CRIM PAST PAPER Qs (YEAR 1) Flashcards
(25 cards)
Describe how one sociological theory accounts for criminality (6 marks)
Left Realism
Relative deprivation: Feeling deprived compared to others, even if not in poverty.
Subcultures: Groups form with alternative values that may encourage criminality.
Marginalisation: Feeling excluded from society—no political voice or support.
Social exclusion: Leads to frustration and crime as people feel left out of mainstream society.
Multiple causes: Recognises crime is a real issue needing multi-faceted solutions.
Solution: A more equal society reduces crime through social reform and community involvement.
Evaluate the effectiveness of one sociological theory in explaining the causes of criminality (6 marks)
Left Realism
✅ Strengths:
Recognises crime as a real issue, especially in inner-city areas.
Focuses on victims and vulnerable groups.
Acknowledges multiple causes like deprivation, marginalisation, and subcultures.
❌ Limitations:
Over-focuses on street crime; ignores white-collar and corporate crime.
Relative deprivation doesn’t explain why not all deprived individuals offend.
Can give an unrepresentative view by focusing on specific urban areas.
Define social values and give one example (2 marks)
- Social values: Shared cultural ideas about what is considered right or wrong.
- Act as broad moral guidelines.
- E.g. Respect for the elderly.
Define mores and give one example (2 marks)
- Mores: Deeply held moral beliefs or “good” ways of behaving.
- Breaking mores is seen as seriously wrong.
- E.g. Not committing murder.
Identify three social changes that have affected policy development (3 marks)
- LGBTQIA+ rights – e.g., legalisation of same-sex marriage.
- Technology laws – e.g., cybercrime legislation.
- Women’s rights – e.g., equal pay and protection against domestic violence.
Describe how one individualistic theory accounts for criminality (6 marks)
Social Learning Theory (Bandura)
- Crime is learned through observation, imitation, and vicarious reinforcement.
- Individuals copy role models, especially if behaviour is rewarded.
- Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment showed children imitating aggressive adults.
- Family and peer groups are key influences—criminal behaviour is normalised.
- Offenders may have grown up in environments where crime is seen as acceptable.
- Supported by Osborne and West (1982): sons of criminal fathers more likely to offend.
Briefly analyse how one individualistic theory of criminality can be applied to Gary’s situation (4 marks)
Social Learning Theory
Gary observes criminal behaviour from his brother Billy, the gang leader.
He views Billy as a role model and is vicariously reinforced by seeing his success.
He learns that crime provides excitement and status, leading him to imitate the behaviour.
His decision to join the gang shows learned criminal behaviour through observation and environment.
Evaluate the effectiveness of two individualistic theories in explaining the causes of criminality (9 marks)
Social Learning Theory & Eysenck’s Personality Theory
Social Learning Theory
✅ Strengths:
Supported by Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment.
Explains why children from criminal homes may offend (e.g. Osborne & West).
❌ Weaknesses:
Deterministic – ignores free will and cognitive reasoning.
Based on lab experiments with low ecological validity and short-term results.
Eysenck’s Personality Theory
✅ Strengths:
Links personality traits (e.g. extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism) to crime.
Can be tested using EPI (Eysenck Personality Inventory).
❌ Weaknesses:
Relies on self-report questionnaires, which may lack validity.
Assumes personality is stable, which is debated.
Research mostly based on prison populations, which may not represent all criminals.
Assess one state punishment policy that has been informed by sociological theories (6 marks)
Zero Tolerance Policy
Inspired by Right Realism: strict approach to minor crimes prevents major ones.
NYC: crime fell 39%, murder 49%—policy seen as successful.
Teesside (Ray Mallon): 20% crime reduction in 18 months.
✅ Effective in densely populated areas.
❌ May result in heavy-handed policing and ignore underlying causes of crime.
❌ Not effective in rural areas or for white-collar crimes.
Overall: effective in certain contexts, but controversial.
What are the strengths of Marxist theory in explaining criminality?
Highlights the power imbalance between social classes.
Emphasizes how core institutions (e.g., police, courts) enforce control favoring the ruling class.
Points out that white-collar crime is often ignored, while blue-collar crime is heavily punished.
Explains how laws may reflect the interests of the ruling class.
