(a) To demonstrate how contemporary areas of interest in psychology further an understanding of human behaviour;
(b) to demonstrate the application of psychology to contemporary issues;
(c) to encourage students to appreciate, analyse and evaluate theories and research into contemporary topics in psychology.
Definitions of crime. Crime statistics and the measurement of crime, including official statistics and alternatives (crime surveys). Offender profiling.
Biological theories, including Lombroso and Sheldon.
Psychological theories: psychoanalytical theories and learning theories, including social learning.
The criminal personality (Eysenck).
The role of custodial and non-custodial sentences. Evaluation of custodial sentences, including recidivism. Psychological effects of imprisonment.
Behaviour modification, social skills training and anger management.
(a) Outline two definitions of crime. (4 marks)
(b) Briefly discuss one limitation of using official statistics to measure crime. (4 marks)
(c) Describe and discuss biological theories of offending. Refer to evidence in your answer. (12 marks)
(a) Outline one psychoanalytic explanation of criminal behaviour. (3 marks)
(b)
(i) What is meant by the term criminal personality? (2 marks)
(ii) Explain why a person with a criminal personality is likely to be involved in criminal behaviour. (3 marks)
(c) Discuss two psychological effects of imprisonment on those held in custody. Refer to evidence in your answer. (12 marks)
(a) Identify and outline two methods which have been used to measure crime. (4 marks)
(b) Outline and briefly discuss one limitation of biological theories of crime. (4 marks)
(c) Mark has been in prison for five years. His criminal record shows several incidents of violent and aggressive behaviour. The prison authorities would like to identify strategies that might reduce or eliminate his antisocial behaviour.
Discuss two psychological strategies or therapies which might be used to treat violent offenders. Refer to research evidence in your answer. (12 marks)
(a) Outline and explain one feature of offender profiling. (4 marks)
(b) Outline two characteristics of the crinminal personality as described by Eysenck (4 marks)
(c) Home Office figures show that there are currently more than 70 000 people in prison in England and Wales.
Discuss two psychological effects of imprisonment on the individual. Support your answer with reference to empirical evidence. (12 marks)
(a) Using an example, explain how social skills training might be used in the treatment of offenders. (3 marks)
(b) Outline one way in which crime has been measured, and briefly discuss one limitation of this method. (5 marks)
(c) Dave has been in trouble with the Police many times and has recently been given a custodial sentence for a violent offence. In court, his solicitor explained that Dave's family bakground meant that he had little alternative to a life of crime, since his father had been convicted of similar offences when Dave was young.
With reference to Dave, describe and discuss the psychoanalytic and social learning theories of offending. (12 marks)
(a) "One function of the legal system and the courts is to punish offenders. Punishment should be appropriate and should take account of the crime and the circumstances in which the crime was committed. In some cases, a custodial sentence is most appropriate; in others, a non-custodial sentence may be prefered."
(i) Outline two reasons for the use of punishment in the treatment of offenders. (4 marks)
(ii) Identify and briefly discuss one limitation of custodial sentences as a treatment of offenders. (4 marks)
(b) Describe and discuss at least one biological theory of offending. Refer to vidence in your answer. (12 marks)
(a) Explain one problem in defining crime. (3 marks)
(b) Describe one study in which recidivism was investigated. Indicate why the study was conducted, the method used, results obtained and conclusion drawn. (5 marks)
(c) Discuss offender profiling. Refer to evidence in your answer. (12 marks)
(a) Anger management is used with some types of offenders. Outline one strength and one limitation of anger management as a treatment for offending. (4 marks)
(b) Briefly discuss one problem of using official statistics to measure crime. (4 marks)
(c) Outline the role of custodial sentencing and discuss its effectiveness. (12 marks)