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SOCIOLOGY A-LEVEL > CRIME AND DEVIANCE TOPIC 4: REALIST THEORIES OF CRIME > Flashcards

CRIME AND DEVIANCE TOPIC 4: REALIST THEORIES OF CRIME Flashcards

right-wing and left-wing

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

why do right realists see crime as a problem?

A

-they’re concerned about the widespread fear of crime and the impact of crime on victims

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2
Q

why do right realists criticise other views on crime?

A

-other theories have failed to offer realistic solutions to the problem of crime

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3
Q

who is an example of a right wing realist?

A

Margaret Thatcher

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4
Q

what are 3 factors they cause crime according to right realists?

A
  • biological differences
  • the underclass (socialisation)
  • rational choice
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5
Q

why do biological differences cause crime? according to WILSON & HERNSTEIN & MURRAY

A

-gender influence: men more likely to commit crime than women are to
-personality traits: aggression and extroversion is inherited
-MURRAY: people w/ low IQ commit more crime

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6
Q

why do the underclass commit crime according to MURRAY?

A

●underclass= group below the working class
= more likely rely on benefits as they tend to be lone-parent families with high unemployment
- risks abuse of welfare state= children grow up w/ lack of responsibility= have no initiative to better their life
=produce criminal behaviour as they seek validation & acceptance from deviant subcultures

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7
Q

why does rational choice cause crime according to CLARKE?

A

-people make a conscious decision to commit crime based on a calculation of the likely consequences
-if rewards outweighs the costs (consequences) people are more likely to do it
- e.g. YOUTH CRIME: punished leniently= don’t fear consequences of being caught (enforced if punishment from parents is minimal

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8
Q

what are 3 criticisms of the right realists explanation of the cause of crime?

A

-ignores wider structural causes of crime e.g. poverty
-overstates the rational decisions made by criminals (can be impulsive e.g. self defence as violence)
-the causes contradict eachother e.g. how can u be rational when you’re influenced by biological/social factors

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9
Q

what are examples of crime prevention?

A

-the environment: cctv, more police & better street lighting
-abolish welfare
-medical treatment (biological)

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10
Q

what is the intention of crime prevention?

A
  • to increase the costs over rewards of crime by using harsher punishments and zero-tolerance policing = no more leniency for anyone
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11
Q

what is the main focus of the right realist view on how to tackle crime

A

-dealing with the causes of crime is a waste of time
- thus to reduce crime-> make it less desirable

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12
Q

according to right realists what should crime prevention aim to do?

A

-reduce opportunities to commit crime

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13
Q

according to WILSON & KELLING, how should crime be prevented in neighbourhoods?

A
  • the public should maintain the upkeep of their neighbourhood appearance= ‘broken window theory’ to deter any criminals
    -police having ‘zero-tolerence policing’ on petty offenders
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14
Q

according to YOUNG (LEFT REALIST) why was the success of zero tolerance a myth?

A

-many crimes had already fallen, so police having more power= easier to discriminate more on ethnic minorities= increases racism

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15
Q

what are 4 other criticisms of zero tolerance?

A

-ignores crimes of the powerful
-cause discrimination as police have power over particular groups
-don’t deal with the root cause; fail to understand structural causes of crime
-target hardening policies-> designing out’ crime would displace crime to other areas

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16
Q

in what way is LEFT-REALISM like MARXISM?

A
  • acknowledges people have different life chances due to inequality from capitalism
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17
Q

how is LEFT-REALISM different from MARXISM?

A
  • they reform things w/ realistic ideas instead of completely revolutionising society
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18
Q

why does MARXISM not take crime seriously?

A

-it over-focuses on the ruling class and their problems don’t have a real/indirect impact on a normal person

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19
Q

why does NEO-MARXISM not take crime seriously?

A
  • romanticises criminals by suggesting they’re politically motivated
20
Q

why does the labelling theory show it does not take crime seriously?

A
  • gives criminals more empathy therefore ignoring the victims of the crime due to criminals having a ‘victim status’
21
Q

what does YOUNG mean by ‘aetiological crisis’ ?

A
  • the failure of sociologists adequately explaining why crime has risen since the 1950s
22
Q

what do local victim surveys show about the scale of crime?

A
  • that crime is a bigger problem than official statistics make it out to be.
    -most victims come from deprived/disadvantaged communities
23
Q

what is the impact of a greater fear of crime?

A
  • the fear of crime is rising= causes negative impact on communities and people’s sense of safety
24
Q

why might victims be reluctant to report crime?

A
  • often low in disadvantaged groups as people are afraid of repercussions/ not being taken seriously
25
Q

according to LEA & YOUNG, what are the 3 related causes of crime?

