Section 1: Problems in Defining Crime
AO1
• Deviance involves breaking society’s norms and values
• The crime involves breaking a law
AO3
What is considered a crime and how that act is dealt with varies
considerably from culture to culture? Almost all research in forensic
psychology can be considered ethnocentric as it is only relevant to the
culture where the research was carried out.
For example, bigamy is illegal in the UK but not in all cultures. The age of
criminal responsibility is 10 in the England & Wales, but 8 in Scotland
(being raised to 12) and 14 in most other European countries.
Definitions of crime change over time. For example, a parent’s right to
smack their own child was outlawed in 2004. Homosexuality became legal
in Britain in 1967.
A02 Scenario Question
In the UK, it is against the law to have more than one wife or husband at
the same time. Smacking children was not illegal before 2004 in the UK,
but now can be a criminal offence. 1) Referring to the statements above,
explain two problems in defining crime. [4 marks]
Answer
It is difficult to define crime because definitions of crime are culturally
specific. Whilst it is illegal to practice polygamy in the UK, it is not illegal
in some other countries. A further issue is that definitions of crime change
over time, for example, it was perfectly legal to smack your child in the
UK before 2004, now it is against the law and public attitudes and
perceptions have also changed.
Ways of Measuring Crime: Official Statistics
AO1
• Official Statistics are government records of all recorded crime in the
previous year, based on police reports. They are published by the Home
Office annually.
AO3
Official statistics lack validity as not all crime is reported or recorded by
the police. For example, domestic violence against men is an under-
reported crime.
They may also lack reliability as there are differences between police
forces about which crimes are recorded, for example, some police forces
do not record theft if the value is less than £10. Also, they only count the
AO1
• Deviance involves breaking society’s norms and values
• The crime involves breaking a law
AO3
What is considered a crime and how that act is dealt with varies
considerably from culture to culture? Almost all research in forensic
psychology can be considered ethnocentric as it is only relevant to the
culture where the research was carried out.
For example, bigamy is illegal in the UK but not in all cultures. The age of
criminal responsibility is 10 in the England & Wales, but 8 in Scotland
(being raised to 12) and 14 in most other European countries.
Definitions of crime change over time. For example, a parent’s right to
smack their own child was outlawed in 2004. Homosexuality became legal
in Britain in 1967.
A02 Scenario Question
In the UK, it is against the law to have more than one wife or husband at
the same time. Smacking children was not illegal before 2004 in the UK,
but now can be a criminal offence. 1) Referring to the statements above,
explain two problems in defining crime. [4 marks]
Answer
It is difficult to define crime because definitions of crime are culturally
specific. Whilst it is illegal to practice polygamy in the UK, it is not illegal
in some other countries. A further issue is that definitions of crime change
over time, for example, it was perfectly legal to smack your child in the
UK before 2004, now it is against the law and public attitudes and
perceptions have also changed.
Ways of Measuring Crime: Official Statistics
AO1
• Official Statistics are government records of all recorded crime in the
previous year, based on police reports. They are published by the Home
Office annually.
AO3
Official statistics lack validity as not all crime is reported or recorded by
the police. For example, domestic violence against men is an under-
reported crime.
They may also lack reliability as there are differences between police
forces about which crimes are recorded, for example, some police forces
do not record theft if the value is less than £10. Also, they only count the
