Left realism

Question 1

What is the Left realist perspective on the** explanations for crime and deviance** ?

Answer 1

Left realists focus more on the causes / explanations for crime and how to prevent crime - preventing causes such as material and cultural deprivation

Question 2

What do Left realists Lea and Young identify

Answer 2

‘Relative deprivation’

Question 3

What is left realists Lea and Young’s theory of ‘relative deprivation’ ?

Answer 3

Lea and Young identify relative deprivation to be the cause that leads to crime because people who are deprived resent others having more material goods than them - resorting to illegitimate means to achieve the same level of materials.

Question 4

How do ‘Subcultures’ act as an explanation for crime and deviance ?

Answer 4

Subcultures - collective solution to relative deprivation and some may turn to crime in order to close the ‘deprivation gap’

Question 5

How does ‘marginalisation’ act as an explanation for crime and deviance ?

Answer 5

Marginalised groups - lack goals and organisations to represent them - which leads to frustration and resentment and express this frustration through criminal acts such as violence

Question 6

What is the Left realist perspective on the** tackling crime** ?

Answer 6

Left realists believe in ‘Policing and control’
- the idea that policing must be made accountable to local communities
- + Need to improve their relationship with such communities and involving the community in making policing policy