A
  • relative deprivation
  • subcultures
  • marginalisation
26
Q

how is relative deprivation a cause of crime?

A
  • poverty isn’t the main cause of crime as standards of living inc. so as majority ppl gain access to the media= makes us aware of the wealth of others= people feel entitled to have wat they have due to comparison
27
Q

how is subculture a cause of crime?

A
  • those who feel relatively deprived attract deviant subcultures= provide a collective solution to the problem of deprivation
    -gangs work together to achieve material rewards = to inc. their success
28
Q

how is marginalisation a cause of crime?

A

= feeling excluded/ living life on the edge of society
- unemployed youths inc. due to ageism= feel left out w/o money
-crime is an outlet for frustration in terms of the lack of social and material status

29
Q

according to YOUNG, what are features of a late modern society?

A
  • instability and social exclusion of particular groups
30
Q

why does YOUNG see the 1950s and 1960s as the GOLDEN AGE?

A
  • capitalism was at its best by offering better job security, a stable family life and society was inclusive
31
Q

what were the changes to society since the 1970s?

A
  • de-industrialisation= decline in mannual labour= lower wages/ loss of jobs= inc. instability in family life due to stress between couples= inc. domestic abuse
32
Q

why has there been an increase in the sense of relative deprivation in society?

A
  • due to the growing wealth divide and greater awareness of inequality by ‘living paycheck to paycheck’
33
Q

according to YOUNG, what are the 3 contrasts between cultural inclusion and economic exclusion?

A
  • media is saturated w/ images of materialism= encourages ppl to desire consumer culture
    -ppl expect immediate gratification= wanting a ‘good life’ that celebrities have
    -some ppl are economically excluded from accessing material goals legitimately
34
Q

how is YOUNG’s view of cultural inclusion and economical exclusion similar to MERTON’s notion of ANOMIE?

A
  • ppl who are denied access to the goal they feel they deserve and unsure about what is appropriate action to take in order to achieve
35
Q

what is an example to show why there is a great trend towards relative deprivation in late modernity?

A
  • some are fueled by resentment of ppl with ‘undeserved rewards’ or those perceived as ‘scroungers’ for benefits
36
Q

how is the amount and types of crime changing in late modernity?

A
  • m/c ppl commit corporate crime nd poorer communities are targets of hate crime
37
Q

what are the changes to the reactions to crime in late modernity?

A
  • less census of what counts as deviance due to greater tolerance of those who break the law
38
Q

why is the fall in crime rates a problem for realist theories?

A
  • left-realism can be seen as less relevant but the fear in crime is still influential over ppl’s behaviour
39
Q

how has the government created a ‘new crime wave’ ?

A
  • there has been a new crime wave due to actions which were once ignored are now labelled as criminal
40
Q

why do left-realists criticise the military style of policing?

A

it creates mistrust from affected communities e.g. through stop and search

41
Q

what do left-realists propose as an alternative form of policing?

A

-for the police to build a good relationship with their community through acts of service= so instead of dismissing issues they investigate fully
-should get public input

42
Q

what is a ‘multi-agency’ approach to crime?

A

-getting all agencies (councils, schools, social services) to work together to reduce crime

43
Q

according to left-realists, what are the causes of crime and what are their solutions?

A
  • main cause of crime is inequality of opportunity
    -want to prevent excessive benefits being given undeservedly by the gov.
    =create more job opportunities especially for ethnic minorities
    =tolerance of diversity needed
44
Q

what are 2 examples of policies influenced by left-realism?

A
  • the new labour introduced ASBOs (anti social behaviour order) and the ‘New Order’ to try reduce crime in deprived areas
45
Q

what are 4 criticisms of left-realism?

A
  • over-focus on crimes committed by poor ppl (w/c)
  • offer inadequate explanations for the individual motives people have for committing crime= narrow focus
  • too deterministic= most ppl experience relative deprivation but don’t actually end up committing crime
    -they exaggerate the problem of crime; crime rates are dec. as shown in SEW 2023 there was a 10% dec. from 2022
46
Q

in what ways are left-realism and right-realism similar?

A
  • both trust official statistics e.g. black carribeans commit disproportionate crime
    -both neglect crimes of the powerful (m/c)
    -both believe marxists ‘romanticise’ crime
47
Q

what are clear differences between left and right realism?

A

-right: ‘zero tolerance’ policing
tougher prison sentences
welfare state has encouraged breakdown of the family
‘broken windows’ theory
-left: relative deprivation
cultural inclusion
structural exclusion
police are controlled better

SOCIOLOGY A-LEVEL (32 decks)

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