Theories of crime Flashcards
What is the social learning theory
The social learning theory explains that a root cause of crime is a result of observation. The social learning theory stresses the importance of learning and focuses on young people who have grown up in an environment where crime is central to their upbringing. Just as other young people learn to conform, criminal activity is learned in the same way. The social learning theory proposes the idea that there is no motivation, at birth, to commit crime or to conform and rather it is within the vital formative years that this motivation is established. This theory explains crime as a result of the interaction between cognitive, behaviour and environment- that it is a learned behaviour. The proposition that people will commit crime if surrounded by criminal activity.
Social learning theory study
The Bobo Doll. Albert Banduras study of the Bobo Doll physicalised his research, when children watched an adult be physically violent towards a doll, the children would go on to replicate the behaviour providing evidence that children imitate behaviour they observe
Social learning statistics
Scottish ministry of justice found that 29% of prisoners had experienced abuse as a child and 41% had observed violence in the home. 37% of Scottish prisoners have family convicted of a non driving related criminal offence and more than 80% being imprisoned or sentence to a young offenders institution. Those with 4 or more ACES are 15 times more likely to commit violence and 20 times more likely to be in prison at some point in their life. At least 64% of the US prison population have at least one ACE. In America, only 16% of the general population have 4 or more ACES despite 78% of prisoners having this.
Social learning criticisms
This theory is considered to be reductionistic, not complex enough to explain crime as a whole, fails to regard psychological and physiological factors, not all criminals grew up around crime
What is the labelling theory
The labelling theory focuses on the idea that if a person is consistently characterised- or “labelled” as a certain thing, they will conform or modify their behaviour to fit in to this expectation, this is known as a “self-fulfilling prophecy”. The labelling theory is particularly used when looking at causes of criminal behaviour however it can also be looked at in other societal contexts, for example if a young person is consistently told in school by teachers and peers that they are hopeless and have no chance at success, it is likely they will fulfil this as it has been ingrained in to them.
Labelling theory studies
Meads study focussed on the internal processes of the mind and the image people create of themselves. Meads concluded that peoples self image is almost entirely socially constructed, developing that the labels people are given are based on how others perceive their actions. Frank Tennenbaum however emphasised the immense repercussions of negative interactions with the police in one’s youth, viewing arresting youths as a “dramatisation of evil” and that arresting youths on counts of deviance permanently labels them as criminals, a label they will go in to shape themselves to fit. Robert Thompson 10 year old boy tortured and murdered a 2 year old boy, he had been involved with crime since the age of 7 and noted he was surrounded by a “bad crowd” at the time of the murder, likely labelled from extremely young age
Labelling statistics
34% of those in prison at age 24 are known to the police by age 16
As of March 2022, 16% of all stop and searches- down from 18% in 2021- were conducted on Black people despite Black people only making up 4% of the population.
10% recorded crime perpetrated by Black people
32% recidivism rates for young people 24% for adults
USA many states 80% young offenders reoffend in 3 years following release.
Labelling criticisms
Empirical tests fail to demonstrate that labelling necessarily leads to negative self image
Inability to explain primary deviance
Exclusion of other external factors- not vast
ADHD and criminality
ADHD causes changes in a persons brain development and brain activity, effecting concentration, impulsivity and self control with people suffering from ADHD frequently acting without thinking. ADHD is linked to crime as it is as a result of genetic predisposition or brain damage at birth that causes sufferers to experience a cluster of symptoms rendering them incapable of moral control. People with ADHD are also more likely to participate in higher risk behaviour (such as) as they find it more challenging to anticipate the consequences of their actions. People with ADHD are also significantly over represented in the prison population (25%). Doctors argue that screening for ADHD could reduce risk of reoffending
ADHD Stats/Studies/Examples
25% prisoners have ADHD compared to 2%/4% general population
Yale study found those with ADHD 2x likely to sell drugs and commit theft
Estimated 2/3 young offenders believed to have ADHD
Psychological management techniques and medication for ADHD used to reduce criminal behaviour reduced for 32% men and 42% women
Murder of Ava White Lpool 2021 by boy with ADHD, pleaded non guilty not anticipating consequences of actions
USA 25% of prison population have ADHD 6% GP
Swedish Prison, 300+ inmates assessed for ADHD roughly 40% positively screened despite only 1 in 15 being diagnosed in childhood
ADHD criticisms
Not all people with ADHD commit crimes (vice versa)
Does not consider sociological
Only around a quarter of criminals have ADHD therefore not wholly accounting
Knock on effects, Swedish Prison 300+ inmates assessed 40% positively screened 1 in 15 diagnosis in childhood likely benefit from support
Low resting heart rate and low serotonin effects
Both LRHR and low serotonin levels are found to link to increases in aggression and impulsivity, increasing risk of both violent and non violent crime. These are seen as a catalyst for crime related behaviours, a catalyst for often serious crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault and even murder. Serotonin crucial for emotional regulation, low levels result in struggle controlling emotions such as anger and frustration leading to impulsive and violent behaviours. LRHR link to lowerred levels of empathy and fearlessness (…)
LRHR and Low serotonin levels studies
Brown et al
