U2- Theories And Causes Of Crime Flashcards
What are the 2 main theories of crime?
Biological and physiological (nature)
Sociological (nurture)
What has evidence shown that relates to nature?
That there is a link between imprisonment and those with conditions such as ADHD and depression
What did Hans Eysenck claim?
He was a British psychologist who claimed that psychological factors such a extraversion and neuroticism make a person more likely to commit criminal acts
What does the sociological theory state?
That the individual is shaped by their experiences within family, community and friendship groups and by their socio-economic status
What do sociological theories believe?
That is it a complex combination of factors which lead people to commit crimes
Who was Robert Merton?
An American sociologist
What did Merton highlight?
That the most mainstream cultures are centred round the dreams of opportunity, prosperity and freedom
This becomes a motivation, however if the social structure of opportunities is unequal and leads to many in society being denied this, some will turn to crime to achieve or maintain wealth and status
While others drop into deviant subcultures such as gangs and urban homelessness
This is Merton’s Strain Theory
Give 5 causes of crime
Economic factors/ poverty Youth crime Level of education Alcohol and drugs Greed and white collar crime
How does poverty cause crime?
Although there is no direct link between poverty and crime, evidence suggests that those who are poor may be more tempted to commit crime
Those who suffer from social exclusion are more likely to suffer from alcohol/ drug addiction, poor mental health and homelessness.
There is a clear link between social exclusion and crime
In 2013 how many crimes were committed by those under 21?
According to the Scottish Government 43% of all crimes and offences in Scotland were attributable to young people under the age of 21
Which kind of crimes are young people more likely to commit?
Fire- raising (86% of offences are committed by young people
Vandalism (75%)
What dangerous peer groups are young people often associated with?
Gang culture and the influence of peer pressure
Why would a young person want to join a gang?
They can be felt to offer protection, status, conformity, a sense of community and excitement
Is there a link between poor educational attainment and committing crime?
Yes- those who leave school and as a NEET (Not in education, employment or training) find it difficult to go on and gain employment
Children who are excluded from school are at risk of drifting into a life of crime
Is there a link between alcohol and drugs and crime?
Yes! Alcohol is linked to many crimes- especially violent crimes
Nearly half of all Scotlands prisoners say they were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their offence
