Patterns of crime (age, gender, ethnicity, social class)

    AQA
    GCSE

    This study component requires critical analysis of the social distribution of crime and deviance across demographic categories: gender, ethnicity, age, and social class. Candidates must evaluate the validity of Official Statistics (OS) versus Victim Surveys (CSEW) and Self-Report Studies to determine if patterns represent actual criminal behaviour or the biases of social control agencies. Central to this is the 'Dark Figure' of crime. Analysis must integrate structural theories (Functionalism, Marxism) with action theories (Interactionism, Labelling) and Realist approaches. Mastery involves deconstructing the 'typical criminal' profile and assessing the impact of institutional racism, the chivalry thesis, and criminogenic capitalism.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    4
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for explicit application of sociological perspectives (Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, Interactionism) to statistical patterns.
    • Credit responses that distinguish between 'recorded crime' and 'actual crime', utilising concepts like the dark figure and police discretion.
    • Candidates must link gender patterns to the Chivalry Thesis, Sex Role Theory, or Heidensohn's Control Theory.
    • High-level responses must evaluate the validity of statistics regarding ethnicity, referencing institutional racism (Macpherson Report) versus actual offending rates.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for explicit application of sociological perspectives (Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, Interactionism) to statistical patterns.
    • Credit responses that distinguish between 'recorded crime' and 'actual crime', utilising concepts like the dark figure and police discretion.
    • Candidates must link gender patterns to the Chivalry Thesis, Sex Role Theory, or Heidensohn's Control Theory.
    • High-level responses must evaluate the validity of statistics regarding ethnicity, referencing institutional racism (Macpherson Report) versus actual offending rates.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In 12-mark 'Discuss how far' questions, you must present a two-sided argument (e.g., statistics reflect reality vs. statistics are a social construct).
    • 💡Explicitly name sociologists or studies (e.g., Cohen, Merton, Pollak) to move into the top band for AO1.
    • 💡When discussing ethnicity, differentiate between the 'myth of black criminality' (Gilroy) and crisis of hegemony (Hall).
    • 💡Use the 'Item' as a springboard: quote the text directly and then expand with your own sociological knowledge (AO2).

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'deviance' with 'crime' without establishing the legal distinction.
    • Relying on biological or psychological explanations (e.g., 'hormones') rather than sociological factors (e.g., socialisation, opportunity structures).
    • Asserting that working-class individuals commit more crime without critiquing the bias in policing and judicial processes.
    • Failing to use the provided Item in 12-mark questions, limiting the score to a maximum of Band 2.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss how far
    Examine
    Evaluate

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