EFFECT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND SEX ON ATTITUDE TOWARDS CRIME
ABSTRACT
The research provides a theoretical appraisal of the effect of socio-economic status and sex on attitude towards crime. It elucidates levels of socioeconomic status and its effect on crime.it is intended that the study shall serve as repository knowledge for attitudinal reformation framework towards crime.
INTRODUCTION
Social class, or socioeconomic status (SES), refers to an individual's rank vis-à-vis others in society in terms of wealth, occupational prestige, and education. Abundant resources and elevated rank allow upper-class individuals increased freedom and independence, giving rise to self-focused patterns of social cognition and behavior. Relative to lower-class individuals, upper-class individuals have been shown to be less cognizant of others and worse at identifying the emotions that others feel. Socio-economic status refers to the social and economic position occupied by parents in the society, Ivor (1978) defined it as a level made up of individuals who deem themselves equal due to similarities in family background, level of education, occupation, race, and attitude towards social issues. Adebayo (1981) observed that the social status of individuals is a reflection of their economic status and he went further to explain that socio-economic status is usually a measure of the income and occupation of the individual, irrespective of his or her educational or social standing. According to him, this has a tremendous influence on students’ behavior.
CHAPTER 1
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Ezewu (1987) posited that socio-economic status can affect the academic performance of students in terms of early attendance at school, attendance of best schools, and the provision of necessary materials. The students from low socio-economic status would find it difficult to obtain his needs from their parents. So he or she may be lured into cultism in order to meet his needs. Giddens (1996) in a longitudinal study of the influence of socio-economic status of parents on children's behavior found out that children with behavioral problems come from families with the lowsocio-economic backgrounds. Also, Chauhan (2002) posited that there is a positive correlation between poverty and crime involving very high earnings and very low risks.
He observed that the highest percentage of criminals come from low socio-economic backgrounds. Furthermore, he observed that all persons who come from the underprivileged classes are criminals. The crucial factor in poor homes is that parents cannot fulfill the legitimate needs of their children. This financial incapability makes students vulnerable to the deceit of cultism, who deceives them that they will empower them and meet their needs only to end up being a cultist. On his part, Ekpo (2000) view socio-economic status as a complex phenomenon which exerts a pervasive influence on all aspect of one’s life. He noted that socioeconomic status is a liability that renders students vulnerable to the mischievous antics of cultists in order to make ends meet.
Ukpong (1999) observed that socio-economic status has some sociological implication on society. She explained that crime rates like cultism, gangsters, rape, street life such as hawking, prostitution, and drug addiction are seriously on the increase because of poverty.
1.1 DEFINITION OF THE PROBLEM
The problem confronting this research is to investigate the effect of socio-economic status and sex on attitude towards crime.
1.2 RESEARCH QUESTION
1 What is socio-economic status
2 What is the effect of socioeconomic status and sex on attitude towards crime?
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
To appraise the nature and effect of socioeconomic status and sex on attitude towards crime
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study shall provide a source of information on issues of socioeconomic status and sex on attitude towards crime.
1.5 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS
1 H0 The level of crime in society is low
H1 The level of crime in the society is high
2 H0 Effect of socioeconomic status on attitude towards crime is low
H1 Effect of socioeconomic status on attitude towards crime is high
3 H0 Effect of sex on attitude towards crime is low
H1 Effect of sex on attitude towards crime is high
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study focuses on the appraisal of the effect of socioeconomic status and sex on attitude towards crime
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS
Social class, or socioeconomic status (SES), refers to an individual's rank vis-à-vis others in society in terms of wealth, occupational prestige, and education. Abundant resources and elevated rank allow upper-class individuals increased freedom and independence, giving rise to self-focused patterns of social cognition and behavior. Relative to lower-class individuals, upper-class individuals have been shown to be less cognizant of others and worse at identifying the emotions that others feel. Socio-economic status refers to the social and economic position occupied by parents in the society, Ivor (1978) defined it as a level made up of individuals who deem themselves equal due to similarities in family background, level of education, occupation, race, and attitude towards social issues. Adebayo (1981) observed that the social status of individuals is a reflection of their economic status and he went further to explain that socio-economic status is usually a measure of the income and occupation of the individual, irrespective of his or her educational or social standing.
SECRET SOCIETY
The 1979 Federal Constitution, Section 35(4)defined a secret society as “…a society or association, not being a solely cultural or religious body, that uses secret signs, oaths, rites or symbols.
(a) Whose meeting or activities are held in secret;
(b) Whose members are under oath, obligation or other threat to promote the interest of its members or to aid one another under circumstances without regard to merit, fair-play or justice”.
The above are the features of cultism on Nigeria University Campuses.
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