Practical

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To investigate the use of psychological arguments relating to whether criminals are born or made in a TV documentary. In particular, to investigate the number of biological and learning arguments for why criminals are born or made through the use of a content analysis.

Question 2

As a class, what did we firstly decide upon?

Answer 2

As a class we firstly decided upon a suitable documentary to watch about possible causes of criminal behaviour.

Question 3

What did we decide to watch?

Answer 3

We decided to watch the National Geographic documentary entitled ‘Born to Rage.’

Question 4

As a class, what type of study did we conduct on the documentary?

Answer 4

As a class we conducted a pilot study where we first watched the documentary and decided upon themes for the coding scheme.

Question 5

What did I then do alone?

Answer 5

I then watched the documentary alone and completed the coding scheme which consisted of ticking a pre-prepared category every time an argument was made which fitted this category. Some examples of the categories were genes, abusive childhood, and membership of a gang.

Question 6

Step one of analysis?

Answer 6

For each cause of criminal behaviour the total number of tallies were calculated.

Question 7

Step two of analysis?

Answer 7

I then considered which of the causes of criminal behaviour related to the criminal being ‘born’ (Nature) or ‘made’ (Nurture).

Question 8

Step three of analysis?

Answer 8

I calculated the total number of mentions for whether a criminal is born or made and worked these out as a percentage.

Question 9

Step four of analysis?

Answer 9

I was then able to compare if the programme had focused more on a criminal being born or made and decide which cause of criminal behaviour was mentioned the most during the documentary.

Question 10

RESULTS

I found that the most popular cause of criminal behaviour mentioned in the documentary was?

Answer 10

The warrior gene

Question 11

RESULTS

What percentage of the psychological arguments were from the most popular category?

Answer 11

The warrior gene as 59% of the psychological arguments were from this category

Question 12

RESULTS

It was found that the least popular cause was?

Answer 12

Brain damage

Question 13

RESULTS

What percent of the psychological arguments were from the least popular category?

Answer 13

Brain damage as only 6% of the psychological arguments were from this category.

Question 14

RESULTS

Overall, what percentage of the causes of criminal behaviour mentioned related to the criminal being born?

Answer 14

71%

Question 15

RESULTS

Overall, what percentage of the causes of criminal behaviour mentioned related to the criminal being made?

Answer 15

29%

Question 16

We therefore concluded from our analysis of the content of the programme that the documentary focused more on which explanations as a cause of crime?

Answer 16

biological

Question 17

Why can we conclude that the documentary focused more on the biological explanation as a cause of crime?

Answer 17

Because the single most mentioned cause of crime was the warrior gene.

Question 18

EXPLANATION OF FINDINGS

A learning explanation?

Answer 18

Social learning theory can explain the findings. The theory suggests that criminal behaviour can be learned by observing aggressive role models in our environment, for example family members. An individual may then go onto imitate the behaviour being modelled if they have the motivation to do so. The documentary refers to individuals who have been abused as a child going on to commit crime themselves later on in life.

Question 19

EXPLANATION OF FINDINGS

A biological explanation?

Answer 19

the results of our content analysis seem to favour a genetic explanation of criminal behaviour. The MA0-A gene removes excess serotonin, but a shortened version of this gene is less active and fails to do its job effectively and can’t control serotonin levels. The result of this is a change in personality resulting in an increase in aggression.