Theories of Criminality

Question 1

What are the biological factors that make up the nature argument? (3)

Answer 1

• DNA (Warrior Gene)
• Sex/Gender (Male vs female crime rates)
• Mental health (Incidents involving mental health)

Question 2

What percentage of men carry the warrior gene? (1)

Answer 2

• 30%

Question 3

What are the effects of the warrior gene? (2)

Answer 3

• Decreased emotional/impulse control.
• Increased likelihood and intensity of reactions to provocation.

Question 4

What evidence supports the warrior gene? (3)

Answer 4

• Research studies (Raine, 1993) show brain abnormalities contribute to aggression and even psychopathy.
• Higher serotonin levels as a result of the gene are shown to increase violence and crime rates.
• A study from Florida State University show boys who carry a specific strain of the gene are more likely to join gangs.

Question 5

What are the crime rates of men vs women? (3)

Answer 5

• 95% of the prison population are men.
• 85% of arrests are men.
• Males are more likely to be offenders (73%) whereas women are more likely to be victims in violent crimes.

Question 6

By how much has mental health related crimes risen in the past few years? (1)

Answer 6

• 28%

Question 7

What is believed to be environmental triggers to dormant genes? (2)

Answer 7

• Trauma, neglect and/or abuse.
• A chaotic and complex life.

Question 8

What environmental factors (Lykken, 1995) were demonstrated to lead to violence or sexual aggressivity? (5)

Answer 8

• Family discord
• Abuse
• Harassment from peers
• Sexualised environments/upbringings
• Exposure to events/visuals not age appropriate

Question 9

What are some examples of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’S)? (3)

Answer 9

• Physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
• Physical or emotional neglect.
• Living with divorce, a substance abuser or mental illness.

Question 10

What is the impact of 4 or more ACE’S? (4)

Answer 10

• 2x more likely to binge drink
• 7x more likely to have been involved in violence
• 11x more likely to have used illicit drugs
• 11x more likely to have been in prison

Question 11

How many adults in England suffer from ACE’S? (2)

Answer 11

• 48 out of 100 adults have suffered at least one ACE, while 9 have suffered at least 4.
• Often results from generational trauma, leading to an increase of gang membership due to a lack of role models.

Question 12

How could the prevention of ACE’S link to crime? (3)

Answer 12

• Reduces violence by 52% in a year
• Over a lifetime, could reduce prison incarceration by 53%
• Over a lifetime, could reduce heroin/cocaine use by 59%

Question 13

How does feminism relate to crime? (3)

Answer 13

• Women commit less serious that often do not warrant prosecution, arrest or imprisonment.
• Women are more likely to commit crime based on economic reasons, particularly lone parents.
• Instead of committing less crimes than men, they commit less Serious crimes that they are forced to due to their circumstances.

Question 14

What types of crimes do women commit? (3)

Answer 14

• 39% of women have drug problems on arrival to prison.
• Substance abuse is most often caused by a history of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
• They are more likely to return to prison for crimes such as shoplifting, theft, robbery, burglary, fraud, arson or kidnapping.

Question 15

What evidence is there to support the feminist theory of crime? (2)

Answer 15

• Fawcett society states most common offence committed by women is shoplifting.
• Feminists argue murder is rarely committed by females and is therefore a result of provocation.

Question 16

How valid is the feminist theory in 2023?

Answer 16

• Could be applicable to some extent as it explains why women commit a higher proportion of economic based crimes.
• However it does not explain the increasing number of women committing violent/more serious crimes.

Question 17

What is alienation? (3)

Answer 17

• Feeling like an outsider.
• Excluded from friends/family.
• Deviant behaviour stemming from a need to ‘feel included.’

Question 18

What contributes to someone feeling alienated? (3)

Answer 18

• Media: 72% of newspaper articles about young people are negative despite only being responsible for 12% of crimes.
• Societal Isolation: Many elderly feel isolated due to health or income.
• Lack of role models: contributes to 62% of gang membership.

Question 19

How is alienation linked to crime? (2)

Answer 19

• Triggers ‘status frustration’ (Cohen)
• People feel frustrated from being excluded, so they may be driven to commit crimes that raise their status socially.

Question 20

How does alienation link to the labelling theory? (2)

Answer 20

• Those who are labelled as criminals will be perceived as criminals by those around them.
• This alienates them and may even result in deviant behaviour.

Question 21

How valid is the Alienation theory in 2023?

Answer 21

• Can be considered a major cause of crime, especially amongst young people.
• 37% of all crime is committed by under 21 year old’s.
• Yet societal isolation does not just occur amongst young people.

Question 22

What is meant by the Marxist theory of crime? (2)

Answer 22

• Explains crime in terms of capitalism and class struggle.
• Capitalism creates inequalities which leads to conflict.

Question 23

What is the bourgeoisie and proletariat? (3)

Answer 23

• Bourgeoisie own the means of production.
  -Proletariat work and own nothing.
• The bourgeoisie exploit the proletariat for their own gain and the proletariat commit crime as a means of rebellion.

Question 24

What crimes can Marxism be applied to? (3)

Answer 24

• Financial crimes.
• Crimes of violence or vandalism as means of expressing frustration.
• Crimes that rebel against the capitalist system.

Question 25

Is Marxism a valid theory of crime in 2023? (3)

Answer 25

• Can be applied to gross corporate crime.
• Structure of the economy still has middle class ‘winners’ and working class ‘losers.’
• Does not cover every type of crime.