F8 - Psychological explanations: DAT

Question 1

DAT

Answer 1

Crime is a learned behaviour, can be explained using SLT principles. ‘Role models’ are criminal peers and ‘criminal universities’ are prisons. Possible to accurately predict the likelihood that an individual will become criminal, based on their exposure to pro and anti-criminal attitudes. Observers/individuals learn general attitudes to crime. Frequency and intensity (exposed to pro-criminal instead of anti), higher likelihood of individual being criminal.

Question 2

• Eval: DAT measuring

Answer 2

Difficult to objectively and reliably measure frequency and intensity of an individuals exposure to criminal attitudes

Question 3

• Eval: DAT Assuming

Answer 3

Incorrect to assume that because an individual has been exposed to more pro-criminal that anti-criminal attitudes, that they will automatically become a criminal. Deterministic labelling may lead to a ‘Self-fulfilling prophecy’

Question 4

+ Eval: DAT

Answer 4

Different approach to explanation of crime - blames environment not individual. This means that eugenics (biological explanation of criminality) are NOT an option. Therefore, this theory provides a fair and realistic explanation of crime which doesn’t hold individual accountable.