Sociology · Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 22 · Question 3

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Some social groups seem to commit more crime than others. There is a range of sociological explanations, including inadequate socialisation, to explain these crime rates. Other sociologists disagree, however, believing it is more about factors such as status frustration.

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3(a)[2]
What is meant by the term ‘inadequate socialisation’? [2]
When the learning of society’s norms and values has not been effective. One mark for partial definition, e.g. not brought up well/poorly socialised/being criminal. Two marks for clear definition, e.g. failure to learn the agreed norms and values of society properly;
the learning of inappropriate/criminal norms and values.
3(b)[4]
Describe two patterns of crime linked to age. [4]
Candidates will describe two patterns of crime linked to age. Patterns may be interpreted as statistical figures/trends or types of crimes. Either is fine to credit. Candidates can focus on any age group in their answer. Possible answers:
Most crimes are committed by young people, 15–25 year olds are the group most likely to offend;
High proportions of young people commit crime, these tend to be non-violent and are rarely repeated – juvenile delinquency (may refer to status crimes here, e.g. underage drinking of alcohol);
Young people typically commit petty crime;
Shoplifting, robbery, drug crimes are often associated with young people;
Young boys are more likely to offend than young girls;
Very little crime is committed by older people;
The crime rates of older people are increasing, i.e. Japan – often linked to the economy;
Honour killings associated with adults;
Corporate/white-collar crime linked to adults;
Fundamentalism linked to young people;
Street crime associated with young people’
Gang crime associated with young people;
Crimes using new technologies such as cyber-bullying and illegal media downloading are more likely to be committed by young people;
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 gender affects crime rates. [6]
Candidates need to demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which gender can affect crime rates. They may discuss either males or females or both. Possible answers:
Males commit more crime than females according to statistics;
Males are likely to have more opportunities to commit crime in the workplace, i.e. corporate crime/white-collar crime;
Males are more likely to be on the streets as they are typically subject to less social control than females and so have more opportunities to commit crime;
Males and females are still typically socialised differently (i.e. Oakley study) and so have different attitudes and behaviours which may affect crime rates;
Males are more likely to be labelled as criminals which may lead to them being targeted more often than females and so result in a self-fulfilling prophecy;
Females are more likely to be victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and males are more likely to be the perpetrators of these crimes;
Differences in the types of crimes committed by males and females;
Female crime is thought to be hidden – chivalry thesis;
Females thought to be treated more harshly than males if they commit crimes that go against their femininity, i.e. child abuse – Heidensohn’s idea of ‘double deviance’;
Female crime rate is rising, e.g. ‘ladette’ culture/girl gangs;
Females have fewer opportunities to commit crimes due to their domestic responsibilities;
Male crimes are more likely to involve aggression and violence than female crimes;
Males are more likely to be targeted by the police as criminals (i.e. higher stop and search rates) than females and thus are more likely to be caught;
Females are more likely to work as prostitutes and be victims of human trafficking, particularly in the sex trade;
Other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–3) Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of how gender affects crime rates. Responses may be short and undeveloped. Candidates may be confused as to what is meant by a crime rate. 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, e.g. ‘men do more crime than women’. Band 2 (4–6) A clear and accurate explanation showing good sociological knowledge and understanding of how gender affects crime rates. Sociological terms and concepts should be expected. Candidates may refer to the dark figure of crime, feminism, police targeting, validity, chivalry thesis, etc. with examples. 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 factor in a well- developed way or cover several factors in less detail.
3(d)[8]
Explain why primary socialisation may cause some people to commit crime. [8]
Candidates need to identify the links between socialisation in the family and crime. They may approach this question by discussing how the family socialisation process causes crime generally or may focus on specific social factors such as gender, class, etc. Possible answers:
If socialisation in the family hasn’t been done properly then children may fail to learn the required norms and values to conform to society;
There may be criminals in the family who act as role models for younger children, i.e. parent/older siblings;
Children imitate older people and therefore they are likely to copy behaviour and attitudes that they are brought up with in the family;
Boys are socialised to be masculine and adventurous through primary socialisation and this thrill seeking behaviour is closely linked to criminality;
Boys tend to be less socially controlled than females in the family and therefore have more opportunities to commit crimes;
New Right believe that changes to the structure of the family, i.e. a decline in the nuclear family, has led to increased levels of crime due to inadequate socialisation;
In some families there may be only one parent, most often a female, meaning there may be a lack of discipline through no father figure present;
