The Self-fulfilling prophecy Explanations of crime The Self-fulfilling prophecy

You must be able to describe and evaluate both Social Learning Theory and Self fulfilling Prophecy as an explanation for anti-social behaviour/criminal activity.

Labelling When something is expected of an individual by others it becomes true.

The problem is that if someone is given a label… They may well live up to that label.

Society may label people according to education, parents, race, social class etc.

In pairs list some labels we give to different groups (in terms of criminal activity) and discuss what affect this may have on them. The affect of labels/labelling: Labels can affect an individuals self concept (how we see ourselves) and lead to SFP. Labels can affect the way others treat you and may lead to SFP Society may label people according to the way others treat you and this may lead to SFP.

Labelling is linked to SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY We become what people expect us to become … and so a negative belief predicts a negative behaviour If a teacher thinks you will fail in an exam you probably will!

Smith and Mackie (2000) …SFP is “The process by which one person’s expectations about another become reality by eliciting behaviours that confirm those expectations”.

Are you like your zodiac sign?

Is this true of you? Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is full of woe, Thursday’s child has far to go, Friday’s child is loving and giving, Saturday’s child works hard for his living, And the child that is born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay. Do students feel any expectations – can any identify labels applied to them?

Gustav Jahoda (1954) Studied delinquent rates among the Ashanti in Western Africa. They usually chose names for boys according to the day of the week they are born. Traditionally the Ashanti believe the soul or Kra of ‘Monday’ boys is quiet and placid. These boys are called Kwadwo.

The Kra of boys born on a ‘Wednesday’ was believed to be aggressive and short tempered and these boys are called Kwadku.

Records of a local juvenile court (that covered a five year period) showed that 22% of violent offences were committed by the ‘Wednesday’ boys, 6.9% by ‘Monday’ boys. This provides support for the Self-fulfilling prophecy effect as the Wednesday boys were expected to act in violent aggressive ways so internalized this expectation and behaved in this way.

Evaluating Jahoda (1954) A strength of this study is that it was a naturalistic study where variables were not manipulated. The data came from official court records and was therefore valid, making this study quite credible in supporting the theory. Ashanti believe the day a person is born will affect personal qualities or characteristics. Boys born on Wednesday are called Kwadku – meaning aggressive and short-tempered.

Behaviour only becomes criminal when society labels it so e. g Behaviour only becomes criminal when society labels it so e.g. Graffiti, Cannabis use, homosexuality etc “A label overrides other characteristics e.g. a mother, or worker but becomes known as a ‘deviant’”. Becker (1963)

Self Fulfilling Prophecy Is set Expectation Prophecy is fulfilled

WE TEND TO LIVE UP TO THE LABEL WE ARE GIVEN Rosenthal and Jacobson (1968) studied self-fulfilling prophecy in a classroom: Pygmalion in the classroom. Teachers were allowed to overhear a conversation at the beginning of the year that identified 20 children in the class as ‘late developers’ about to ‘spurt’. The teachers believed this was based on an IQ test done, but it was random. At the end of the year, those 20 children did indeed have improved IQ scores, and continued to for 2 years. The ‘prophecy’ came true because the teachers responded differently to them (more feedback etc). What are the moral and ethical issues here?

A form of labelling. A form of stereotyping Remember the rules for Applying a theory (SOAC) State your theory SFP explaining WHY PEOPLE TURN TO CRIME A form of labelling. Based on the idea that an observer’s beliefs of expectations about a person or group influence their social interactions, and therefore elicits or creates the expected behaviour. (Merton, 1948). A form of stereotyping The observer’s beliefs are based on their schemas or stereotypes relating to that group or individual They will tend more to notice, and even seek behaviour that conforms to their expectations, and ignore that which doesn’t. This then acts as reinforcement of their opinion. (Selective social interaction).

It works better IF It does not work IF Outline What exactly is SFP and what factors affect the way that it works It works better IF More than one person holds the same expectation When those expecting someone to behave in a certain way, and those behaving are not familiar to each other. The expected behaviour is not far different from the individual’s normal behaviour. The expectation is negative  It does not work IF The person with the expected behaviour of the individual is of low power.

1. When observers expect anti-social behaviour, they seek to Apply (be specific) How SFP may be applied to explanations of criminal behaviour? 1. When observers expect anti-social behaviour, they seek to confirm their expectations by looking for specific types of behaviours or attitudes The observed may then behave in anti-social ways due to the encouragement provided for it. They may develop negative self-belief (that they are not capable of better behaviour). 3. The pressure to conform to expectations, and the feeling that any pro-social behaviour is ignored means any effort to change is pointless. Think of a teacher in a class with low expectations of a ‘naughty boy’. They may focus on the ‘there you go again’ rather than the ‘well done, you are behaving well’ Check you have answered the question

See work sheets in pack Complete in this order 16 15 17

Evaluation of SFP as an explanation for criminal activity – use your work sheet to identify strengths & weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses

Exam question What is meant by the term Self fulfilling prophecy? (4 marks) Discuss how far SFP can be used as an explanation of anti Social behaviour. (8 marks) 3. Discuss how SFP may account for some instances of crime. (8 marks)

Extension Compare social learning theory with ONE OTHER explanation of anti-social behaviour. Identify the explanation in your answer. Comparisons include similarities and differences (3)