skydiving that could cause brain injury
Give a rejecting piece of research for brain injury as an explanation of crime.
In South Africa male to female ratio with TBI down to impersonal violence is 4:1. This suggests that behavioural differences causes TBI instead of TBI causing aggression.
Describe the amygdala in relation to gender differences in crime.
No gender differences
Give a rejecting piece of research for the amygdala as an explanation of crime.
Shirtcliff et al (2009) found gender differences in empathy in that girls are more empathetic with boys having more conduct disorders and so these emotional differences may be a result of the amygdala instead, therefore suggesting that damage to the amygdala does not cause criminal behaviour
Describe XYY syndrome in relation to gender differences in crime.
Only men can develop as they naturally have XY as 23rd pair (determines sex) but women naturally have XX, women can’t develop an extra Y
Give a supporting piece of research for XYY syndrome as an explanation of crime.
Jacobs et al (2012) found over-representation of syndrome in prison population where norm is 1/1000 but this prison is 15/1000, shows XYY can lead to criminality
Describe Eysenck’s personality theory in relation to gender differences in crime.
Due to psychoticism, an aspect of Eysencks PEN scoring system, relating to higher levels of testosterone, men are more likely to score higher for P and so this would account for why men have higher crime rates. However women also have testosterone which would account for why they also commit crime.
Give a supporting piece of research for Eysenck’s personality theory as an explanation of crime.
Rushton et al (1981) found relationship between delinquency and high psychoticism + extroversion which explains why men commit more crimes.
Describe labelling and self-fulfilling prophecy in relation to gender differences in crime.
Due to diff socialisation, boys are likely to be raised as boisterous + girls as passive which would cause SFP to lead to crime for boys such as committing vandalism and petty theft.
Give a rejecting piece of research for labelling and self-fulfilling prophecy as an explanation of crime.
Fuller (1984) found black girls in comp schl Ldn labelled as likely to fail, they resented label so they proved it wrong. Shows that giving someone a label doesn’t necessarily lead to the person living up to the label, so labeling children as troublemakers doesn’t increase the likelihood of them committing crimes.
Describe social learning theory in relation to gender differences in crime.
Same sex parents may be seen as a role model and due to men being generally more aggressive, sons will be more likely to reproduce this behaviour leading to men committing more crimes.
Give a supporting piece of research for social learning theory as an explanation of crime.
Bandura found same sex RMs have higher chance of behav being reproduced, found boys more likely to reproduce aggressive actions shown by same sex RMs, explains why men commit more violent crimes.
Is brain injury a good explanation for gender differences in crime and why?
No, because cause and affect is hard to establish as the behaviour before the brain injury is assumed and we cannot be certain that brain injury causes criminal activity due to dispositional differences.
Is the amygdala a good explanation for gender differences in crime and why?
No, because there have been no gender differences found in amygdala functioning.
