Ac 3.2 Evaluating Theories Of Criminality

Question 1

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
What does validity mean?

Answer 1

Is what were measuring/ intend to measure

Question 2

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
What does generalisability mean?

Answer 2

Can our results be generalised to different populations/ situations

Question 3

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
What does ethics mean?

Answer 3

Has our study followed ethical guidelines

Question 4

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
What does reliability mean?

Answer 4

Are our results consistent
If me did the study again would we get the same results
Did other studies have similar findings

Question 5

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
What does reductionist mean?

Answer 5

Reduces complex behaviour down to basic components

Question 6

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
What does deterministic mean?

Answer 6

We have no choice over our behaviour its determined from us

Question 7

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Strengths of of The biological explanation of criminality

Answer 7

Research to support bio explanations
Can lead to treatment - drug therapy
Genetic screening -could try to prevent

Question 8

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Weaknesses of of The biological explanation of criminality

Answer 8

Nature vs nurture- can’t separate in twin studies
Mz Not 100% concordant - must be other factors
Other theories
Biologically reductionist
Biologically deterministic
Ethics
Generalisability

Question 9

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Strengths of lombrosos innate criminality theory?

Answer 9

Some evidence that you can identify criminals from physical features
Al has had some success at identifying criminals / non-criminals just using facial features
Could be used to predict who will become criminal

Question 10

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Weaknesses of lombrosos theory?

Answer 10

Ignores The role of other factors - upbringing / sociological factors
Suggests A person can’t change-no free will (deterministc) born with physical features that you can’t change
Simplistic explanation - reduces complex behaviour down to physical looks (reductionist)
Considered Discriminatory - determining criminality based on looks (leads to stereotyping and racism) - ethical issues
Not all People with these features commit crime and other way round - validity
Didn’t use A control group in his research

Question 11

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Strengths of Sheldons theory?

Answer 11

Good at explaining violent crimes → Mesamorphs have higher testosterone and take risks
Some evidence that A greater proportion of crimes committed By mesamorphs → study showed criminal delinquents more likely to be metamorphic in shape

Question 12

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Weaknesses of Sheldons theory?

Answer 12

Ignores roles of other factors ( biologically reductionists)
Doestnt explain why Not all Mesamorphs commit crimes/why other body types do commit crimes - affects validity
Doesn’t explain all crime - only violent and physical
Issues with research → researcher bias

Question 13

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Strengths of criminal genes theory?

Answer 13

Good at explaining violent crimes - most of the genes identified relate to hormones and impulse control
Some evidence to support The theory-MAOA gene, CH13 gene, twin/adoption studies By Lange + Christiansen
Research into genetics is often highly scientific and therefor trusted (valid)

Question 14

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Weaknesses of criminal genes theory?

Answer 14

It is Not clear if its just A casual relationship - if Gene is defiantly causing criminal behaviour
Doesn’t explain now-violent crimes as genes identified relate to aggression / impulsiveness
Doesn’t account For other factors - sociological factors
Issues with research
Issues with adoption - Not alc adoptions straight from birth
Reductionist and deterministic

Question 15

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Strengths of chromosomal abnormalities theory?

Answer 15

Good at explaining violent crime - somewhat explains difference between male and female offending
Some evidence to support theory - Jacob’s et Al

Question 16

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Weaknesses of chromosomal abnormalities theory?

Answer 16

Only relates to Men- doesn’t explain why some women commit crime
Evidence lacking - many with xyy live Normal Lives with No symptoms
Can’t explain non-violent crimes
Doesn’t account For other factors - sociological factors
Issue with research - all conducted in prisons or Mental institutions, researcher bias

Question 17

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Strengths of twin and adoption studies?

Answer 17

Real world research often using large samples makes it more reliable / generalisable
Adoption studies can separate out effects of genes and upbringing
Useful to study identical twins as genes are 100% identical
Can relate to A wide range of crimes/criminals

Question 18

Evaluating The effectiveness of biological theories -
Weaknesses of twin and adoption studies?

Answer 18

Both ignore The roles of other factors - sociological factors
Not 100% concordance between identical twins
Twin studies unable separate nature and nurture
Research is Not correlation - only shows A relationship, Not cause and effect
Issue adoption Not separated as birth

Question 19

Evaluating The effectiveness of individualistic theories -
Strengths of banduras SLT?

Answer 19

Research evidence to support - BoBo doll study
Replication of original research found similar results - reliability
Research was highly controlled s0 we can establish cause and affect - increases validity
Study had A control group
Study used male and female role models

Question 20

Evaluating The effectiveness of individualistic theories -
Weaknesses of banduras SLT?

Answer 20

SLT doesn’t explain all criminal behaviour
The study that supports The theory may lack ecological validity - children’s behaviour may be due The novelty of The doll
Ethical issues- protection of children from harm /violence

Question 21

Evaluating The effectiveness of individualistic theories -
Strengths of Freuds theory?

