Sociology and Criminology

With help from our Social Sciences academics, students will develop insight into society to try and understand our modern world. Sessions could range from cybercrime, sociological perspectives of music or psychology talks on how to study the brain, to a debate on the use of force in the police. Interactive and engaging, this will increase students' understanding and demonstrate what studying Social Sciences at university could be like. Content can be negotiated at point of booking.

Representation matters, but how much? When it comes to the representation of Black women on TV, the historical tropes have largely been negative and one dimensional. However, since the 2010s, there has been a proliferation of the ‘awkward Black girl’ trope on terrestrial and streaming networks. Are these characters unsung representations of an authentic self that often hides behind what we see on social media? Or are they just modern iterations of what Black Feminist scholar Patricial Hill Collins calls ‘controlling images? We will examine a few case studies and define what is so ‘awkward’ about the contemporary Black girl on TV. Additionally, we will and assess whether or not this is any different from depictions of the past.  

‘Black lives matter’ has become the rallying cry for drawing attention to the ongoing plight of people of African descent who have suffered (and continue to suffer) from discriminative treatment and compromised life outcomes as a result of racially unjust procedures, systems, and structures both domestically and abroad. Whilst often centred in the American context, this talk will focus specifically upon Black British political history, and the direct influence of this history upon the significance of racial and ethnic difference upon life experiences in contemporary Britain. 

In this mini lecture, Professor Elizabeth Yardley explores what feminism is, as well as what it isn’t. She explores its key ideas and development over the last 300 years, from Mary Wollstonecraft to the Spice Girls and Kim Kardashian. At the end of this lecture, you’ll be able to identify the three core principles of feminism and think about its relevance for crime and harm today. 

This session introduces you to the concept of hate crime and how we can understand hate crime socially, legally and academically. This session explores the historic development of hate crime legislation in England and Wales. Drawing on contemporary case studies we explore how hate crimes operate as a form of social control and policing.  

When Robert Peel created the Metropolitan Police Act in 1829, he envisaged a different organisation to previous forms of law enforcement and public governance. Rather than controlling society, the 'new police' would work in conjunction with and obtain the consent of the communities they served. The use of force continues to be a contentious aspect of policing. Successive governments have grappled with balancing the need to protect officers from harm whilst ensuring that a culture of violent tactics and practices are not endorsed. The lecture will examine police use of force and debates surrounding the potential challenges that such actions can have to civil liberties, democratic freedoms and police legitimacy.

Learning about hacking, surveillance and ransomware attacks, students will delve into both personal and state-sponsored hacking, exploring recent high-profile cases and the motives behind them. Students will learn about the dangers of surveillance and how it can be used to violate privacy and civil liberties. Finally, the session will look at the rising threat of ransomware attacks, including methods used by attackers and the impact on businesses and individuals. Throughout, students will be encouraged to discuss and analyse real-world cases of cybercrime to deepen their understanding of the topic.

Serial killers captivate public fascination, prompting extensive academic inquiry into their minds and motivations. This talk delves into the intricate psychological frameworks of serial killers, aiming to shed light on their perplexing behaviour. Alongside “delving into the mind” of such offenders, we will also examine the importance of victim selection and why this may reveal far more about the nature of serial murder. It will also critically examine the prevalence of such unique forms of offending compared to its popularity in mainstream media. By synthesising research findings and case studies, this talk aims to foster a deeper understanding of serial killers, offering insights that may inform the public’s understanding of such elusive offenders.

Does abiding by the law make you a good citizen? Is good citizenship defined by active participation in wider public life such as voting and engaging in legal protests? This session debates these issues. It then asks you to consider an alternative perspective. We consider citizenship as the coming together of individuals to create novel rights and duties. We consider citizenship as an inventive practice of crafting new communities of membership and/or ideals concerned with enacting just social relations.  

Globalisation affects all of us. Sociologists aim to understand the processes involved in globalisation, and to assess the impact of these processes on contemporary life. One way of achieving this is by examining globalisation in particular contexts and this session will examine the globalisation of modern sport. Sport will be examined as a popular form of culture and a key element of everyday life for billions globally. The growth of the English Premier League (EPL), the hosting of mega events such as the Olympic Games, and our understanding of sport fandom will all be discussed in the session. Sport will be examined sociologically and the ways that it has been affected by globalisation will be analysed.    

How do sociologists study time? Why is time a relevant object of study for sociologists? What is social time, and why does it matter? In this session, we’ll briefly overview the existing work on the sociology of time and think about the ways in which the social, economic, and political ordering of time affects our everyday lives, prospects, and expectations.

When watching a show like ‘Love Island’, what thoughts and values do we form about the contestants? How do we judge them? And how do we take those value judgements about race and gender to understand our everyday life? In this talk, we will discuss theories related to representation, specifically through the lens of Stuart Hall's work. Our discussion will centre around the use of stereotypes by the media to define our understanding of gender and race, and how these ideas are perpetuated and disseminated throughout popular culture. We will also explore how media and popular culture contribute to the formation and reinforcement of societal attitudes and beliefs regarding race and gender, and how these representations can result in inequality.