Sociology · May / June 2023 · Paper 22 · Question 3
0495
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There are many different reasons why individuals commit crime. Sociologists research crime to understand these reasons and to investigate the impact of crimes on victims. Explanations for crime 3 often suggest labelling or a lack of status are to blame. However, many crimes are not reported to the police and these unrecorded crimes can therefore be very difficult to research.
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3(a)[2]
What is meant by the term ‘labelling’? One mark for partial definition, e.g. stereotyping people OR Becker’s theory. Two marks for clear definition, e.g. how acts and people are defined as deviant by the social reaction of others to their behaviour.
3(b)[4]
Describe two urban crimes. Possible answers:
rioting – social disorder and unrest e.g. London riots, Egyptian Revolution;2011;
looting – stealing goods from somewhere e.g. shops/warehouses;gang crime – turf wars, often leading to knife/gun crime;mugging/street robbery – street attacks with a financial incentive;shoplifting – stealing from shops, often sold on to others;theft from city centre shops/banks – typically for financial gain;violence/assault – may be associated with alcohol and bars and/or weapons;drug dealing – organised crime where illegal drugs are bought and sold;knife crime – often associated with youths and sometimes with gangs;white collar crime – crimes committed against companies and usually carried out for personal benefit e.g. a bank clerk stealing cash whilst at work;corporate crime – committed by companies or their workers against the public e.g. fake goods – typically found in cities;bank robbery – usually occurs in cities by armed gangs;any other reasonable response. One mark for each point correctly identified (up to a maximum of two). One mark for each point that is developed (up to a maximum of two).3(c)[6]
Explain how victim surveys are used to measure crime. Possible answers:
asks a sample of respondents what crimes they have been a victim of, typically in the last year – starts to reveal the hidden/dark figure of crime (unreported);often use interviews to find out the information and this is typically in the respondents own home to increase rapport and validity;victim surveys are sometimes used to challenge the official picture of crime and victimisation in order for sociologists to have a better/more valid understanding;anonymity/confidentiality – because names are not revealed in this method of finding out about victims of crime, respondents are more likely to take part and to answer truthfully;CSEW/BCS – example of a national survey that looks for patterns and trends in victimisation in the UK using a representative, large sample and standardised questions (quantitative data);local victim surveys – e.g. Islington survey – look to find out about the experience of being a victim of crime in a local area in a more detailed way, often associated with Left Realism and Lea and Young (unstructured interviews – qualitative data);feminist victim surveys – e.g. Walklate – focus on crimes where women have been victims and which are very under–reported, to understand the impact and effect through unstructured interviews (qualitative data);victim surveys are now used in the UK to complement the official picture of crime and are therefore published alongside official statistics, this offers a broader, more accurate measurement;other reasonable response. Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1 – 3 marks] Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of the question. Responses may be short and un/underdeveloped. At the bottom of the band (1 mark), expect one weak point. Higher in the band (2–3 marks), candidates may offer more than one weak point, but there may be a tendency towards simplistic answers, engaging with sociological ideas without using sociological language. Band 2 [4 – 6 marks] Answers in this band will have clear and accurate explanation, showing good sociological knowledge and understanding. Sociological terms and concepts should be expected and explained. At the bottom of the band, the range of points covered may be narrow or lack detail. Higher in the band, answers will cover more than one point in a well–developed way or cover several points in less detail.3(d)[8]
Explain why crimes are not always reported to the police. Possible answers:
too trivial – people tend not to report crimes they believe to be too trivial as they don’t think the police can/will do anything to help;no benefit to victim – it is the crimes where the victim benefits from reporting them that are done so most regularly e.g. where a crime number is needed/for an insurance claim etc;private matters – some crimes aren’t reported as they’re seen as private matters between the victim and the offender e.g. gang or family crime;no desire for punishment – sometimes crimes aren’t reported as the victim doesn’t want the offender to be punished e.g. domestic abuse/coercion cases;fear of reprisal – sometimes crimes aren’t reported as the victim is afraid of what will happen;victimless crimes – some crimes are not reported as there is no feeling of being a victim;embarrassment – crimes of a sexual nature are very under–reported because of the sensitive nature of the topic and the unwillingness of the victim to relive the crime again;distrust of the police – in communities where the police are not trusted then crimes are unlikely to be reported e.g. traveler communities;any other reasonable response. Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1 – 3 marks] Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of the question. A tendency to description is likely. Responses may be short and undeveloped and points stated without explanation. Sociological terms and concepts are unlikely to be used. At the bottom of the band (1 mark), expect one weak point. Higher in the band (2–3 marks), candidates may offer more than one weak point. Band 2 [4 – 6 marks] Answers in this band will show basic sociological knowledge and understanding. Responses maybe underdeveloped and lacking in range. At the bottom of the band, candidates are unlikely to use sociological terms and concepts accurately. Higher in the band, candidates may be beginning to use sociological terms and concepts with greater accuracy. However, some aspects of the answer may only be partially developed/explained. Band 3 [7 – 8 marks] Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding and will be well–developed and explained. Sociological terms and concepts will be used accurately overall. Answers will be well–focused on the question and there will be a range of points presented. At the top of the band explanations will be clear throughout.3(e)[15]
