Sociology

In the nineteenth century, a common view was that deviant behaviour could be explained in terms of individual biology. Lombroso argued that around 40% criminals were born with ‘atavistic’ features: biological failings that predisposed them to crime, such as large jaws, long arms and thick skulls. 237

Esping-Anderson identified three different types, or ‘worlds’ of welfare across the world, through an international comparative study. These were the liberal, conservative and social democratic models. The latter, found in Scandinavian countries, was based on principles of equality and social solidarity: it was a model of universal state welfare. 596-597

Parsons’ functionalist theory suggested that various social institutions had developed to meet the basic needs or functions of society. One of these institutions was the family, whose functions were primary socialization and personality stabilization. The former term refers to the process by which children learn the basic values of society from their parents and family members. The latter term describes the way in which families provide emotional support for their members and a place of retreat from the outside world. 450