Course Catalogue

LJMU Partner Taught

The module will examine how competing disciplines, theories and explanations of crime and deviance have developed in their historical contexts and examine their relevance to modern understandings of criminal behaviour. It will also examine how different explanations of crime make certain assumptions about the nature of social order and crime. This module has been designed to enable undergraduates to consider the role of individual factors and social contexts in shaping conforming and deviant behaviour. Students will examine and critically evaluate a range of theoretical explanations of the causes of criminal and deviant behaviours and examine their consequences and impact on individuals, groups and society more generally.

Outline Syllabus:• Risk Factors of Criminality • Biological Theories of Criminality (E.g., Atavism; Life Course) • Psychological Theories of Criminality (E.g. Psycho-social) • Sociological Theories of Criminality (e.g. Social Control; Social Learning; Cubculture) • Ecological Theories of Criminality (e.g., Broken Window Theory) • Criminological Perspectives & Schools of Thought • Critical Theories of Crime & Criminology (e.g., Feminism; Left Realism) • Early schools of criminology and modern counterparts • The Measurement of Crime & Criminal Behaviour • Media, Moral Panics & Folk Devils • Criminological Perspectives on Minority Groups (Ethnicity; Gender; Sexuality; etc.) • Victimology: victims and survivors • Criminological Responses to Contemporary Issues (e.g. Terrorism; Radicalism; Gangs; Cybercrime; Globalisation)

Additional Information:None