Forensic Psychology Turning to Crime Revision

Turning to Crime What makes some people turn to a life a crime? Is it due to upbringing or biology? Nature or Nurture? Do people always have a choice? What is the role of Free Will in crime? Upbringing Farrington (2006) Peers Sutherland (1939) Poverty Wikstrom & Tafel (2003) Cognition Yochelson & Samenow (1976) Moral Development Kohlberg (1963) Social Cognition Gudjohnsson & Bownes (2002) Biology Brain Dysfunction Raine (2002) Genes Bruner et al (1993) Gender Daly & Wilson (2001

UPBRINGING Nurture argument, family peers and poverty all influence criminality. Studies: - Farrington (2006) The Cambridge Study in Delinquent Behaviour (Dysfunctional Families) Sutherland (1939) Differential Association Hypothesis (Peers) Wikstrom & Tafel (2003) The Peterborough Youth Study (Disadvantaged backgrounds)

COGNITION Faulty thinking and lack of guilt or morals influences criminality. Studies: - Yochelson & Samenow (1976) A Study of thinking patterns in criminals Kohlberg (1963) Moral Development Gudjohnsson & Bownes (2002) The attribution of blame and type of crime commited

BIOLOGY Nature side of the argument, criminals are born not made. Studies: - Raine (2002) Understanding the development of antisocial behaviour in children (Brain Structure) Bruner et al (1993) A study of violence in a family with genetic abnormality Daly & Wilson (2001) Investigation gender related life expectancy

Evaluation It is never easy or straightforward to explain why people turn to crime. We must be careful to avoid reductionist (simplistic) or deterministic (criminal behaviour is outside the control of the individual) arguments. Upbringing, biology and cognition (thought processes) can all explain criminality; however the real reasons are far more complex. All these are factors that affect the chances of turning to crime; none by themselves are causal factors. It is the interaction between these factors and individual differences between people that influences whether or not people turn to crime. It must be remembered that everyone has free will; we choose whether or not to break the law. Furthermore, how do we define and measure crime? (reliability and validity)

Possible Essays - Upbringing 1) How can upbringing in a disrupted family explain criminal behaviour? Evaluate the use of longitudinal research when considering upbringing as an explanation for criminal behaviour. 2) Describe one way that criminal behaviour has been explained. Using the issue of reductionism, evaluate any two explanations of crime 3) How can living in a disadvantaged neighbourhood explain criminal behaviour? To what extent does upbringing provide an explanation of criminal behaviour?

Possible Essays - Cognition 1) Outline one piece of research into criminal thinking patterns. To what extent does the cognitive approach provide an explanation of criminal behaviour? 2) Describe how morality can explain criminal behaviour. Evaluate the validity of research into cognitive explanations of criminal behaviour. 3) Describe how social cognition (attribution) can explain criminality. Evaluate the methodology used to study cognitive explanations of criminality.

Possible Essays - Biology 1) Outline how brain dysfunction can explain criminal behaviour. Evaluate biological explanations of criminal behaviour. 2) Outline evidence which shows that genes may influence criminal behaviour. To what extent are biological explanations of why people turn to crime reductionist? 3) Outline a biological explanation of why males commit more crime than females. To what extent does the biological approach provide an explanation of criminal behaviour?