AC4.1 Assess Criminological Theories In Informing Policy Development

Question 1

What are the different individualistic policies?

Answer 1

Aversion therapy
Behaviour modification
Psychoanalysis

Question 2

What theory does aversion therapy link to?

Answer 2

Eysenck’s personality theory

Question 3

What is aversion therapy?

Answer 3

Behavioural therapy that involves repeat pairing an unwanted behaviour with discomfort. This conditioning process makes the individual associate the stimuli with unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations

Question 4

What is an example of aversion therapy?

Answer 4

Giving a smoker a shock every time they smoke

Question 5

How does aversion therapy link to eysenck?

Answer 5

Links to his personality theory in the treatment of sex offenders

Eysenck states that criminals are strongly extravert and neurotic, making them harder to condition as they are more resistant to the process. Therefore conditioning needs to be stronger

Question 6

Strengths of aversion therapy

Answer 6

Generally successful while under the direction of a therapist

Question 7

Weaknesses of aversion therapy?

Answer 7

Relapse rates are high
Ethical issues
Risk of injury or death
Can cause increased anxiety or anger
Lacks rigorous scientific evidence

Question 8

What theory does behaviour modification link to?

Answer 8

Banduras social learning theory

Question 9

What is behaviour modification?

Answer 9

A technique that focuses on promoting desirable behaviour and extinguishing undesirable behaviours

Question 10

What is a token economy?

Answer 10

A programme used in some prisons where a token is given for a desirable action, which is later exchanged for a treat

Question 11

What is operant learning?

Answer 11

The idea that we can increase or decrease a certain behaviour by adding a reward/ punishment

Question 12

What are the different incentive levels in prison?

Answer 12

Basic level (limited to basic things)

Standard level ( allowed more money)

Enhanced (get tv and own clothes etc..)

Question 13

What are incentive levels based on?

Answer 13

Behaviour, commitment to rehabilitation and taking part in work/activities

Question 14

Evidence to suggest that behaviour modification works

Answer 14

Offenders who undergo behaviour modification take longer to reoffend than others

Makes prisoners more manageable

Fo and Odonnels study showed reinforcements had improved effects on the behaviour of serious offenders

Question 15

Evidence to suggest that behaviour modification doesn’t work

Answer 15

Often doesn’t work long term, once reinforcement stops, behaviour is likely to return

Hobbs and holt found token economies have short term effects with young offenders

Allyon and Milan found short term effects with adults

Ethical issues — some argue the things earned are basic rights

Question 16

What theory does psychoanalysis link to?

Answer 16

Freuds psychodynamic theory

Question 17

What is psychoanalysis?

Answer 17

A treatment where the patient verbalises their thoughts through a variety of methods

It is used to highlight unconscious conflicts between the id and the superego

Question 18

What methods did Freud use in psychoanalysis?

Answer 18

Hypnosis and free association (giving the patient a word and they respond with the first word that comes to mind)

Question 19

What did Aichhorn discover about young offenders?

Answer 19

Because they had uncaring or absent parents, they failed to develop loving relationships

Question 20

Evidence to suggest that psychoanalysis is effective

Answer 20

Some studies conclude that it works as well as other psychotherapies such as CBT

Question 21

Evidence to suggest that psychoanalysis is not effective

Answer 21

It is costly and time consuming so it has not been used on large scales to treat criminals

It gives the analysist the power to define what is normal and abnormal. This imposing definitions could lead to risk of abuse

Question 22

What are some examples of biological policies?

Answer 22

Eugenics
The death penalty
Chemical castration

Question 23

What theory does eugenics link to?

Answer 23

Twin and adoption studies

Question 24

What is eugenics?

Answer 24

The belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human race

Question 25

How do people believe eugenics will reduce criminality?

Answer 25

Sterilisation laws could prevent incarcerated criminals from giving birth to criminal offspring. This may make it possible to breed out and form of criminal behaviour

Question 26

Examples of sterilisation policies?

