grrr damm essay

top_drawer_2

hi,

Please can someone tell me whether ive answered the question??

The question is Why do the genders differ so much in offending behavior?? Its only a 500-ish words so I am struggling to cut it down...

First I have said what the differences are (not much really!)
Second I have talked about cognitive deficits, which seem to affect males more strongly than females.

Then I have attempted (not very well I dont think) to argue that these in conbination with family adversity which also seems to act more strongly on males, all account for offending behavior.

I'm struggling (again) with signposting and making things clear IYSWIM. I cant seem to articulate what the differences are ...

I would put the whole thing on here but there's loads of us doing this essay and I dont want lots of people reproducing mine...

Thanks.

Pssst

By offending i assume you mean criminal offences?

Presumably the two main differences are volume and types of offence?

jay11_2

Depends what you're studying, what level, and so on? If at college or uni, what does your evidence say? Have you made clear what 'offending behaviour' is?

bestpud

That looks about right to me. You won't cover much in 500 words so I can't see there is anything else you can or need to add.

One cognitive and one behavioural - that's about what they want I'd have thought.

Psst - I think they want to know the possible causes behind the difference rather than the nature of their behaviour iyswim?

bestpud

Have you accounted for males being more violent, in general? I'd have said that is the main difference in offending behaviour?

top_drawer_2

hi,

Yes, offending as in criminal offences. The differences arent that huge really but the differences are that males tend to commit more crime, more serious types of crime, more frequently than females.

I have now defined offending behavior...

[Psst - I think they want to know the possible causes behind the difference rather than the nature of their behaviour iyswim?]

I do see what you mean but I'm really struggling to do it as its not like its direct....

This is one bit of it ...

Morgan and Lilienfeld’s (2000) meta-analysis found strong evidence for a relationship between generalised executive function deficits and antisocial behaviour. This was further supported by evidence from Struss and Benson (1984) in finding that patients who suffered traumatic head injuries resulting in frontal lobe damage often go on to exhibit changes in personality bearing similarities shown by antisocial individuals including impulsivity, apathy and indifference to others. Executive function and the frontal lobes are intricately linked, being responsible for the cognitive processes involved in goal orientated behaviour including planning, attention and inhibitory control. These results are often illustrated indirectly in other research; Landen et al found more advanced moral judgements in girls (Landen et al. (1998), greater verbal ability (ref) and pro social behaviour (ref) compared to boys. These deficits in cognitive function were shown to be particularly influential upon male offending behaviour (Moffitt et al. 2001); the evidence seems to suggest that that this is a result of the risk factors which weigh more heavily on males.


I just cant seem to find any reasoning to justify the difference... I was going to argue something along the lines of more cognitive deficits as female prisoners often show these too but what about the huge difference??? grrr I feel like I know the answer but getting the words out of me is the problem, this is what a good dyslexic tutor used to help me to manage. I'm so angry at her for leaving me in the lurch like this struggling with an essay I know the answer too.


Jen


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Piggles12345

I think you need to critique the cognitive model somewhat- this model is rejected by a lot of criminologists (particularly feminists) as deterministic and essentialist.

You also need to mention the recent NACRO writings on chivarly and the criminal justice system.

500 words is not a lot at all- what level essay is this? Degree? A-level?

Errata

Early last century Adler suggested that young males demonstrate emotional distress through delinquent behaviour, whilst teenage females demonstrate it through self harm. eg twocking and anorexia

top_drawer_2

I have argued its all down to differences in the structure of the brain ... as shown by cognitive deficits. I then have to say whether genders should be treated differently by the justice system. I'm gauging at around 1000 words, 500 for each part of the question as its a seen question so I have to reproduce it in an exam.

Jen

Keemo

Just remember than men and women are equal but not the same...

echelon101

Structure your argument like this

500 words is actually not a lot, about 1 page 12 font.

Para 1
- Make a statement
- Discuss how you are going to back up that statement
-Say why there is a difference in opinion
-Context within crime

Para 2 - For
- Statement
-Source 1 "For"
-Source 2 "For"
-Explain what the sources are saying and back up with stastics

Para 2 "Against"
Same as "For"

Para 3 Conclusion
- Statement
-Outline the for and against parts
-Summarise your two previous paragraphs and come to a compromise.