AC 2.3- sociological theories- realist theories Flashcards
right realism
how do right realists view crime(4)
-view it as a growing problem which must be dealt with
-focuses on crime control+punishment rather than offenders’ situation
-offender causes the crime and has free will
-crime is a product of biology, poor socialisation and rational choices
right realism
what does the underclass theory- (murray) suggest
-most crime committed by highly deviant+immoral people and a work-shy subculture: the underclass
right realism
underclass theory- murray
what is the underclass made of (3)
-made up of problem families living in council estates, who socialise the next generation into crime as well
-the main reason the underclass has grown in the last 30 years is due to the welfare state
-problem families are headed by single mothers. Children lack a stable father figure in their lives+influenced by negative role models
right realism
what is the rational choice theory (2)
-criminals have free will and choose to commit crime
-choice to commit crime is based on a rational weighing up of the benefits and cost
right realism
rational choice theory
how does this theory explain the increase of crime (3)
-lenient punishments-prisons too comfortable
-weak community controls- people too scared to speak out against criminals
-quality of policing deteriorating
right realism
rational choice theory
what is the broken windows theory (wilson and kelling) (2)
-suggests if a community allows its environment to decline, criminals assume the community controls dont exist
-seen as an excuse to commit more crime
right realism
control theory
what are the 4 controls in life
-attachment: fear of losing respect from loved ones
-belief: having been successfully socialised into obeying the law
-involvement: fear of losing respect from community
-commitment: fear of losing job/home
right realism
what does the control theory suggest
-people dont commit crimes as the costs outweigh the benefits
right realism
control theory
why is the underclass more likely to commit crime
theyre less likely to have these 4 controls in their lives, so are more likely to commit crimes
left realism
how do left realists view crime (4)
-view crime as a growing problem which must be dealt with
-inequality is the root cause of crime- a more equal society is needed
-crime is a product of relative deprivation, subcultures and marginalisation
-disadvantaged groups are most affected
left realism
what does the belief in individualism suggest (2)
-society has become less community orientated due to growing dominance of capitalist values eg. consumerism
-capitalist culture has become more individualistic- people are greedier, leading to decline in social controls
left realism
what does the belief in relative deprivation suggest (3)
-deprivation doesnt cause crime- its the feeling that people are deprived relative to others
-those at the bottom of society may feel deprived- they see others enjoying material goods+feel like they deserve the same
-they feel angry as their route to these goods are blocked by society
left realism
what does the belief in marginalisation suggest (2)
-feelings of relative deprivation are worsened by feeling powerless
-those at the bottom of society feel angry towards wider society due to being unfairly stigmatised for their ethnicity and they lack the power to change the situation
left realism
what does subcultural response suggest (2)
-people with similar experiences come together
-deviant subcultures may form as people try to relieve their feelings of deprivation+marginalisation through crime
evaluation-right realism
2 strengths
-researchers interviewd burglars- they had to weigh up reward (difficulty of breaking in, risk of being caught) against the cost. Risk was the most important factor influencing their decision to commit the crime
-researchers gave students a scenario of an opportunity to commit a crime. Found the degree of punishment determined whether theyd commit the crime
evaluation- right realism
2 limitations
-researchers of burglars studied unsuccessful burglars. Unknown if successful ones also think this way
-not all crimes are the result of rational decisions. Violent crimes are impulsive- offenders under the influence are unlikely to calculate risks+rewards before offending
evaluation-left realism
strength
shows importance of poverty+relative deprivation as the underlying structural causes of crime
evaluation- left realism
2 limitations
-over predicts amount of working class crime- not everyone who experiences relative deprivation+marginalism turns to crime
-focuses on high crime in inner-city areas which is unrepresentative- makes crime appear as a greater problem than it actually is
