Year 10 Sociology: Criminal Deviance

Task Words Description:
- Remembering:
- Identify: Recognise and briefly state distinguishing factor/feature.
- Define: State the exact meaning. Include a definition.
- List: A list of briefly explained answers.
- State: Specific name/value/answer without explanation.
- Understanding and Applying:
- Outline: Briefly explained answers.
- Explain: Details to show understanding (evidence/examples or case studies required).
- Describe: Give detailed facts (evidence usually required).
- Illustrate: Examples to demonstrate and explain.
- Analysing:
- Distinguish: Differences between concepts/factors (use examples/evidence).
- Compare: Similarities and differences between concepts/factors.
- Analyse: State contention and provide explanations and evidence to support contention (x2).
- Justify: Reasons and evidence to support a contention.
- Evaluating:
- Discuss: Contention, then argument for AND against idea/issue (evidence/examples required for each).
- Evaluate: Argument for and against idea/issue and reach a conclusion/make a judgment (evidence/examples required).
- To what extent: State contention and evaluate the extent of argument validity (requires a large extent then small extent argument, three in total, with evidence/examples required).

Distinction between Crime and Deviance:
- Deviance:
- Definition: Refers to any behaviour that violates societal norms or expectations.
- Example: Sneezing in someone’s face.
- Social Control: Conducted by that particular group (e.g., scowling).
- Crime:
- Definition: Refers to behaviors that are defined as illegal by laws of the state.
- Example: Speeding.
- Social Control: Conducted by someone in authority (e.g., police fines).
- Importance of Distinction:
- Not all deviant behavior is considered criminal, and criminal behavior may not be seen as deviant in cultural or historical contexts.

Theories Explaining Deviancy:
- 1. Social Control Theory:
- Concept: Individuals are less likely to deviate when feeling connected to their community and having strong social relationships.
- Example Needed: Explore personal examples or case studies relating to this theory.
- 2. Strain Theory:
- Concept: Deviance arises from strains or pressures in life such as poverty, addiction, or lack of employment.
- Example Needed: Explore situations where individuals may turn to deviant behavior as a coping mechanism due to strain.

3. Social Learning Theory (SLT):
- Concept: Individuals learn by observing and modeling the behaviors of others, particularly role models.
- Example Needed: Illustrate through detailed personal examples or case studies.

Explanation: Individuals are less likely to engage in rule-breaking when they are connected to their community and strong relationships.
Case Study:
- An armed robber with a troubled childhood who turned to crime after suffering abuse and neglect. His upbringing resulted in a lack of social bonds and support, leading to criminal behavior.
- Relevant Details: First used cocaine at age 11, began armed robbery at age 12, reflecting a lack of guidance and social support.
- Judicial Perspective: The judge considered his upbringing while sentencing, noting societal failure towards his upbringing.

Questions on the Case Study:
- List three negative childhood experiences (to be filled in).
- Application of social control theory: Analyze how the lack of meaningful relationships contributed to the individual’s criminal actions.

Concept: Deviance can be a response to feeling unable to achieve legitimate success due to social constraints (poverty, drug addiction).
Examples: Individuals may resort to crime for income or drugs when facing socioeconomic barriers.
Current Reality: Issues affecting youth in poverty-stricken areas, leading to crime as the only perceived escape.

Explore institutions such as family, schools, community programs, or organizations that provide support for youth.

Definition: Proposed by Albert Bandura, emphasizing learning through observation and mimicry of behaviors.
Implementation: Discuss how youth may imitate theft behaviors observed on social media platforms due to perceived social acceptance.

Core Issue: Social media is leading to increased car thefts, with TikTok videos promoting such behavior and garnering views.
Statistics: Significant proportion of youth involved in these theft cases, reflecting societal issues and influence of social media interactions.

True or False statements about social control, strain, and social learning theories illustrated through practical applications and examples.

Review selected sources and quotes to identify which theory each references or supports regarding crime stats, coping mechanisms, etc.

Overview of responses by local authorities to rise in youth crime, emphasizing a law-and-order strategy that has been criticized as reactive rather than preventative.

Critical Viewpoint: Emphasis on immediate repression rather than addressing underlying socioeconomic factors affecting crime rates in the region.

Explore the processes of social control and the necessity of both socialization and sanctions in maintaining societal norms.

Definition of behaviors that lead to criminal sanctions, with a list ranking from least to most serious offenses (e.g., littering to murder).

Categories:
- Summary Offences: Less serious, e.g., fines.
- Indictable Offences: Serious crimes leading to imprisonment.

Five Aims:
1. Retribution: Meeting the desire for revenge and moral balance.
2. Deterrence: Preventing future offenses through fear of punishment.
3. Rehabilitation: Encouraging reform to prevent recidivism.
4. Community Protection: Incapacitating offenders to safeguard society.
5. Restoration: Aiming to repair harm through restorative justice.

General vs Specific deterrence explained, alongside their meanings and intentions to reduce crime rates effectively.

Long-term Strategy: Explore methods through institutions to assist at-risk youth and counteract criminal behaviors before they escalate.

Statistics illustrate the high rates of recidivism, questioning the effectiveness of prisons in reforming offenders and suggesting alternatives to imprisonment.

Explore unique prison systems and what lessons Australia might learn from their approaches to incarceration and rehabilitation.

Insight into Scandinavian prisons demonstrating significant differences in their approach to punishment, rehabilitation, and societal reintegration.