Left and Right Realism Flashcards
What 4 theories come under right realist causes of crime?
- biological theory
- control theory
- rational choice theory
- underclass theory
According to Wilson and Hernstein (1985), how does biology influence crime? (right realist causes)
Propose the problem of criminality lies within biology. Some people are more prone to behaving in criminal ways. Genetics leave certain people pre disposed to particular personality traits or behaviours that make them more likely to commit crime.
According to Wilson and Hernstein (1985), what are the 2 inherited traits which makes committing crime more likley? (right realist causes)
- personality and behavioural disorders (short temper)
- sex and hormones (men have more testosterone)
According to Hernstein and Murray (1994), what is the link between intelligence and crime? (right realist causes)
If people are of low intellect, they too are more likely to engage in criminal activity because there are less likely to assess the consequences of their behaviour.
Evaluation of the view that biology causes crime?
- theory can only help us understand crimes that might be linked to a persons personality, such as violence
- doesnt explain crimes motivated by social or material factors
- ignores social influences such as labelling and upbringing
According to Hirschi (1969), what is control theory?
Believes that institutions that once encouraged a sense of social cohesion do not have the authority they once had. For example, family exerted a lot of influence and religion. They are also concerned that the justice system has weakened in recent years meaning people no longer fear the police
According to Hirschi (1969), what does a lack of control lead to? (right realist causes)
People with high levels of control such as a loving family are less likely to commit crime because the consequence is too great. People with low levels of control don’t have much to lose and the consequence isn’t great to therefore commit crime
Evaluation of the view that control theory affects crime?
- marxists criticise this theory for failing to explain why people lack control in the first place, such as a lack of opportunity
- why do people with high levels of control commit crime?
According to Clarke (1980), what is the rational choice theory?
Argues that when a person decides to commit a crime, it is unlikely to a be spur of the moment idea. Instead people deliberately commit crime after making a rational decision weighing up the costs and rewards. If reward > risk then the crime will be committed. For example, a pick pocketer will observe a public area and potential targets before robbing someone.
Refers to this as the cost-benefit analysis.
According to Felson (2002), what is the routine theory? (right realist causes, rational choice theory)
Notifies 3 ways in which criminals will commit a crime
- motivation (good or bad day)
- suitable target (elderly)
- absence of a capable guardian (police officers or nor)
Evaluation of the rational choice theory (right realist causes)?
- wrongly assumes all crimes are pre-planned and rational ignoring spontaneous
- drugs and alcohol
- only helps reasoning behind material reward.
According to Murray (1990), what is the underclass theory?
Underclass are root cause of all social problems. Underclass = single mothers and their illegitimate children, such families are workshy and dependent on the state. Welfare state provides perverse incentives to have children. Single mothers do a poor job in socialising their children so they grow up to be deviant and disrespectful. Boys, especially, are poorly disciplined so gravitate towards deviant subcultures and engage in anti social behaviour
Evaluation of the underclass theory (right realist causes)?
- majority of those on welfare are in work
- committing crime for practical reasons, as a means of survival
- cannot explain middle class crime
What are the 4 Left Realist Theories of the causes of crime?
- relative deprivation theory
- subcultural theory
- marginalisation theory
- late modernity and social exclusion
According to Lea and Young, what is relative deprivation? (left realist, causes)
Crime stats are connected with the growing income gap. Breeding a sense of relative deprivation whereby people are increasingly aware of what other people have, made worse by the media. Lead to a growth in envy and resentment towards others
According to Lea and Young, what character trait makes people more susceptible to relative deprivation? (left realist, causes)
People who are highly individualistic are more likely to act upon the feelings of relative deprivation. Where people put their own needs before that of others. People therefore commit crime as they do not care about the consequences
Evaluation of the view that relative deprivation is a cause of crime?
- useful in identifying the link between a growing culture of envy and a rise in material crimes
- over predicts the amount of crime taking place in the UK
According to Lea and Young, what is the subcultural theory? (left realist, causes)
Subcultures are groups of people whose norms and values are different to wider society. They apply strain theory to subcultures, those who suffer from blocked opportunity and more likely to gravitate towards likeminded peers who share the sense of injustice.
According to Lea and Young, what are the two subcultures within the subculture theory? (left realist, causes)
- conformist subculture
- deviant culture
According to Lea and Young, what is the conformist subculture? (left realist, causes)
Whereby people participate in organised religion to suffer the blow of the struggle, people call this the theodicy of disprivilige whereby peoples suffering now will be rewarded in the afterlife
According to Lea and Young, what is the deviant subculture? (left realist, causes)
Take 2 forms
- innovative (organised crime)
- retreatist (drug taking)
Evaluation of the subcultural theory of the causes of crime?
- fail to tell us why some people enter the deviant subculture of the conformist one
- fails to explain individualised crime
According to Lea and Young, what is the marginalisation theory? (left realist, causes)
Note that society has the tendency to marginalise the young and unemployed. This is when individuals are socially excluded and made to feel devalued in society. Poorer people union membership and a job, those who are unemployed don’t. These people are looked down upon as workshy e.c.t. This can lead to status frustration in which they become frustrated with the lack of control they have. Crimes such as rioting and hate crime on other groups
Evaluation of the view that marginalisation causes crime?
- only focusses on crime committed out of frustration, ignores materialistic crime
- fails to explain middle class crime
- cannot measure marginalisation.