Answer 26

Germany used sterilisation during WW2 to ‘purify’ the ‘Ayran master race’. They eliminated 400,000 people deemed unfit to breed In California 1909 anyone committed to a state institution could be steralized

Question 27

Evidence that eugenics is effective

Answer 27

It prevents a child from being subjected to criminal parents and a criminal lifestyle, preventing crime If a genetic link is proven, less children are being born with criminal tendencies so crime rate will be reduced

Question 28

Evidence that eugenics is not effective

Answer 28

It doesn’t consider environmental factors which influence someone to commit crime — therefore cannot fully stop crime There are ethical issues with sterilisation as criminals can still have a child and raise them in a good way

Question 29

What is the death penalty?

Answer 29

When a government or state executes someone, usually because they have committed a serious crime

Question 30

What methods of execution were most used in 2020?

Answer 30

Beheading, electrocution, hanging, lethal injection and shooting

Question 31

When was the death penalty abolished in the uk?

Answer 31

It was temporarily abolished in 1965 and the murder rate did not soar so it was permanently abolished in 1969

Question 32

What is the lethal injection composed of?

Answer 32

Midazolam (to sedate) Vecuronium (to paralyse muscles) Potassium chloride (to stop heart)

Question 33

What is a limitation of the lethal injection?

Answer 33

There is some controversy as it may not make you as unconscious as it is believed to — ethical issues

Question 34

What is chemical castration?

Answer 34

Using hormonal drugs to reduce testosterone levels. This decreases libido sexual function, sexual interest and sexual reoffending

Question 35

Evidence that chemical castration is effective

Answer 35

Lee and Cho 2013 - chemical castration reduces testosterone to very low levels, resulting in very low reoffending

Question 36

Evidence to suggest that chemical castration Is not effective

Answer 36

There are other psychological factors that result in sexual offences

Question 37

What are the examples of sociological policies?

Answer 37

Zero tolerance Restorative justice CCTV

Question 38

What theory does a zero tolerance policy link to?

Answer 38

Right realism

Question 39

What is zero tolerance?

Answer 39

A strategy where law enforcement aggressively addresses minor offences and disorder, aiming to deter more serious crime

Question 40

Give an example of using zero tolerance?

Answer 40

Drug enforcement— any possession or distribution of illegal drugs will lead to immediate arrest and prosecution regardless of the amount or context

Question 41

Evidence that zero tolerance is effective

Answer 41

In the uk it cut crime by 20% New York since 1993, major crime fell by 39% and murder by 49%

Question 42

Evidence that zero tolerance is not effective

Answer 42

There is still a high crime rate Drug dealing/possession is still happening

Question 43

What theory does restorative justice link to?

Answer 43

Left realism

Question 44

What is restorative justice?

Answer 44

An approach to addressing harm involving those affected in finding ways to repair the damage and achieve a sense of justice

Question 45

Give an example of restorative justice

Answer 45

Used for theft cases with young offenders - it helps them to reflect and take accountability

Question 46

Evidence that restorative justice is effective

Answer 46

Reduced reoffending rates by 14%

Question 47

Evidence that restorative justice is not effective

Answer 47

It doesn’t work for some and they return to committing crime

Question 48

What is CCTV?

Answer 48

A formal method of surveillance within society which records and monitors public behaviour

Question 49

Examples of using CCTV

Answer 49

Cameras Used to identify rioters in the London riots Critical evidence in the James bugler case

Question 50

Evidence that cctv is effective

Answer 50

There has been significant reduction in the theft of vehicles

Question 51

Evidence that cctv is not effective

Answer 51

There has been no impact on violent crime

Question 52

What is informal policy making?

Answer 52

Community meetings to set out how to control crime Establishment or neighbourhood groups

Question 53

What is formal policy making?

Answer 53

Includes Society using state crime control policies to reduce or prevent crime or punishment policies to punish offenders agreed upon by institutions such as prisons and/or government