Category Archives: OCR A2 Psychology

Wikström and Tafel, (2003): The Peterborough Youth Study

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology, Turning to Crime, Upbringing, , ,

Wikström and Tafel, (2003): The Peterborough Youth Study

Background

This study focuses on upbringing in the development of criminality.

How does poverty and disadvantaged neighbourhoods affect such development?

Crime is often perceived as more common occurrence among the poor and working classes, however, in considering what is ‘poor’ simply measuring economic wealth is not enough: other measures such as social factors and education must be taken into account, in order to gain a more complete understanding of poverty.
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Sutherland (1947): Theory of Differential Association

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Sutherland, (1947): Theory of Differential Association

Background and Theory

The background to this study is Bandura (1961, 1977) and his Social Learning Theory.

Quick recap of Social Learning Theory:

  • Vicarious Learning (Learning from others being rewarded or punished)
  • People we learn from are called models
  • Learning does not always result from direct actions

Therefore, Sutherland assumes that criminal behaviour is learnt. Secondly, it explains deviant behaviour through individuals social interactions and relationships. According to this theory, the people who become criminals do so because they associate with other criminals.

This study is categorised into Upbringing, and then ‘learning from others.’

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Farrington et al (1994) Disrupted Families

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Farrington et al,. (1994) – ‘Criminal careers and life success: new findings from the Cambridge study in Delinquent Development,’ Home Office Findings 281.

 

 

Background

This is the first study we will be looking at from the ‘Upbringing’ section of ‘Turning to Crime’, as part of your OCR A2 Forensic Psychology course. It is further categorised into ‘Disrupted Families.‘

Why do people become criminals? Are criminals inartistically different to law-abiding citizens? One reason may be due to the upbringing  of those individuals who turn to crime. Large families, neglect, parental relationships, conflict and the style of parental discipline may have adverse effects upon the young, which may lead them to crime. For example, if parents are inconsistent with their discipline, that is, not consistently punishing behaviour with sanctions of equal value, then the child may learn to disregard the rules as transcending them does not always yield punishment, thus leading to crime in later life. John Bowlby (1907-1990) theorised that maternal deprivation of the child may lead to dysfunctional delinquency in later life. Continue reading Farrington et al (1994) Disrupted Families →

Turning to Crime

OCR A2 Psychology

Turning to crime is one of the subsections of the Forensic psychology unit, there are three subsections to Turning to Crime:

In the Upbringing section of Turning to Crime we look at:

  1. Farrington et al.,  (1994) – Disrupted Families
  2. Sutherland (1947) – Learning From Others
  3. Wikström and Tajfel (2003) – Poverty and Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods

 

In the cognitive section of Turning to Crime we look at:

Forensic Psychology OCR A2 Unit Revision

Forensic Psychology, OCR A2 Psychology,


Forensic Psychology is one of the units in OCR A2 Psychology Unit G543.

Ideographic Approach – Psychologists who employ this approach study the factors which make criminals different.

Nomothetic Approach – Psychologists who employ this approach study group behaviours and surmise general rules about such behaviour.

In the Forensic Psychology Unit of the course we consider how criminals become criminals from a variety of perspectives. We consider if criminals have something biologically faulty, or if they think differently to non-offenders.

In the making a case section of the Forensic Psychology we consider how the legal system can best build a case against an offender. We consider how the Police can best interview witnesses to ensure they gain the most accurate data from eyewitnesses and how they can best interview suspects. In some cases Police interview techniques can lead to false confessions, we study one such example and consider how we can best avoid this from happening in future cases.

In the reaching a verdict section of the course: we turn our attention to the courtroom and how juries reach their decision and what could possible have confounding effects upon their verdicts, for example how does the majority in the group affect the minority? Can the minority affect the majority? If so how? Is this a positive factor?

Ensure that you learn all the sections and subsections for each study, because this will be one of the most important factors in your exam. Make sure that you start your revision early and be consistent with it. If you have to spend some time working out a system and a plan of for your revision do it, you will thank yourself down the road.

It is highly recommended that you buy the revision guide to help you with your learning process: OCR A2 Psychology Student Unit Guide New Edition: Unit G543 Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology:

Turning to crime:

Upbringing:

  1. Farrington et al (1994)
  2. Sutherland (1947)
  3. Wikström and Tajel (2003)

Cognition:

  1. Yochelson and Samenow (1976)
  2. Kohlberg (1981)
  3. Gudjonsson and Bownes (2002)

Biology:

  1. Raine et al (2002)
  2. Brunner et al (1993)
  3. Daly and Wilson (2001)

Making a case:

Interviewing Witnesses:

  1. Frowd et al (2007)
  2. Loftus et al (1987)
  3. Fisher et al (1989)

Interviewing Suspects:

  1. Inbau et al (1986)
  2. Mann et al (2004)
  3. Gudjonsson and Mackeith (1990)

Creating a Profile:

  1. Hazelwood and Douglas (1980)
  2. Canter et al (2004)
  3. Canter and Heritage (1990)
  4. Canter – John Duffy


Reaching a Verdict:

Persuading a Jury:

  1. Pennington and Hastie (1988)
  2. Cutler and Penrod (1989)
  3. Pickel (1995)

Witness Appeal:

  1. Castellow (1990)
  2. Penrod and Cutler (1995)
  3. Ross et al (1994)

Reaching a Verdict:

  1. Hastie et al (1983)
  2. Asch (1955)
  3. Nemeth and Wachtler (1974)

After a Verdict:

Imprisonment:

  1. Gillis and Nafekh (2005)


Download all the audio recordings of the studies here!