Left and Right Realism Flashcards
What are the 3 explanations of crime according to Right Realism?
Biological differences
Inadequate socialisation
Rational choice theory
What does biological differences mean?
Some people are biologically more likely to commit crime, e.g. due to high aggression and low intelligence
Which theorists suggests biological differences cause crime?
Wilson and Hernstein (1985)
What does inadequate socialisation mean?
Some individuals do not have the shared norms and values of society (the underclass develop a dependency culture)
Which theorist suggested that inadequate socialisation causes crime?
Charles Murray (the underclass develop a dependency culture)
What is rational choice theory?
People commit crime if the reward is seen as greater than the risk/consequences
Which theorist suggested that rational choice theory causes crime?
Clarke (1980)
What is an AO3 point for the biological differences argument?
Support: Right Realism has had a genuine effect on government responses to crime, e.g. David Cameron’s response to the 2011 London riots
What is an AO3 point for the inadequate socialisation argument?
It ignores wider structural causes such as the unequal distribution of power and wealth
What is an AO3 point for the rational choice theory argument?
It does not explain violent crime as there is no real reward for this
What is an AO3 point for Right Realism on the whole?
It contradicts itself - how can someone’s behaviour be decided by logic (RCT) and emotion (biological differences) at the same time?
How do Right Realists suggest we reduce crime?
Zero Tolerance Policing
Broken Windows Theory
Target Hardening
What is Zero Tolerance Policing?
Punishing small crimes harshly to show that crime is treated seriously
What is Broken Windows Theory?
Wilson & Kelling - removing signs of crime and deterioration will show that an area is taken care of and crime is not permissible there
What is target hardening?
Strategies that increase the risk involved with committing crime, such as CCTV or door locks
What is an AO3 point for Zero Tolerance Policing?
Marxists say this focusses on low-level street crime and targets the WC, ignoring crimes of the powerful
What is an AO3 point for the Broken Windows Theory?
Labelling theorists say this targets communities and individuals based on (racist) typifications
What is an AO3 point for target hardening?
This may not prevent crime, but instead displace it, causing it to move somewhere else instead
What are the 4 explanations of crime according to Left Realism?
Relative deprivation
Subcultures
Marginalisation
Late modernity (Lea and Young)
What is relative deprivation?
A feeling of having less money/resources/property than the average member of society
What are subcultures?
Groups of individuals within a larger society who have their own norms and values - this can lead to crime
What is marginalisation?
A sense of powerlessness, resentment, frustration that results from being pushed to the edges of society
What is an AO3 point for the relative deprivation argument?
Right Realists argue that poverty doesn’t cause crime, instead it is the dependency culture of the WC/underclass that makes them not want to work
What is an AO3 point for the subcultures argument?
Support: this is similar to Cohen’s subcultural theory/Cloward & Ohlin
What is an AO3 point for the marginalisation argument?
This does not explain the crimes of the powerful
How do Left Realists suggest we reduce crime?
Reducing inequality
Democratic policing
What does reducing inequality mean/involve?
LRs say social inequality causes crime. Structural changes, such as a stronger welfare state or Sure Start centres, can help tackle this
What is democractic policing?
Kinsey, Lea, and Young (1986): the police need to win the support of the public by being more accountable. Then the public will start to trust them and be on their side instead of against them
What is an AO3 point for reducing inequality argument?
Right Realists argue that giving funding to the poor is rewarding criminal behaviour and increases the dependency culture
What is an AO3 point for the democratic policing argument?
Marxists: this effectively targets WC communities and ignores RC crime
