TOPIC E - Social explanations

Question 1

Social explanations

Answer 1

Family patterns such as divorce, maternal deprivation or family size

Question 2

Divorce

Answer 2

• Children from broken homes are more likely to have criminal tendencies due to moving houses and schools, financial difficulties, arguments compared to those from an intact family. Thus, have a negative childhood.
• No father figure as a role model: Boys = Aggressive, girls = Depressed

Question 3

Define Maternal Deprivation

Answer 3

When a child is separated from the main caregiver and feels distressed

Question 4

Maternal Deprivation

Answer 4

• A child and the main caregiver form a special bond that makes the child feel secure and so when separated they may feel distressed = Maternal deprivation
• If the bond is broken during the first two years of life, the child may lose a sense of having a safe world and feel rejected. This can be long lasting.

Question 5

John Bowlby (1946) - Maternal deprivation

Answer 5

• Questioned boy offenders about their crimes and relationship with their parents
• Found that 14 boys felt no guilt about their crimes and victims
• 12 out of 14 boys had been separated from their main caregiver before reaching the age of two.
• The offenders who did feel guilty, only a few had experienced maternal deprivation

Question 6

Family size

Answer 6

• Farrington (2002) found that families with lots of children are more linked to criminality
• This is due to lack of attention and parental supervision given to each child
• Lower income = fewer educational opportunities which links to persistent youth offending e.g. drugs

Question 7

Parental occupation

Answer 7

• A weak link
• Western (2003) found that a father’s occupation did not have an effect whether if he was unemployed. had
• A mother’s occupation had an effect.
• Blue collar workers = children more likely to turn to crime
• Due to children suffered from maternal deprivation as their mothers worked long hours rather than the type of job

Question 8

The difficulty of family patterns

- Farrington

Answer 8

• Farrington (2002) studies boys from London over 40 years. All 8 years old at start to 46 and were visited every few years. The boys, their mothers, teachers and friends were interviewed throughout the longitudinal study
• Found that low supervision, parental neglect, low achievement at school, maternal deprivation etc. are factors leading to crime
• More than one-factor determining criminal behavior as families and their circumstances are complex.
• All give a negative childhood in some way that could raise a child’s vulnerability to crimes