Realism Flashcards
What is Right Realism ?
crime as a real problem for society; they see the cause of it as partly biological and party social. Because these causes cannot easily be changed, they focus on deterring offenders.
What is Left Realism ?
crime is caused by relative deprivation, subcultures and marginalisation. Their solution for such stems from reducing societal inequality.
Right Realsism explanations for crime ?
BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
POOR SOCIALISATION
RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
RR BIOLOGICAL FACTOS
Hernstein and Wilson argue that biological differences between individuals make some individuals more predisposed to crime. For instance, personality traits such as aggression and low impulse control signify people who are at greater risk of offending. In addition, low intelligence is also a contributing factor.
RR POOR SOCIALISATION
Murray argues crime is increasing due to the mounting underclass defined by their deviant behaviour.
RR RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY
Clarke believes the decision to commit a crime is based on a rational calculation of consequences. If perceived rewards outweigh costs, people are more likely to offend.
left realism - explanations for crime ?
RELATIVE DEPRIVATION
SUBCULUTRES
MARGINALISATION
LR RELATIVE DEPRIVATION
Lea and Young argue that relative deprivation leads to crime because people who are deprived resent others having more material goods than them, thus resorting to illegitimate means to achieve the same level of materials.
when someone feels worse off compared to others, or their own expectations.
LR SUBCULUTRES
Subcultures form as a collective solution to relative deprivation, and some may turn to crime in order to close the ‘deprivation gap’.
LR MARGINALISATION
Marginalised groups lack clear goals and organisations to represent them, which leads to frustration and resentment. In turn, they express this frustration through criminal acts such as violence and rioting.
RR tackling crime
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICING
WILSON & KELLING
TARGET HARDENING
RR ZERO TOLERANCE POLICING
A zero-tolerance policy to undesirable behaviour such as prostitution, begging and drunkenness. Police should patrol the streets and take a ‘short, sharp, shock’ approach, and carry out on stop and search on suspicious characters.
RR WILSON & KELLING
The broken window thesis - it is essential to maintain orderly characteristics of neighbourhoods and reduce any signs of crime immediately.
RR TARGET HARDENING
If you making it harder to commit crime (Eg. by locking doors) this will reduce the rewards and act as a deterrent
LR tackling crime
POLICING AND CONTROL
TACKLING STRUCTURAL CAUSES OF CRIME
LR POLICING AND CONTROL
Policing must be made accountable to local communities, and need to improve their relationship with such communities by spending more time investigating crime, and involving the community in making policing policy.
LR TACKLING STRUCTURAL CAUSES OF CRIME
Reduce inequality of opportunity, discrimination and provide jobs for everyone.
