The study investigated reasons for criminal behavior in young people using a sample of 1957 students aged 14-15 from schools in Peterborough. Data was collected through questionnaires completed by 92% of students and interviews with 20% about their weekly activities. The study found that 45% of males and 31% of females had committed at least one crime, with frequent offenders committing a variety of crimes. Individuals who truanted from school, used drugs/alcohol, had weak family bonds and low parental monitoring were more likely to engage in criminal behavior.

1. Wikstrom & Tafel
EMMA

2. Aim
To investigate why young people offend.

3. Procedure
Sample was 1957 students age 14-15 years old from 13 state schools on Peterborough.
92% of the sample responded to the questionnaire.
20% of the sample were interviewed about a weeks activities.
Data on the neighbourhood was obtained through an official census.
The crimes studied were:
Violence
Vandalism
Shoplifting
Burglary
Theft

4. Results
45% of males had committed at least one of the crimes.
31% of females had committed at least one of the crimes.
People who committed crimes frequently tended to commit a wide variety of crimes.
Offenders tended to be involved in drugs and alcohol.
9.8% of males and 3.8% of females had committed a serious theft crime.

5. Link to crime
Individuals who truanted from school, drunk and/or did drugs, had weak family bonds and
family monitoring were more likely to turn to a life of crime than those who have high school
attendance and parental monitoring. This is because a lack of attention from parents can lead a
child to not try hard or even attend school. People with less of an education are more likely to
turn to crime because they find it more difficult to get a job to support themselves.

6. Issues
Generalisability  low – the sample is ethnocentric as all 1957 of the participants are from the
same area, Peterborough, the participants studied are also all male (androcentric) so the study
doesn’t necessarily explain why females turn to crime.
Usefulness  explains why individuals turn to crime by putting it down to a list of factors: family
social position, individual characteristics, social situation, lifestyle and routine activities and
community context.
Application  can be used to identify vulnerable children and give them the support they
require before they turn to criminality. Could potentially remove the children from the situation
and put them with another family to reduce the risk of them turning to crime.

7. Debates
Nature/Nurture  the explanatory factors include family and social situation. The study shows a
link between the type of family a person comes from and how likely they are to commit crime.
This is nurture because it is the way the person has been brought up and the people they are
around. It is also nature because it could be genetic.
Holism  the study looks at 5 factors as potential reasons for the students turning to criminal
activity. However, the study could be seen as reductionist as all factors can be linked to having a
disadvantaged background.
Ethnocentrism  all participants are from the Peterborough area and so the results may only
explain why people from this area turn to crime therefore they are less useful because they
can’t be applied to the general population.

8. Quiz Questions
1. How many participants were there?
2. How many of the participants were interviewed?
3. What percentage of females had committed a serious theft crime?
4. If a person has weak family bonds are they likely to turn to crime or not?
5. Why does low school attendance potentially lead to crime?

9. Answers
1. 1957
2. 20%
3. 3.8%
4. Yes
5. They find it more difficult to get a job.