PAPER 3 MOCK ESSAY PLAN REVISION

Analyse two ways that social control may explain gender differences in patterns of crime (10 marks)

Para 1: Parsons vs Adler

• expressive role, public sphere, domesticity, fewer opportunities

• Less likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour

• Lack of male role models = males turn to aggression

Liberation Thesis

• women are liberated from patriarchy

• Have more opportunities in the public sphere

• Adopt more masculine roles and can engage in crime

Para 2: Heidensohn

• higher levels of control on women, restrained by domestic roles

• Tighter supervision on daughters, limits ability to commit crime

• Women are repressed to gossip, informal control

Evaluate the contributions of realist explanations of crime (30 marks)

Para 1: Wilson vs Lee and Young

• rational choice, real problem, intentional decision

• We should reduce opportunities for crime, harsher punishments, deterrence

Relative Deprivation

• Social institutions - crime is a response to that, not rational

• People feel subjectively inadequate, commit crime to gain social status

Para 2: Murray vs Pryce

• socialisation, single parents lead to culturally deprived children

• Lack of male role models, fails to instill mainstream culture

• Turns to delinquency for status, lack of work ethic and strong social bonds

Positivity of Subcultures

• coping mechanism with inadequate socialisation and feeling of inferiority

• Subcultures developed to build levels of community

Para 3: Wilson and Hernstein

• crime has a biological basis - Raine: front cortex

• Sociological basis: without discipline = deviant career

Para 4: Solutions, Right vs Left

• zero tolerance policing, NY example, 56% decline

• Led to lack of trust in police, labelling, self-fulfilling prophecy

Left Realism

• rehabilitation, reducing opportunities for reoffenders

• Community Safety Partnerships

Analyse two ways that punishment may help to maintain social order (10 marks)

Para 1: Functionalism vs Marxism

• Durkheim: punishment is functional, important expressive role, gives voices to those unheard

• Reaffirms moral order of society, maintains consensus and social order

Marxism

• maintains capitalism not consensus

• Myth of meritocracy

Para 2: Marxism + Thompson

• maintains social order through control, favours bourgeoisie class

• Althusser: CJS is a repressive state apparatus, ideological state apparatus

• Thompson: controls us ideologically, instills constant fear

Analyse two reasons for social class differences in becoming a victim of crime (10 marks)

Para 1: Gordon vs Right Realism

• selective law enforcement, favours capitalist regime

• Defines individual as a ‘social failure’ and blames individual rather than capitalism

RR

• ignores victims, crime is a real problem that has a real impact on people

Para 2: Labelling Theory + Cohen

• labelling theory, image of typical delinquent is apparent in the police force

• Internalise the label and transmit it onto individuals

• Lead to labelling and self-fulfilling prophecy

Evaluate the view that crime and deviance are inevitable and beneficial for individuals and for society as a whole (30 marks)

Para 1: Durkheim vs Right Realism

• crime is inevitable and beneficial to society - social order

• Society of saints + North Korea example

RR

• zero tolerance policing, leads to decrease in crime

• Doesn’t have to be inevitable - NY example

Para 2: Merton vs WWC

• strain theory, aspires to achieve the American Dream

• Different responses, innovators/rebels leads to more crime

WWC

• example of people conforming but still choosing to commit crime

• John and Anne Darwin - could be because of rational choice

Para 3: Cohen vs Empathy

• crime acts as a safety valve

• Prostitution example

Para 4: Clinard vs Social Media

• crime acts as a warning device

• Juvenile delinquency example

Analyse two ways that the media may contribute to an increase in crime (10 marks)

Para 1: Cohen + Moral Panic Vs Miller and Reilly

• study of Mods and Rockers

• Media developed a distorted image of these bikers, leads to a moral panic

• Deviancy amplification, actual crime was committed

M+R

• moral panics act as a form of ideological social control

Para 2: Newson + Desensitisation

• consistent exposure to media violence leads to desensitisation

• Numbing effect: erodes our shock around violence

• Leads to a distorted view of human life and crime being informally accepted into society

Evaluate sociological explanations of the relationship between social class and offending (30 marks)

Para 1: Merton vs WWC

• strain theory, aspires to achieve the American Dream

• Different responses, innovators/rebels leads to more crime

WWC

• example of people conforming but still choosing to commit crime

• John and Anne Darwin - could be because of rational choice

Para 2: Cohen vs Malta

• status frustration, we all aspire to the cultural goals of mainstream culture

• Cultural deprivation and educational failure of w/c boys denies them access to goals

• Resolve their status frustration through an alternative set of goals, e.g. deviant subcultures

Malta

• not all delinquents are strongly opposed to the values of mainstream society

Para 3: Gordon

• selective law enforcement, reinforces ruling class ideology

• Defines individual as social failure rather than condemning capitalism

• Imprisons selected members to create a myth of meritocracy

Para 4: Cicourel + Labelling Theory vs Wilson

• police officers internalise typical delinquent image and transmit that in their work

• Leads to profiling and labelling → self-fulfilling prophecy

Wilson

• crime is a rational choice, individuals may actively choose deviance

Analyse two reasons why crime reduction strategies may not always be successful (10 marks)

Para 1: Zero Tolerance Policing

• NY case study, 56% reduction in crime

• Leads to less crime is certain areas

Ev.

• labelling theory - police internalise typical delinquent image and profile individuals based on appearance

• Leads to labelling and self-fulfilling prophecy, leads to more crime

Para 2: Wilson and Kelling

• broken window theory - explain

• We should implement more policing in certain areas, leads to less opportunities for crime

Ev.

• leads to lack of trust in police and over exertion of control

• People would live in fear and not act normally in fear of being prosecuted

Analyse two reasons for social class differences in official crime statistics (10 marks)

Para 1: Cohen + Omolade

• status frustration, we all aspire to the cultural goals of mainstream culture

• Cultural deprivation and educational failure of w/c boys denies them access to goals

• Resolve their status frustration through an alternative set of goals, e.g. deviant subcultures

Ex.

• 43% - no qualifications + 60% - living on benefits

Para 2: Merton + Prison Reform Working Group

• strain theory, American Dream, lack of legitimate means leads to crime rates increasing

• Rebellion + innovation - higher crime rates

Ex.

• 67% - unemployed + 32% - homeless