Patterns of Criminal & Deviant Behaviour: Age (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology): Flashcards
Exam code: C200
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Define age crime curve.
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Cards in this collection (17)
Define age crime curve.
The age crime curve shows that crime rates rise sharply in the teenage years, peak in the late teens to early 20s and then decline as people age.
Which types of crime do young offenders typically commit?
Young offenders typically commit less serious crimes, such as theft, vandalism and handling stolen goods.
Why does offending decline as people grow older?
As people grow older, responsibilities such as work and family life reduce the opportunity and motivation to commit crime.
True or False?
Older adults are the age group most likely to be victims of crime.
False.
16 to 24-year-olds are most likely to be victims of crime (Crime Survey for England and Wales), while older adults are less likely to be victims but often fear crime more.
Which type of crime are older adults slightly more likely to experience?
Older adults are more exposed to fraud and scams: in the year ending March 2026, about 1 in 12 people aged 65 to 74 (8.5%) were victims, above the average for all adults (7.8%) (ONS).
What share of all stop and searches involved children in 2024/25?
In the year ending March 2025, stop and searches of children made up about one in five of all stop and searches (Youth Justice Board, 2026).
Why are young people more involved in street-based crime?
Young people are more involved in street-based crime because of their social lifestyles and peer group influence.
What did Geoffrey Pearson (1983) argue about youth crime?
Pearson argued that youth crime has always been a public concern, with older generations believing that young people are worse behaved than before.
Define moral panic.
A moral panic is a period of public anxiety about a supposed increase in crime, often caused by media exaggeration.
What did Hall et al. (1978) argue about 1970s media reports of mugging?
Hall et al. argued that the media exaggerated mugging and portrayed young Black men as dangerous to divert attention from economic problems.
Why might thrill-seeking lead young people to commit crime?
Thrill-seeking might lead young people to commit crime because rule-breaking gives them an adrenaline rush, excitement and a sense of rebellion.
How do functionalists explain youth crime?
Functionalists argue that youth crime results from poor socialisation and weak social control, e.g. parents may fail to teach norms and values or to supervise their children.
True or False?
The New Right blames youth crime mainly on poverty and unemployment.
False.
Murray (1990) argues that an underclass has developed in which children lack discipline and strong male role models, especially in fatherless families.
Define status frustration.
Status frustration is Albert Cohen's (1955) term for the frustration working-class boys feel when they fail to achieve success at school and in work.
Cohen argued that working-class boys form delinquent ___________ that gain status from breaking rules rather than following them.
Cohen argued that working-class boys form delinquent subcultures that gain status from breaking rules rather than following them.
True or False?
Cohen's theory explains female delinquency as well as male delinquency.
False.
Cohen's theory ignores female delinquency, so it cannot be generalised to girls.
What do labelling theorists argue about youth crime statistics?
Labelling theorists argue that youth crime statistics reflect who gets caught, not who offends.
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