What are the weaknesses of Marxist theory in explaining criminality?
Overemphasis on class, neglecting other factors like gender and ethnicity.
Not all capitalist societies have high crime rates (e.g., Japan).
White-collar professionals can and do commit crimes, challenging the notion that they are above the law.
What are the strengths of Social Learning Theory in explaining criminality?
Supported by Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment, showing children imitate observed behavior.
Demonstrates the role of family, peers, and media in learning criminal behavior.
Explains how criminal behavior can be learned through observation and imitation.
What are the weaknesses of Social Learning Theory in explaining criminality?
Ethical concerns regarding the Bobo doll experiment.
Children may be less likely to imitate strangers than familiar individuals, questioning the generalizability.
Does not account for individual differences in susceptibility to learning criminal behavior.
What are the strengths of Eysenck’s Personality Theory in explaining criminality?
Links certain personality traits (e.g., extraversion, neuroticism) to criminal behavior.
Provides a measurable framework through personality assessments.
Suggests that personality factors can predispose individuals to criminality.
What are the weaknesses of Eysenck’s Personality Theory in explaining criminality?
Relies on self-report questionnaires, which may lack validity.
Assumes personality traits are stable over time, which is debated.
May not account for environmental influences on behavior.
What are the strengths of Right Realism in explaining criminality?
Emphasizes personal responsibility and rational choice in committing crimes.
Advocates for practical crime prevention measures like zero-tolerance policies.
Highlights the role of social control in deterring criminal behavior.
What are the weaknesses of Right Realism in explaining criminality?
Overlooks structural factors like poverty and inequality.
May lead to heavy-handed policing and potential civil liberties issues.
Does not adequately explain white-collar or corporate crimes.
What are the strengths of Left Realism in explaining criminality?
Recognizes the impact of relative deprivation, subcultures, and marginalization on crime.
Emphasizes the need for community-based solutions and social reform.
Addresses both the causes of crime and the experiences of victims.
What are the weaknesses of Left Realism in explaining criminality?
May overemphasize street crime while neglecting white-collar crime.
Assumes that relative deprivation always leads to crime, which is not always the case.
Implementation of suggested reforms can be challenging and resource-intensive.
Identify ways in which laws can differ
- Time (laws change over time)
- Culture (values differ between societies)
- Place
- Circumstances (context or situation can influence legal outcomes)
With reference to two examples, explain the social construction of criminality according to place (9 marks)
Criminality is socially constructed – what is criminal in one place may not be elsewhere.
Example 1: Alcohol laws – Legal to drink alcohol at 18 in the UK, but illegal until 21 in the USA.
Example 2: Jaywalking – Illegal in US cities, not a criminal offence in the UK.
Example 3: Cannabis – Possession deprioritised in some UK areas (e.g. Durham), strictly enforced in others (e.g. Cumbria).
Other examples:
Adultery: Illegal in Saudi Arabia and some US states, not in the UK.
FGM: Illegal in the UK but practiced in some cultures.
E-scooters: Legal on private land, illegal on public roads in many places.
Emphasises laws vary depending on location, norms, and cultural values.
Explain the legal definition of crime (6 marks)
Crime: Behaviour that breaks criminal law and is punishable.
Includes two elements:
Actus reus (guilty act) – usually a positive action.
Mens rea (guilty mind) – intention or recklessness.
Strict liability offences – don’t require mens rea but are still crimes.
Defences (e.g., self-defence) can make an act non-criminal.
Examples: murder, theft, robbery.
Sanctions: prison, fines, community orders.
Discuss how campaigns led by individuals affect policy making (9 marks)
Ann Ming: Campaign led to abolition of double jeopardy rule (Criminal Justice Act 2003).
Sara Payne: Led to Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (“Sarah’s Law”).
Michael Brown: Campaigned for Claire’s Law (Domestic Abuse Disclosure Scheme).
Bobby Turnbull: Campaigned for stricter gun laws; changes made to Firearms Act 1968.
Lillian Groves’ parents: Resulted in Lillian’s Law (drug-driving roadside tests).
PC Andrew Harper’s widow: Led to Harper’s Law (mandatory life sentences for killers of emergency workers).
Campaign methods: petitions, media, lobbying MPs.
Campaigns raise awareness and influence legal and policy changes effectively.