Answer 21

Arguments that link different brain regions to The I’d ego, superego
Research By fisher 2012 supports this
I’d May be located in limbic System - amygdala which controls emotional behaviour and impulse
Ego May be linked to pre-frontal lobe - responsible For rational decision making

Question 22

Evaluating The effectiveness of individualistic theories -
Weaknesses of Freuds theory?

Answer 22

His theory of criminally is Not objective
Theory is unfalsifiable

Question 23

Evaluating The effectiveness of individualistic theories -
Strengths of Eysenck theory?

Answer 23

Rushton and ChristJohn 1981 compared E,n and P scores with delinquency in students - those with higher delinquency scored. Correlations consistent with Eysenck prediction

Question 24

Evaluating The effectiveness of individualistic theories -
Weaknesses of Eysenck theory?

Answer 24

Farington 1982 found No link to criminal behaviour and extraversion
Issue with causality
Issue with research methods

Question 25

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - Social structure functionalism
Strengths of Mertons strain theory

Answer 25

Critics say this is A popular theory is ITs common sense
Right realists support The theory that those with less oppotunited will turn to crime
↓
70% of prisoners are unemployed when they first enter prison
Direct link between can level education and crime -shows strain of having opportunities blocked

Question 26

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - Social structure functionalism
Weaknesses of Mertons strain theory

Answer 26

Feminists criticise this theory - fails ‘to explain way women commit so little crime only 5% of prison population is female jet women experience same strain as men and more ( earn less money than men, less likely to be promoted, more likely to suffer marginalisations) meaning according to Merton they should commit more crime then meN - fails to explain behaviour of 50% population
Fails to explain domestic violence
Reductionist- theory reduces crime to simplistic factors. Merton assumes all people who experience strain will inevitably turn to crime but not everyone does.
Doesn’t explain corporate and white collar crime- MPs expenses fraud

Question 27

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - Social structure Marxism
Strengths of Marxism?

Answer 27

Focuses on corporate crime and white collar crime- most theories focus on explaining street crimes

Question 28

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - Social structure Marxism
Weaknesses of Marxism?

Answer 28

Feminists- theory fails to explain why women commit so little crime as they experience crimogenic values just as much as men. If growing up in capitalism causes criminality then why don’t women commit more crime- marxism fails to explain the behaviour of 50% of the population
Feminists- fails to explain why men experience stricter law enforcement than women. Marxism can’t explain why selective law enforcement tends to be more lenient to women.
Doesn’t explain rape and violence

Question 29

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - interactionalist theories/ labelling theory
Strengths of labelling theory?

Answer 29

One of the few theories that is able to explain why criminality differs according to time, place, person and situation.
First theory to fully investigate the role of the media in our understanding of crime.

Question 30

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - interactionalist theories/ labelling theory
Weaknesses of labelling theory?

Answer 30

Marxists- criticise theory for failing to explain how some people get the power to label others and how some people have the power to resist and negotiate out of a label- lacks power analysis. Interactionism can’t explain power imbalances but Marxism can.
Feminists- labelling theory trivialises serious crime such as domestic and sexual abuse. Theory suggests that nothing is implicitly right to wrong but domestic and sexual abuse shouldn’t be open to interpretation. Theory isn’t helpful in analysing serious crime only lower level crime
Feminists- fails to explain the cause of the most prevalent crime in our society, 1 in 5 calls to police is related to D.A. Labelling can only explain the processes which occur after a criminal act but cannot explain the initial reasons for crimes.

Question 31

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - realist theories, left realism
Strengths of left realism?

Answer 31

Has been praised for explaining why less unequal societies have less crime and crime increases when societies become more unequal.

Question 32

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - realist theories, left realism
Weaknesses of left realism?

Answer 32

Feminists- argue theory fails to explain why women seem to commit so little crime. They suffer relative depravation and marginalisation just as much and maybe more than men so if these things cause crime why don’t women commit crime. Theory fails to explain the behaviour of 50% of the population.
Marxism- critiques it for not being able to explain corporate or white collar crime. People who commit these crimes are not deprived or marginalised and do not live near gangs. Theory doesn’t explain why people who already have a lot of power and money commit crimes.

Question 33

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - realist theories, right realism
Strengths of right realism?

Answer 33

Zero tolerance policy is said to be one of the most successful policies of all time

Question 34

Evaluating The effectiveness of sociological theories - realist theories, right realism
Weaknesses of right realism?

Answer 34

Feminists- argue that theory fails to explain why women commit so little crime, live in areas of environmental decline and low levels of social control like men so if if living in these areas causes criminality why don’t women commit more crime. Fails to explain behaviour of 50% of population.
Feminists- broken windows theory fails to explain domestic and sexual abuse, happens in all environments so can’t be explained by state of the area. Does snot explain the most prevalent crime in our society.
Marxists- disagree that more police and prisons will solve crime. Think capitalism causes crime.disagree that more police can solve crime as police are part of the problem.