Criminal Behaviours - Social Psychological Explanations: Gender Socialisation Flashcards
When describing this explanation, what are the 3 components
-patterns of socialisation
- role models
- differences in social control
Describe patterns of socialisation
- Socialisation: the process whereby an individual learns to adjust to a group or society that they’re a part of and behave in a manner that is approved by that particular group/society. It is how we learn the norms, customs and skills necessary to participate in our society.
- Socialisation is considered to be a major reason for gender differences seen in criminal behaviour
- Edwin Sutherland (1949) claims that there are 3 different ways that during socialisation, boys end up committing more crimes than girls. These are:
1) Boys are encouraged to be risk taking and tough. Whereas girls are not encouraged
2) Girls are also more closely supervised and controlled during socialisation than boys
3) Society expects girls to be more conforming (abiding by norms) than boys. So boys may have better opportunities due to not being limited - these differences in socialisation become ingrained and lead to more young men becoming criminals as they have both the inclination and opportunity to commit more crime
Describe role models
- Social learning theory suggests that we learn about gender behaviours through observation and imitation of role models
- For girls = mum and For boys = dad
- Albert Cohen (1995) suggested:
- It’s a more difficult process for boys than girls because girls have more easy access to their mother. Whereas fathers are more elusive role models and less frequently available.
- As a result, boys will rebel against the socialisation offered by their mother, especially if that socialisation leads to any typically feminine traits.
- In addition boys pursue any opportunities that offer them the chance to develop their masculinity
- Boys and young men seek out all male peer groups. These groups may reward demonstrations of ‘masculine’ behaviours such as aggression, toughness, risk-taking and rule-breaking. → all behaviours which may lead to deviant and ultimately criminal behavior
- Anne Oakley (1972) notes ‘the dividing line between what is masculine and what is criminal may at times be a thin one’.
Describe Differences in socialisation control
- In 2015, 95% of the UK’s prison population was men
- Patriarchal societies are where men and fathers dominate. Such societies impose greater control over women; reduces the opportunity that women have to commit crimes.
- Frances Heidensohn (1985) says that women are ‘controlled’ at home, at work and in public.
1) In the home, as daughters, girls are dependent on the care/provision from their parents and especially their fathers. Daughters aren’t able to stay out as late as sons and are required to do more housework than sons, so as a result girls learn to develop socialising opportunities which involve the home, such as sleep overs. As adults, women have fewer opportunities to commit crime because of the greater time and movement restrictions placed on them by their domestic roles, such as caring for young children
2) In the workplace, the ‘glass ceiling’ prevents women from rising to senior positions and having fewer opportunities to commit white collar crime
3) In public, the way the media reports on crimes such as rape also controls women by increasing the fear they have for being out in public, especially alone at night. This fear again causes women to stay at home and have less opportunity to commit crime. The manner in which the media reports on female criminals is also ‘controlling’ as women who commit crimes are risking ‘double jeopardy’ not only by rejecting society’s norms and values, but are also rejecting their own femininity.
When evaluating this explanation, what do you talk about
:)
- Chivalry hypothesis
- useful application
:(
- lack of historical validity
- testosterone
Write a paragraph on the strength of the chivalry hypothesis
P: A strength of the social psychological explanation is that the chivalry hypothesis offers a plausible explanation for the underrepresentation of women in crime statistics.
E: Otto Pollak (1950) argued that men in the criminal justice system, including police officers, magistrates, and judges, are socialized to adopt a protective, “chivalrous” attitude towards women. Pollak claimed that this cultural tendency causes them to treat female offenders more leniently than male offenders. For example, women might be less likely to be arrested, charged, or convicted for criminal behavior, even if their offenses are comparable to those committed by men.
T: Therefore, this is a strength because it highlights how gendered socialization among men in positions of authority can bias the justice system, leading to distorted crime statistics that underestimate female criminality. It suggests that the lower crime rates among women could be attributed not only to their lower tendency to commit crime but also to how they are treated by the criminal justice system.
COUNTER: However, this explanation may be outdated, as modern training programs for law enforcement focus on promoting gender-neutral, impartial decision-making to reduce biases in the judicial process.
Write a paragraph for the weakness of testosterone
P: A weakness of the social psychological explanation is that it may overemphasize the role of socialization while neglecting the influence of biological factors in shaping gender differences in crime.
E: James Dabbs et al. (1987) found a significant link between high levels of testosterone and violent criminal behavior in males. In their study of male inmates, 10 out of 11 prisoners with the highest testosterone concentrations had committed violent crimes such as assault or murder, while 9 out of 11 with the lowest testosterone levels had committed nonviolent offenses.
T: Therefore, this is a weakness because it suggests that biological factors, such as testosterone, may play a significant role in shaping gendered criminal behavior, which challenges the social psychological explanation that primarily emphasizes socialization and learned behaviors. This indicates that male aggression and criminality could be driven by biological differences, rather than social influences such as gender norms or social roles.
Write a paragraph for the weakness of a lack of historical validity
P: A weakness of the social psychological explanation is that it fails to account for the changing nature of gender roles in modern society. Over recent decades, traditional notions of masculinity and femininity have shifted significantly.
E: For example, men are increasingly encouraged to express emotions and engage in more non-violent, nurturing behaviors, while women are increasingly taking on roles traditionally associated with men, such as those in leadership and high-powered professions. This evolution of gender roles means that behaviors previously associated with men (such as aggression) are less tied to their socialization, and the traditional socialization theories may no longer apply as they once did.
T: Therefore, this is a weakness because it overlooks the evolving nature of gender norms, meaning that the explanation fails to reflect the current societal context. As a result, the idea that men are inherently socialized to be more aggressive or dominant, and women to be nurturing or passive, is less relevant today, as these gender roles are becoming more fluid and less restrictive. Therefore this explanation has low historical validity
Write a paragraph for the strength of useful application
P: A strength of the social psychological explanation is its practical applications, which can benefit society by promoting positive behavior changes.
E: For example, initiatives such as the “Man Up” project aim to challenge traditional masculine norms and help men explore healthier ways of expressing their identity. These programs encourage men to adopt more “feminine” conflict management strategies, which can reduce aggression and lower the desire for risky behavior, potentially decreasing crime rates.
T: Therefore, this is a strength because it shows that understanding the role of gender socialization in shaping male behavior allows for targeted interventions that could reduce crime and improve societal outcomes by promoting healthier gender norms. This practical application could have long-lasting benefits in terms of reducing violent crime and fostering more supportive, non-aggressive male role models.
COUNTER: However, a limitation is that such interventions may have low historical validity, as social norms and attitudes toward gender have shifted significantly over time, meaning that contemporary interventions may not fully capture the complexities of earlier societal expectations.
