30 mark
,Evaluate sociological explanations of the
relationship between social class and
offending (30)
One reason for social class differences in offending is due to status frustration leading
working class committing more crime.
E: Cohen – argue that the w/c believe in the success in mainstream culture however d
to deprivation, failure in education and the chances they receive in the job market, th
have little opportunity to attain them by approved means. (add stem)
E: Merton – in society most people share goals however, due to society being unequa
not all individuals have the same opportunity of realising that there are legitimate me
of achieving goals and therefore join deviant subcultures. The lower class face problem
of unemployment, low pay, racism and lack of educational success and as a result man
individuals resort to crime. This leads to them being over represented in crime statisti
Eval: Miller – it is false that the working class reject mainstream values as the lower w
have their own independent subculture.
,Para 2
• another reason for social class differences in offending is due to the w/c stereotyped in a nega
manner resulting in them adhering to the labels and acting upon them, increasing crime rates
• E: Cicourel – suggested that personal opinions + stereotypes can affect whether criminal label
attached and how these lead to social construction of crime statistics. He did a study on juven
crime rates and found that w/c juveniles had higher crime rates than middle class due to bein
labelled negatively. (add stem)
• E: Becker – suggests that the labelling process can lead to self fulfilling prophecy and a devian
career. Those who are labelled face rejection from many social groups and are placed outside
conventional society. Most people who are labelled are of the w/c and therefore may act upo
SFP, which lead them to commit more crimes within society. Due to this factor, official statistic
incriminating the w/c will be much higher than that of the m/c.
• E: Plummer – argues that the labelling theory does not explain the causes of deviant behaviou
which occurs before the labelling process (primary deviance), nor the different types of act pe
commit such as, taking drugs being a different act from murder.
, Para 3
• P: furthermore, Another reason why offending is highest amongst the w/c is due to
poor socialization and a lack of community control which leads to anti social behavio
• E: Hirschi – control theory – the m/c find it easier to establish social cohesion. This is
due to them having strict socialization through the family, education and community
pressure. Therefore, the m/c refrain from offending.
• Murray – New right theorist – argued the w/c who live in ‘deprived area’ as stated in
item and high rates of social disorder are characterised by lack of in dividual
responsibility, dysfunctional family life and high rates of family breakdown, means
parents fail to properly socialise and control their children, teaching them the correc
norms and values of society. Furthermore, there is a lack of community pressure to
control them from deviance. This means that the w/c are more likely to offend.
• Eval: it does not focus on the wider structural causes of crime.
,Evaluate sociological explanations of the
relationship between social class and
offending (30)
One reason for social class differences in offending is due to status frustration leading
working class committing more crime.
E: Cohen – argue that the w/c believe in the success in mainstream culture however d
to deprivation, failure in education and the chances they receive in the job market, th
have little opportunity to attain them by approved means. (add stem)
E: Merton – in society most people share goals however, due to society being unequa
not all individuals have the same opportunity of realising that there are legitimate me
of achieving goals and therefore join deviant subcultures. The lower class face problem
of unemployment, low pay, racism and lack of educational success and as a result man
individuals resort to crime. This leads to them being over represented in crime statisti
Eval: Miller – it is false that the working class reject mainstream values as the lower w
have their own independent subculture.
,Para 2
• another reason for social class differences in offending is due to the w/c stereotyped in a nega
manner resulting in them adhering to the labels and acting upon them, increasing crime rates
• E: Cicourel – suggested that personal opinions + stereotypes can affect whether criminal label
attached and how these lead to social construction of crime statistics. He did a study on juven
crime rates and found that w/c juveniles had higher crime rates than middle class due to bein
labelled negatively. (add stem)
• E: Becker – suggests that the labelling process can lead to self fulfilling prophecy and a devian
career. Those who are labelled face rejection from many social groups and are placed outside
conventional society. Most people who are labelled are of the w/c and therefore may act upo
SFP, which lead them to commit more crimes within society. Due to this factor, official statistic
incriminating the w/c will be much higher than that of the m/c.
• E: Plummer – argues that the labelling theory does not explain the causes of deviant behaviou
which occurs before the labelling process (primary deviance), nor the different types of act pe
commit such as, taking drugs being a different act from murder.
, Para 3
• P: furthermore, Another reason why offending is highest amongst the w/c is due to
poor socialization and a lack of community control which leads to anti social behavio
• E: Hirschi – control theory – the m/c find it easier to establish social cohesion. This is
due to them having strict socialization through the family, education and community
pressure. Therefore, the m/c refrain from offending.
• Murray – New right theorist – argued the w/c who live in ‘deprived area’ as stated in
item and high rates of social disorder are characterised by lack of in dividual
responsibility, dysfunctional family life and high rates of family breakdown, means
parents fail to properly socialise and control their children, teaching them the correc
norms and values of society. Furthermore, there is a lack of community pressure to
control them from deviance. This means that the w/c are more likely to offend.
• Eval: it does not focus on the wider structural causes of crime.
