CRIME AND DEVIANCE TOPIC 4: REALIST THEORIES OF CRIME Flashcards
right-wing and left-wing
why do right realists see crime as a problem?
-they’re concerned about the widespread fear of crime and the impact of crime on victims
why do right realists criticise other views on crime?
-other theories have failed to offer realistic solutions to the problem of crime
who is an example of a right wing realist?
Margaret Thatcher
what are 3 factors they cause crime according to right realists?
- biological differences
- the underclass (socialisation)
- rational choice
why do biological differences cause crime? according to WILSON & HERNSTEIN & MURRAY
-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
why do the underclass commit crime according to MURRAY?
●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
why does rational choice cause crime according to CLARKE?
-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
what are 3 criticisms of the right realists explanation of the cause of crime?
-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
what are examples of crime prevention?
-the environment: cctv, more police & better street lighting
-abolish welfare
-medical treatment (biological)
what is the intention of crime prevention?
- to increase the costs over rewards of crime by using harsher punishments and zero-tolerance policing = no more leniency for anyone
what is the main focus of the right realist view on how to tackle crime
-dealing with the causes of crime is a waste of time
- thus to reduce crime-> make it less desirable
according to right realists what should crime prevention aim to do?
-reduce opportunities to commit crime
according to WILSON & KELLING, how should crime be prevented in neighbourhoods?
- 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
according to YOUNG (LEFT REALIST) why was the success of zero tolerance a myth?
-many crimes had already fallen, so police having more power= easier to discriminate more on ethnic minorities= increases racism
what are 4 other criticisms of zero tolerance?
-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
in what way is LEFT-REALISM like MARXISM?
- acknowledges people have different life chances due to inequality from capitalism
how is LEFT-REALISM different from MARXISM?
- they reform things w/ realistic ideas instead of completely revolutionising society
why does MARXISM not take crime seriously?
-it over-focuses on the ruling class and their problems don’t have a real/indirect impact on a normal person
why does NEO-MARXISM not take crime seriously?
- romanticises criminals by suggesting they’re politically motivated
why does the labelling theory show it does not take crime seriously?
- gives criminals more empathy therefore ignoring the victims of the crime due to criminals having a ‘victim status’
what does YOUNG mean by ‘aetiological crisis’ ?
- the failure of sociologists adequately explaining why crime has risen since the 1950s
what do local victim surveys show about the scale of crime?
- that crime is a bigger problem than official statistics make it out to be.
-most victims come from deprived/disadvantaged communities
what is the impact of a greater fear of crime?
- the fear of crime is rising= causes negative impact on communities and people’s sense of safety
why might victims be reluctant to report crime?
- often low in disadvantaged groups as people are afraid of repercussions/ not being taken seriously
according to LEA & YOUNG, what are the 3 related causes of crime?
- relative deprivation
- subcultures
- marginalisation
how is relative deprivation a cause of crime?
- 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
how is subculture a cause of crime?
- 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
how is marginalisation a cause of crime?
= 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
according to YOUNG, what are features of a late modern society?
- instability and social exclusion of particular groups
why does YOUNG see the 1950s and 1960s as the GOLDEN AGE?
- capitalism was at its best by offering better job security, a stable family life and society was inclusive
what were the changes to society since the 1970s?
- de-industrialisation= decline in mannual labour= lower wages/ loss of jobs= inc. instability in family life due to stress between couples= inc. domestic abuse
why has there been an increase in the sense of relative deprivation in society?
- due to the growing wealth divide and greater awareness of inequality by ‘living paycheck to paycheck’
according to YOUNG, what are the 3 contrasts between cultural inclusion and economic exclusion?
- 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
how is YOUNG’s view of cultural inclusion and economical exclusion similar to MERTON’s notion of ANOMIE?
- 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
what is an example to show why there is a great trend towards relative deprivation in late modernity?
- some are fueled by resentment of ppl with ‘undeserved rewards’ or those perceived as ‘scroungers’ for benefits
how is the amount and types of crime changing in late modernity?
- m/c ppl commit corporate crime nd poorer communities are targets of hate crime
what are the changes to the reactions to crime in late modernity?
- less census of what counts as deviance due to greater tolerance of those who break the law
why is the fall in crime rates a problem for realist theories?
- left-realism can be seen as less relevant but the fear in crime is still influential over ppl’s behaviour
how has the government created a ‘new crime wave’ ?
- there has been a new crime wave due to actions which were once ignored are now labelled as criminal
why do left-realists criticise the military style of policing?
it creates mistrust from affected communities e.g. through stop and search
what do left-realists propose as an alternative form of policing?
-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
what is a ‘multi-agency’ approach to crime?
-getting all agencies (councils, schools, social services) to work together to reduce crime
according to left-realists, what are the causes of crime and what are their solutions?
- 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
what are 2 examples of policies influenced by left-realism?
- the new labour introduced ASBOs (anti social behaviour order) and the ‘New Order’ to try reduce crime in deprived areas
what are 4 criticisms of left-realism?
- 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
in what ways are left-realism and right-realism similar?
- both trust official statistics e.g. black carribeans commit disproportionate crime
-both neglect crimes of the powerful (m/c)
-both believe marxists ‘romanticise’ crime
what are clear differences between left and right realism?
-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
