Understanding Criminology: Unveiling the Interplay between Crime and Society

To help consolidate your understanding of these theories, here are some hypothetical case studies. You don’t need to provide an answer, just use these case studies to think through what you have learnt earlier in this section.

1. Johnny is a teenager who lives in a deprived area of a large city. Several of his friends have been involved in minor thefts. Which of the theories above do you think best explain Johnny’s situation?

2. Sarah has been charged with shoplifting. She is a single mother struggling to provide for her children after losing her job. Which theories might provide insight into the factors contributing to her behaviour?

3. Mark has been arrested multiple times for public disorder offences. He has a history of substance abuse and comes from a broken family. What might a life course theorist say about the factors influencing Mark’s criminal behaviour?

4. Alice was convicted of embezzlement at her workplace. She had opportunities to manipulate financial records due to lax oversight. How would routine activity theory and rational choice theory explain the occurrence of this white-collar crime?