Sociology · Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 23 · Question 3

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Stories about crime are often exaggerated in the media and are thought by many to lead to deviancy amplification. Therefore, successful policing strategies are essential to prevent crime in society.

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3(a)[2]
What is meant by the term ‘deviancy amplification’? [2]
The process by which the media, through exaggeration and distortion, create more crime. One mark for partial definition, e.g. more crime. Two marks for clear definition, e.g. media reporting leads to more crime and deviance in society.
3(b)[4]
Describe two policing strategies that aim to prevent crime. [4]
Candidates will describe two policing strategies – be aware that you are likely to see a wide variety of different strategies in candidate’s answers that reflect cultural diversity. These should be credited. Possible answers:
Stop and search;
Police targeting of certain social groups;
Military policing – force, power, weaponry, etc.;
Community policing – the ‘make up’ of the police represent the community they are policing;
Police surveillance methods;
Police act as a visible presence in order to deter people from committing crime;
Power of arrest;
Fines;
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 prisons can reduce crime. [6]
Candidates need to demonstrate an understanding of how prisons can reduce crime. Possible answers:
Rehabilitation – changing attitudes and behaviour through education and training in prison so there are other options for the offender than crime;
Deterrence – custodial sentencing can put other people off committing crime if conditions are seen to be harsh and difficult;
Restorative justice – offender and victim meeting so that the imprisoned offender can realise the harm they have caused and thus prevent further crimes;
Loss of freedom – prisoners lose their freedom and thus are unable to continue committing crime as well as being put off from re-offending;
Prevention of crime – if they are locked up then criminals are unable to cause harm in society;
Punishment – punishing offenders stops both them and others from committing further crimes;
Media – representations of prison life are typically negative and thus can prevent crime as they deter offending;
Social control – prisons act as a formal agent of control and so prevent crime;
Other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–3) Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of how prisons can reduce crime. Responses may be short and un/under developed. Candidates may be confused as to what prisons do to prevent crime. 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. ‘criminals lose their freedom so they can’t commit crime’. Band 2 (4–6) A clear and accurate explanation showing good sociological knowledge and understanding of how prisons can reduce crime. Sociological terms and concepts should be expected. Candidates may refer to deterrence, rehabilitation, loss of freedom, formal social control, 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 white-collar crimes are under-represented in the official crime statistics. [8]
Candidates need to identify what is meant by the term ‘white collar crime’ and be clear why such crimes may be under-represented in the crime statistics. Possible answers:
Crimes committed by the higher classes such as white collar crime are less likely to be recorded in the crime statistics;
White collar crimes are less likely to be reported to the police;
White collar crimes are difficult to detect;
White collar crimes are less likely to be defined as crimes and less likely to be thought of as crimes by people;
White collar crimes may be dealt with by organisations such as the workplace rather than come to the authorities attention, i.e. get the sack/fired;
Companies prefer to avoid the publicity of a criminal case and thus may not report white collar crimes to the police;
Middle class criminals may find it easier than the lower classes to negotiate justice and ‘talk their way out of’ crimes;
Middle class criminals are likely to have more money and so are able to buy the best lawyers/legal representatives and/or sometimes buy their way out of trouble;
White collar criminals are more likely than working class criminals to be let off in the courtroom as they do not fit the stereotype of a typical criminal;
Large amount of white collar crime remains hidden in the dark figure of crime;
Marxism – crime is defined by the ruling classes and therefore many actions of the ruling class are not defined as or treated as crimes;
Other reasonable response. Band 0 No creditworthy response. Band 1 (1–3) Answers in this band will show only a limited awareness of why white-collar crimes are under-represented in the official crime statistics. Candidates may not fully understand what is meant by white collar crime. Responses may be short and undeveloped, e.g. ‘Not all crimes are reported to the police’. 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 white-collar crimes are under-represented in the official crime statistics. Candidates may say that, e.g. ‘not all white collar crimes are reported to the police because they are hard to detect and therefore many victims do not realise that a crime has occurred’. 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 white- collar crimes are under-represented in the official crime statistics and will be well developed and explained. Candidates may discuss issues of non-reporting, non-recording and non- detection as well as Marxist views of white collar crime and the ruling class. 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 do the media determine what is seen as criminal and deviant? [15]
Candidates need to show an understanding of whether the media determine what is seen as criminal and deviant. Candidates need not address both crime and deviance separately in their response, although some may choose to do so. Possible answers: For:
Media plays a vital role in determining what we see as crime and deviance as few people come into direct contact with crime and criminals and so what they know they have learnt from the media;
In the Postmodern world the media is all around us 24/7 in various different forms and therefore has a lot of power over us;
Despite statistics to the contrary, crime rates are typically decreasing but the public think the opposite – the media is thought to be responsible for this distortion;
Media creates moral panics and folk devils through selective and exaggerated reporting – mods and rockers, terrorists, etc.;
Media labelling certain groups as criminal may lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy whereby people live up to the negative labels they have been given and so cause deviancy amplification;
Media stereotypes of who are criminal and deviant leads to the audience believing what they see and so affecting their perceptions of crime and deviance;
Other reasonable response. Against:
The media merely reflects the true picture of crime as found in the crime statistics;
The media may present a distorted picture of crime but this does not mean that the audience believes what they see and hear – uses and gratifications theory;
Police have the power to determine what is thought of as criminal and deviant not the media, i.e. stop and search, discretion, targeting, etc.;
The Government determine what is thought of as criminal and deviant through the law making procedure, not the media;
The courts determine what we think of as criminal through their sentencing, not the media;
The family through primary socialisation determine what we think of as criminal and deviant, i.e. through the teaching of norms and values, not the media;
The peer group influence our thoughts and opinions on what is criminal and deviant, i.e. through peer pressure and subcultures, not the media;
The education system influences what we think of as criminal and deviant – through things such as the hidden curriculum and teacher role models, not the media;
Religion teaches us what we think of as criminal and deviant through holy books, religious teachings, etc., not the media;
The media may be one crucial factor, but not the main/only one;
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 the media determine what is seen as criminal and deviant. Use of sociological terms or concepts is very unlikely. Responses may be short, undeveloped and one-sided, e.g. the media show us who the bad people are. 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. criminal is breaking the law, in the question. Band 2 (5–8) In this band candidates will show some basic knowledge of whether the media determine what is seen as criminal and deviant. 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 the media determines what is seen as criminal and deviant, i.e. exaggeration, representation, stereotypes, 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 the media determines what is seen as criminal and deviant. 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 the media does determine what is seen as criminal and deviant, but also be aware of some of the weaknesses in this argument, i.e. police, government, courts, other agencies of socialisation, 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 the media determines what is seen as criminal and deviant. 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 the media can determine what is seen as criminal and deviant through methods such as moral panics and sensationalism, there are also other ways of doing this, i.e. police targeting, chivalry thesis, peer pressure, socialisation, 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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