1. Sociological Explanations for Criminal & Deviant Behaviour
Date: Sunday, 02 December 2018
Sociological Explanations for Criminal & Deviant Behaviour
Learning Objectives
Understand different sociological explanations of criminal and deviant behaviour
TIF - Analyse the importance of each explanation
Keywords: Conformity, Labelling theory, Master status, Relative Deprivation, Stereotype, Sub-culture
C.A.G.E.R
Class
Religion 15
Age
Ethnicity
Gender

2. It has been argued that some people are naturally inclined to be criminals. This means that biological factors are responsible for their behaviour. They are born criminals. A study published in 1876 claimed that criminal behaviour was a result of biological factors. Lombroso studied a large number of prisoners and concluded that a person’s character could be assessed from the shape of the skill and other physical characteristics. He believed that criminals were less evolved than normal people. This view, however, is no longer considered as offering a satisfactory explanation of crime. A geneticist, Steve Jones (1994) believes that our genes are a complex set of chemical instructions that shape our behaviour. They do this in interaction with the environment. Any influences of biology are always developed by society. Therefore, attempts to explain human behaviour only in biological terms will never provide a complete answer. However, this nature/nurture debate is crucial to understanding a sociological approach to crime. Sociologists are interested in explaining how crime and criminals are socially constructed.

3. Psychological Explanations Various explanations have been put forward by psychologists to explain crime. Premenstrual Tension (PMT) Maternal Deprivation
It is believed that 80% of female crime occurs around the period of menstruation!
Research shows that early childhood deprivation, lack of emotional security and lack of secure attachment in childhood could also lead to a person developing a criminal personality as they seek affection and attention from elsewhere.

4. Who cares? We’re studying Sociology…
Discuss how far Sociologists would agree that sociological factors explain criminal behaviour (12)
Explanations of why sociological factors could explain…(socialisation, peer groups & sub-cultures, relative deprivation, labelling…)
Other explanations - Biological
Other explanations - Psychological

5. Group work – Sociological Explanations
Phase 1 – Each group will be given a different sociological explanation to research. You must make sure that you fully understand this explanation as you will be teaching it to another group. Write a set of notes to help you teach the next group. Don’t forget to include:
What it means,
b) How it can lead to criminal or deviant behaviour,
Any key quotes, names of Sociologists or studies, evidence or statistics, examples
Inadequate socialization
Opportunity structure
Relative deprivation
Sub-cultural/peer group theory
Marxist explanations
Labelling

6. Group work – Sociological Explanations
Phase 2 – You will now move to another group to teach them about your sociological explanation. They will also teach you about theirs. As they’re teaching, make sure you take down some notes under the subheading of the theory. Don’t forget to include:
What it means,
How it can lead to criminal or deviant behaviour,
Any key quotes, names of Sociologists or studies, evidence or statistics, examples
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D

7. Just a minute 40 39 41 43 44 38 42 37 33 32 34 35 36 45 46 56 55 57 58 60 59 54 53 48 47 49 50 52 51 31 29 9 8 10 11 13 12 7 6 1
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8. Date: Sunday, 02 December 2018
Sociological Explanations for Criminal & Deviant Behaviour – Exam Questions
Learning Objectives
Analyse the importance of each sociological explanation
Keywords: Conformity, Labelling theory, Master status, Relative Deprivation, Stereotype, Sub-culture 15

9. Which sociological explanation do these keywords match up with?
Self-fulfilling prophecy - People hear labels about themselves from people who are more powerful than they are. They come to believe the labels are true and then act as if they are true. Therefore, the labels become true
Peer group pressure – a group of a person’s own age who are important t them and often influence them to behave in a particular way.
Sub-culture – a group with a set of values and ways of behaving which are distinctive from the generally accepted cultural values of society.
Capitalist society – an economic system where the production of goods is organised for profit and sold to a free market.
Functionalism – an approach in sociology that seeks to explain the existence of social structures by the role they perform for society as a whole.

10. Answering 5 mark questions…
From the Examiner Report June 2014 Unit 2

11. Describe one way in which some sociologists believe that labelling can lead to deviant behaviour and explain why this might be a problem for certain groups within society (5)

12. Come up with your own 5 mark question!

13. Planning out 12 mark answers
Discuss how far sociologists would agree that teenage criminal and deviant behaviour results from parents failing to socialise their children correctly. (12) Discuss how far sociologists would agree that what is seen as deviance arises from labelling in society. (12) Discuss how far sociologists would agree that most criminal behaviour is caused by poverty and social deprivation (12) Discuss how far sociologists would agree that ______________________ is caused by ________________________

14. Discuss how far sociologists would agree that what is seen as deviance arises from labelling in society. (12)

15. Homework
Discuss how far sociologists would agree that most criminal behaviour is caused by poverty and social deprivation (12)