SOCIAL EXPLANATIONS OF CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Question 1

Evaluate social explanations of crime

3

Answer 1

Jahoda studied Ashanti of Ghana, Monday boys (Kwadwo) thought to be even-tempered, Kwadku are ‘aggro and volatile’ (Wednesday). Found Kwadku 3x ^ involved in violent crime than Kwadwo over 5yrs

Implies without labelling, crime wouldn’t exist. Most people agree serious offences e.g. murder are ^than social constructs, murderers are criminals labelled or not. Simple

R/J, teachers were told some children in their class were ‘spurters’, found spurters improved IQ ^than those labelled ‘standard’ at end yr. Educational setting. Teacher-student relationship is particular, expectations influence child’s educational attainment

Question 2

What does Becker argue?

2

Answer 2

• Strong groups in society create deviance by making up rules, applying them to outsiders
• Crime = social construct (only crime when labelled)

Question 3

What is labelling?

1

Answer 3

• Theory of how we classify ourselves/others which defines that person

Question 4

What is self fulfilling prophecy?

1

Answer 4

• Prediction that (in)directly causes itself to become true due to existence of prophecy itself

Question 5

How can self fulfilling prophecy be applied to deviants?

3

Answer 5

• Deviant (labelled by society) see themselves this way from stereotyped response of others
• Deviant behaviour ^likely, internalise label
• Isolated from society, seek support from subcultures, draws further into crime, confirming their identity

Question 6

How may criminal behaviour result from observational learning?
2

Answer 6

• Behaviour attended to, recalled, need skill capacity to do it
• Motivated to reproduce behaviour

Question 7

How can criminal behaviour result from vicarious reinforcement?
1

Answer 7

• Imitated if seen as rewarding e.g. money, ^status

Question 8

How can criminal behaviour result from role models?

2

Answer 8

• Young offenders = ^susceptible to influence

- ^Likely to imitate if identify w criminal

Question 9

What did Zebrowitz et al. find?

2

Answer 9

• Those w baby face ^likely involved in crime than ‘mature’ faced peers
• Babyface = overcompensating for fact they may be childish, not accepting of innocent label