Explain the Strengths and Weaknesses of One or More Criminological Theories for Explaining Crime in Contemporary Britain
Explain the strengths and weaknesses of one or more criminological theories for explaining crime in contemporary Britain
Word count:1,200
Outline plan * Explain in brief the purpose of this essay. * Define the biological theory. * Evaluate Lombroso’s theory and link it to contemporary Britain. Include statistical data. * Discuss Charles Goring’s critisms of Lombroso’s theory. * Evaluate Sheldon’s somatypes theory. * Describe and evaluate the biological chromosomes theory. * State how Patria Jacobs’ study of the XYY genotype is tested by Stanley Walzer and Park Gerald’s own study of mental health hospital patients. * Explain how sociologists differ from biological theorist in their explanation of crime. * Describe and evaluate the social bond theory. * Discuss the social learning theory and state * Explain how it helps the social control agencies like the police in controlling crime in contemporary Britain. * Evaluate the strain theory and include the 5 ways in which people respond to the pressure of success in life. * Explain how innovation is linked to the 2011 UK summer riots. * Discuss the labelling theory and explain the how the media is responsible for creating moral panics.
The purpose of this essay is to describe and evaluate Biological, Psychological and Labelling theories. Criminological concepts relevant to these theories will be included, as well as the analysis of areas where there is a disagreement between the theories in terms of the question “why do people commit crime”?
A biological theory of crime proposes that physical attributes can lead an individual to criminal activities. In his publication L’Uomo Deliquente 1876, Cesare Lombroso studied the appearance and physical characteristics of Italian convicted criminals. He believed he had found evidence that a criminal brain was different from a non-criminal. He claimed that this was clearly displayed in the shape of the criminal’s face, and concluded
Word count:1,200
Outline plan * Explain in brief the purpose of this essay. * Define the biological theory. * Evaluate Lombroso’s theory and link it to contemporary Britain. Include statistical data. * Discuss Charles Goring’s critisms of Lombroso’s theory. * Evaluate Sheldon’s somatypes theory. * Describe and evaluate the biological chromosomes theory. * State how Patria Jacobs’ study of the XYY genotype is tested by Stanley Walzer and Park Gerald’s own study of mental health hospital patients. * Explain how sociologists differ from biological theorist in their explanation of crime. * Describe and evaluate the social bond theory. * Discuss the social learning theory and state * Explain how it helps the social control agencies like the police in controlling crime in contemporary Britain. * Evaluate the strain theory and include the 5 ways in which people respond to the pressure of success in life. * Explain how innovation is linked to the 2011 UK summer riots. * Discuss the labelling theory and explain the how the media is responsible for creating moral panics.
The purpose of this essay is to describe and evaluate Biological, Psychological and Labelling theories. Criminological concepts relevant to these theories will be included, as well as the analysis of areas where there is a disagreement between the theories in terms of the question “why do people commit crime”?
A biological theory of crime proposes that physical attributes can lead an individual to criminal activities. In his publication L’Uomo Deliquente 1876, Cesare Lombroso studied the appearance and physical characteristics of Italian convicted criminals. He believed he had found evidence that a criminal brain was different from a non-criminal. He claimed that this was clearly displayed in the shape of the criminal’s face, and concluded
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