SY3 -Understanding Power and Control Understanding Crime Mrs Leigh Ashford

1. In this unit you will explore how crime relates to power and social control in contemporary society. The syllabus has three sections Key Terms related to the Sociology of Crime Debates, issues, patterns, and trends in relation to social profiles including gender, ethnicity, class, age and locality. Explanations/theories of crime from different Sociological perspectives. Note also Skills you are expected to demonstrate

WHAT IS POWER? “an individual or group has power when they are able to get what they want despite opposition from other people”

Sources of power Coercion which involves the use of force. People obey because they feel that they have no choice and that they are forced to obey against their will. Authority is exercised over us when we willingly obey an individual or a group because we see it as the right thing to do. Force is not necessary because we agree to obey.

Which have power based on coercion and which from authority? Headteacher   A mugger Prime Minister Police officers Bullies Parents

Social Control – formal or informal? The law The media Government policies i.e tax, welfare or education Domestic violence Role modelling The police and armed forces Socialisation Patriarchy False class consciousness value consensus Trade unions Which form of control is the most effective?

Learning Objectives 1. Who commits crime? To understand that there are common perceptions of the ‘typical’ criminal. 2. What is crime? To understand that there is a difference between crime and deviance 3. What do Sociologists say about crime? To link issues about crime to sociological perspectives.

Who,s the criminal ?

Task 5 minutes Draw a quick sketch of a criminal Compare your drawing to your neighbour

Task In groups of 3 brainstorm answers to questions in exercise 1 of your booklets. You have 10 minutes!

Task Swap your paper with another group and add any ideas to their responses. You have 5 minutes!

Task Swap your papers back again and look at the added ideas. Now see if you can apply sociological perspectives to your answers What are they ?

Learning Objectives 1. Who commits crime? To understand that there are common perceptions of the ‘typical’ criminal. 2. What is crime? To understand that there is a difference between crime and deviance 3. What do Sociologists say about crime? To link issues about crime to sociological perspectives.

2. Perceptions of Crime True/False game 2. Perceptions of Crime True/False game. Do Official Crime Statistics reflect our perceptions ?

Official crime rates in the UK are falling and surveys suggest that as a result people feel safer than they did 2 years ago

Young African-Caribbean males are more likely to be perpetrators of crime than victims

The white population in the UK fear crime more than people from minority ethnic groups.

Statistics show that males and females commit the same types of crimes.

A middle-class white boy living in a rural community is more likely to receive only a caution for a first offence than a working-class black boy living in a city.

Women offenders are sometimes treated more harshly because of a perception that they are ‘unfeminine’

Official statistics only reflect around 50% of actual crimes committed.

A woman over the age of 60 is far more likely to fear crime than a male under 25 yrs.

A summary of types of theory What causes crime ? A summary of types of theory

Biological theories Cesare Lombroso was the first of these thinkers. They suggest that the physical make up of criminals is different from that of ‘normal’ people. This then pre-disposes them to crime. Some more recent gene mapping studies have shown certain genes may be linked to criminal behaviour – however this is not certain.

Social Psychology H J Eysenck was one of the best known. They suggest that criminals are different in their mental structure in some way. They commit crime because their social experiences have led to incorrect thinking.

Structural theories of crime These suggest that the workings of society are at fault. Laws and social structures create criminals. Marxism sees capitalism as the main problem which leads to poverty and hence crime. However Functionalists see crime as a product of social consensus over what is right and wrong – crime is seen as good for society.

Labelling theories These suggest that the reactions of people to those who are labelled as criminal is the problem. It creates self-fulfilling and a hardening of the behaviour and does not allow people an escape route. They define themselves as having a criminal identity.

Sub-cultural theories of crime Criminal behaviours arise through the creation of deviant norms and values within sub-cultures. Poor socialisation within families is identified as a major cause. They form criminal groups with separate values and norms from those of mainstream society in order to attain the goals that they desire. E.g drug dealing to gain material wealth instead of qualifications and a job.

Postmodernism These theories claim that other theories ignore the uniqueness of criminal acts. It is pointless to try to explain crime with an overall theory since every action is unique and individuals are unique. The main theories are out of date in today’s society. New technology such as CCTV and the internet has led to different solutions and forms of crime.

Activity and discussion One early sociology text, Jack Nobbs’ Modern Society suggested some of the following as causes of delinquency and delinquent behaviour. Where do these following suggestions fit into the previous categories described?

Over-identification with media figures who are criminal

Sense of injustice at an unequal society

Being misunderstood at school

Weak parental discipline

Neglected upbringing

Mental and physical inadequacy

Spoiling of children

Emotional disturbance

Low self esteem

Living in a bad area

Bad family examples

Single parenthood

Poverty

Instinct of aggression

Everyone is capable of making mistakes given a unique set of circumstances

What would be the best theory to use to explain these crimes Stealing from a supermarket Taking drugs Rape Homicide Genocide Credit card fraud Domestic violence

Plenary discussion Free-will vs Determinism Do we choose to commit crimes or are we determined by social structures? Which of the theories suggest free-will and which suggest structural causes? A clue – biological causes of crime are deterministic but are not sociological – they are psychological.

3. Apply your Sociological knowledge and reflect on your learning in the Plenary Squares Game