Evaluation Flashcards
(24 cards)
Strengths of social learning theory
Bobo doll experiment showed model did have an effect so showed cause and effect
Experiment and variables were controlled allowing accuracy
Study has been replicated with slight change and similar results
Limitations on social learning theory
Is a lab study so it lacks ecological
Involves ethical issues due to exposing children to aggression
Cumberbaton (1997) four that children who had not played with bobo doll before were 5x more likely to imitate the model than those who were familiar with the doll
Strengths of Psychodynamic Theories – Freuds Theory
Rather odd but not wrong
Contributed to research about crime and behaviour so focus on childhood experiences
The ID, EGO and SUPEREGO relate to different parts of the brain, functions and development
Limitations of Psychodynamic Theories – Freuds Theory
Offending are no longer accredited due to difficulty of testing unconscious mind
Unscientific and lack objective interpretation so lacks empirical research
Very bias as he studied his own memories and dreams
Strengths of Eysenck’s Criminal Personality
Research on soldiers in hospital supported theory
Detectable in childhood possible to be intervene at an early stage
Research in this area relies on self-report measures can result in biased
Formed the basis of many modern personality tests
Theory suggests that it is genetic and fails to see it change over time
DeYoung (2010) suggests a link between P, E,N scores and brain processes
Strengths of lombroso study
First person to give criminology a scientific credibility
Charles Goring (1913) find a low-order intelligent
Challenged the idea that criminals are evil and choose to be criminal so a study in china found an artificial intelligence programme flagged criminal men correctly 83%
Not everyone with atavism features is a criminal
Extremely deterministic and assumes that we cannot escape identity
Scientific racism as DeLisi (2012) indicated that many of the atavistic features defined are specific to people of African descent
limitations of Lombrosos study
Lack of control group so no comparisons can be made
Lack of accuracy
Not everyone with atavism features is a criminal
Extremely deterministic and assumes that we cannot escape identity
Strengths of Sheldon’s study
Confirmed there is a small association between bodily build and crime
Good sample size (2000)
Others found results to support – Gluek and Gluek (1956) found research in a sample of delinquents 60% meso while non-delinquents 31%
Strengths of XYY theory
Jacob et al (1965) found a significant number of men in prisons have XYY
Adler (2007) indicated it is possible that aggressive and violent behaviour
Theilgaard (1984) researched traits and compared so aggression was not associated
Limitations of XYY
Found that genetic abnormalities are widespread in general population
Focused on genetics go ignores the behaviourists approach
Theilgaard (1984) researched traits and compared so aggression was not associated
Strengths of twin studies
Natural experiments
Christiansen (1977) supported views that criminality does not have a gentic component
Helped in prevention of vulnerable disorder
Limitations of twin studies
Early studies as Lange (1929) were in adequately controlled and lacked validity
Small sample so may not representative of general population
Same environment so may be related to nurture
Strengths of adoption studies
Exposed to different environment to biological family
Concluded to correlation between adopted children and biological parents
Limitations of twin studies
Age of adoption means they have influenced information on biological family not available
Not always random as children are placed with parents similar to biological family
Strengths of functionalism
Explains that crime is a nature part of healthy societies
Crime can be a safety valve for society
Merton’s strain theory provides powerful arguments for criminality so being unable to achieve society success goals
Limits of functionalism
How can crime be functional when it causes huge misery
Over-predicts working class crime so ignores middle class crime
Marxist’s argue this theory does not explain how law is created benefit capitalism
Strengths of Marxism
Provides an explanation for crime that covers all social classes
Highlights the impact of selective law enforcement
Law reflects differences in power between social class
Limitations of Marxism
Largely ignores other non-class inequalities
Overstates the amount of crime in working class communities
Many prosecutions for white collar or cooperate crime
Strengths of Interactionism – Labelling Theory
How law is often enforced in a decriminalise
Allows bias in law enforcement
Role of the media in defining and/or eating deviance
Limitations of interactionism- labelling theory
Fails to explain why deviant behaviours happen
Ignores the victim of crime and focuses on the criminal so romanticise crime
Labelling does not always lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy
Strengths of right realism
Helps produce and shape governments research
Offers more practical approach to tackling
Flood – page et al (2000) supports the view of the decline of the family
Limitations of right realism
Readily accepts crime statistics such as fails to explain white collar crime
Ignores wider structural causes of crime (poverty)
Ignores increasing gap between rich and poor so resentment
Strengths of left realism
Explores the role if the victim
Recognises multiple causes of crime
Avoids the worst excesses of both right and left wing
Limitations of let realism
Does not explain why everyone in relative deprivation
Arguably made up of a mixture of other theories pulled together
Fails to explain white-collar or corporate crime
