Make brief notes on one social science explanation of crime that emphasises structure, and one that emphasises agency.Describe some of the types of evidence that support structural and agency based approaches

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                Amy Barnbrook

TMA 07

  1. Make brief notes on one social science explanation of crime that emphasises structure, and one that emphasises agency.

Explanation of crime- structure and agency.

Structure-beliefs/influences that force people to behave in a certain way/social constraints

Biology = structural explanation of crime.

In C19th it was thought brain size/skull shapes could explain criminal behaviour. Early C20th eugenicists claimed certain grps of people- poor, foreigners, disabled, mentally ill had genetic defects.

Now genetics argues patterns of human behaviour can be traced back to individuals inherited genetic and biological structures.

Genes = segments of DNA – passed on when parents sexually reproduce- child inherits genes from mother and father.

Mednick twin studies- show identical twins (same genetic make up) are more likely to display similar behaviour then non-identical (different genetic make up). – does environmental up-bringing influence results?

Mednick -adoption studies – results showed stronger relationship between criminal behaviour of adopted children and their biological parent, to that of adopted child and adopted parent-hereditary

ANS

Agency = behaviour is a choice, people our free to make own decisions.

Agency explanation of crime

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= rational choice theory.

Phelan- Crime = career decision, personal choice.

Criminals- normal, reasoning, rational people.

Calculate costs and benefits, if benefits outweigh costs, they do it. If crime seems most favourable option, person turns to crime.

Are all criminals rational? What about emotional impulses? Violent crimes?

How much freedom do people really have within society?

(214 words)

  1. Describe some of the types of evidence that support structural and agency based approaches. 600-700 words

        Evidence is needed within the social sciences to support or reject a theory or claim. Evidence can be quantitative, ...

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