To what extent can a lack of status in society explain criminal behaviour? Possible answers: Arguments for:
status frustration – Cohen – young people who do not get status from educational success in school may turn to crime in order to gain it;crime statistics – these clearly show that it is those people with less status and economic capital who are most likely to commit crime;crisis of masculinity – Mac an Ghaill – unemployment amongst men in traditional labour jobs is high in some areas so they turn to crime in order to maintain their masculine status of provider;Lea and Young, marginalisation – people with a lack of status in society feel socially excluded and so turn to crime as a form of resistance;racism – in some societies minority ethnic groups are given less status than the majority group and suffer racial discrimination, they may turn to crime in order to gain that status;riots – research shows that rioters are often young people with lower levels of status in society who riot to express their dissatisfaction with some aspect of society and call for social change e.g. BLM;the Arab Spring etc.;
stop and search rates – research shows that some social groups are disproportionately targeted by the police for stop and search and these are typically lower status groups – crime occurs as they assert their frustrations with these inequalities;juvenile delinquency – young people, low on status, commit most crimes in society but Matza (drift theory) says once they achieve status as they grow older they will also grow out of criminality;any other reasonable response. Arguments against:not everyone with a lack of status turns to criminal behaviour, most people conform to the law;inadequate socialisation – Murray – underclass values mean that children are not well socialised and so turn to criminal behaviour;labelling theory – stereotypes and perceptions of the ‘typical delinquent’ may be a better explanation for crime;white collar crime – these criminals do have status (money and power) in society yet still commit crime (Marxism);relative deprivation – it may not be a lack of status but a lack of money that causes crime (Marxism) – instrumental crime;masculinity – the peer pressure to be masculine (hegemonic, Connell) may be the reason for some males to become criminal;postmodernism – the thrills and excitement of crime may be the reason people commit it e.g. joyriding, not a lack of status;deviancy amplification – police targeting of some social groups may become so frustrating that it leads to clashes with the police and more crime;lack of opportunity/low educational qualifications – in some areas of high unemployment there may not be enough well–paid jobs available therefore some people turn to crime to find an illegitimate opportunity structure instead (Cloward and Ohlin), not status;feminism – domestic violence – this is typically committed by men (who are known to have higher status in society) which throws doubt upon the idea of a lack of status leading to crime;media – imitation and role modelling may lead to some crimes being committed, e.g. by the young, rather than a lack of status;any other reasonable response. Band 0 [0 marks] No creditworthy response. Band 1 [1 – 4 marks] Answers in this band may be vague and largely based on common sense showing limited knowledge of the debate. Use of sociological terms or concepts is very unlikely. Responses may be short, undeveloped and one– sided. Lower in the band (1–2 marks), expect one or two weak points. Higher in the band (3–4 marks) candidates may offer more than two points and provide a weak definition of key terms in the question. Band 2 [5 – 8 marks] In this band candidates will show some basic knowledge of the debate. Alternatively, they may offer an answer which is list–like in nature but there will be no real attempt to assess the issues raised by the question. There may be limited/some use of sociological terms or concepts. Responses may be underdeveloped and lack range. Answers may be simplistic and two– sided or only cover one side of the debate. Lower in the band, the response may be rather narrow in the points covered and there may be some development. Higher in the band, more points are likely to be covered with some development. Alternatively, a list–like answer with some development covering both sides of the argument may score up to 8 marks. A one–sided answer cannot score higher than 8 marks. Band 3 [9 – 12 marks] Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding of the debate. Sociological terms and concepts will be used with greater accuracy and/or frequency. For the most part, answers will be well–developed, focused on the question and there will be a range of points presented. There will be a two–sided response but it may lack range on one side. At the bottom of the band, candidates may provide a narrower range of developed points. At the top of the band, expect a wider range of developed points and clear focus on the question. Band 4 [13 – 15 marks] Answers in this band will show excellent knowledge and understanding of the debate. There will be a strong grasp of the arguments as well as accurate and frequent use of sociological terms and concepts. Answers will be well–developed, clearly focused on the question and discuss a wide range of points. Responses will be two–sided and have a range of points on each side. At the bottom of the band (13 marks), the answer may lack a specific conclusion. Higher in the band, there will be a clear attempt to offer an assessment of the ‘To what extent.?’ part of the question through a focused conclusion.
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