E1a2 Social explanations for criminality

Question 1

Family patterns

Answer 1

the experiences children may have during their family life. May include: divorce, separation from main caregiver, family size, parental occupation

Question 2

Divorce and link to criminality

Answer 2

Can lead to single parent households/ “broken homes”. Research suggests kids from broken homes twice as likely to become criminal. Boys can be affected if they have no father figure as role model, can often become more aggressive. Girls become depressed instead.
Highler likelihood children will suffer negatively if there were serious arguments before the divorce. Often involves other issues such as moving home and school+ financial difficulties, maternal deprivation

Question 3

Maternal deprivation/ separation with main caregiver and link to criminality

Answer 3

Main caregiver forms special bond with child, child feels sense of security and can be come distressed when separated- Maternal deprivation
If this bond broken through separation, especially during first 2 years of life, child may suffer lasting effects- lose sense of having safe world and feel rejected

Question 4

Maternal deprivation

Answer 4

when a child is separated from their main caregiver, and becomes distressed

Question 5

John Bowlby

Answer 5

Researched maternal deprivation. Questioned 44 boy offenders about their crimes and relationship with parents. Found that 14 boys felt no guilt about crime/ victims. 12 out of these 14 have been separated from their primary caregiver before 2 yrs old. The other 30 children only had 5 within them that had been separated from their main caregiver before 2 yrs old

Question 6

Family size and link to criminality

Answer 6

Farrington found that families with a lot of children (6 or 7) were more likely to be linked to crime. Each child given less attention+ lack of parental supervision over behavior. Also more likely to have lower income/ it has to stretch further= less educational opportunities- linked to persistent youth offending (e. fighting, drug use)

Question 7

Parental occupation and link to criminality

Answer 7

Only a slight link. Australian study of youth crime (Western) showed father’s occupation not an indicator, even if unemployed. Mother’s occupation- if a blue-collar worker (e.g in factory) had children more likely to turn to crime- children may be suffering maternal deprivation as a result of mother working long hours

Question 8

Farrington

Answer 8

1) Studied 411 boys from East End of London for over 40 years. Boys aged 8 at the start of study- visited every couple of years until they were 46
2) Boys, mothers, teachers and friends interviewed throughout the study
3) Study found that if boys turned to crime- it was linked to:
low supervision by parents
poor housing
parental neglect
harsh/ inconsistent parenting
separation of parents
low achievement in school

Question 9

Why is it difficult to pin down exactly which social facotr influences crime?

Answer 9

not a single factor determines crime, but all are involved in some way, provide negative childhood experiences- increase child’s vulnerability to crime. Strongest research shows prolonged separation with main caregiver+ arguments within home are bad childhood experiences that may influence whether or not someone turns to crime, but not produce criminals themselves