Other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–3) Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of why primary socialisation may cause some people to commit crime. Candidates may not fully understand what is meant by primary socialisation. Responses may be short and undeveloped, e.g. Parents have to make sure their children don’t commit crimes. 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) Answers in this band will show basic sociological knowledge and understanding of why primary socialisation may cause some people to commit crime. Candidates may say that, e.g. ‘boys are socialised to be more aggressive than females or the underclass may inadequately socialise their children leading to them being more likely to commit crime’. Responses may be 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. Band 3 (7–8) Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding of why primary socialisation may cause some people to commit crime and will be well developed and explained. Candidates may consider social factors, i.e. class and/or gender as well as more general points about inadequate socialisation, etc. Sociological terms and concepts will be used accurately, overall. Answers will be well focused on the question and there will be a range of reasons presented. At the top of the band explanations will be clear throughout.
3(e)[15]
To what extent does status frustration explain why some individuals commit crime?[15] Candidates need to show an understanding of what is meant by the term ‘status frustration’ and why this may lead some individuals to commit crime. Status frustration – a sense of frustration in individuals or groups arising because they are denied status and prestige in society (Cohen). Possible answers: For:
Males – high unemployment and the decline of the traditional male breadwinner role leaves males searching for status in society;
Young people with few qualifications struggle to find employment which may lead to status frustration;
Gang culture – many members are searching for the status that they cannot find in society;
Young people are in a period of transition and so are often without status in society which may lead to crime;
Peer group pressure may lead many young people to commit crime in order to gain status;
Culture of masculinity may lead some people to commit crime on order to gain status within their peer group;
Those from the lower social classes may struggle to find status legitimately in society and thus turn to crime in order to obtain it instead;
Ethnic minorities are sometimes denied status in society and therefore may turn to crime to achieve this;
Loss of status for elderly people may lead to crime being committed;
Other reasonable response. Against:
Functionalist explanations for crime, i.e. crime is a good thing for society;
Durkheim’s concept of anomie;
Merton’s strain theory – crime is caused by a structural inability to gain wealth and status legitimately;
New Right explanations of crime – crime is caused because of a decline in social control and morality;
Marxist explanations for crime – crime is resistance to capitalism;
Labelling/self-fulfilling prophecy causes crime;
Peer group pressure leads to crime, particularly amongst the young;
Inadequate socialisation leads to crime;
Lack of opportunity in society to be successful means some people turn to crime;
Illegitimate opportunity structure (Cloward and Ohlin);
Material and/or relative deprivation leads to crime;
Factors leading to criminality associated with gender, e.g. patriarchy/pressure on the male to be the breadwinner;
Factors leading to criminality associated with ethnicity, e.g. discrimination, alienation;
Factors leading to criminality associated with social class, e.g. inequalities in society, few opportunities for social mobility;
Factors leading to criminality associated with age, e.g. youth gangs, juvenile delinquency;
Other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–4) Answers in this band may be vague and largely based on common sense showing limited knowledge of whether status frustration explains why some individuals commit crime. Use of sociological terms or concepts is very unlikely. Responses may be short, undeveloped and one-sided, e.g. some people commit crime because they get frustrated. 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 or provide a weak definition of key terms, e.g. status frustration is being angry about not having any status, in the question. Band 2 (5–8) In this band candidates will show some basic knowledge of whether status frustration explains why some individuals commit crime. 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 use of sociological terms or concepts. Candidates may discuss some reasons why status frustration may lead to crime ie lack of qualifications, pressure to be masculine, high unemployment, etc. but responses may be underdeveloped and lack range. Answers may be simplistic and two-sided responses are unlikely. Lower in the band, the response will be rather narrow in the points covered and there will be little development. Higher in the band, more points will be covered and there will be limited development of some points. Alternatively, a list-like answer with little 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) Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and understanding of whether status frustration explains why some individuals commit crime. 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. Candidates may be able to present a range of points to support the idea that status frustration leads to crime, but also be aware of some of the other explanations ie anomie, Marxism, Labelling theory, etc. There will be a two-sided response but this may be unbalanced. At the bottom of the band, candidates may provide a narrower range of well- developed points. At the top of the band, expect a wider range of points and clear focus on the question. Band 4 (13–15) Answers in this band will show excellent knowledge and understanding of whether status frustration explains why some individuals commit crime. There will be a strong grasp of the argument 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. For example, candidates may say that as well as agreeing that status frustration can lead to crime for young males in particular due to gang culture and a lack of qualifications, there are also other explanations for crime and that not all young males turn to crime, etc. Responses will be two-sided and balanced. 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. Section D: Media

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