realist approaches to crime Flashcards
what are the three right realist theories to why people commit crime?
- rational choice theory
- biological factors
- inadequate socialisation
what is Clarke’s rational choice theory?
- the decision to commit a crime is based on a rational calculation of consequences
- if the perceived rewards of committing the crime outweigh the costs, people are more likely to offend
what is Herrnstein and Wilson’s biological factors theory?
- biological differences between people determine how likely they are to offend
- people with aggressive personality traits and low impulse control are more likely to offend
- low intelligence is also a factor
What is Murray’s theory of inadequate socialisation?
- crime is increasing because of the underclass which are defined by their deviant behaviour
What is an evaluation to rational choice theory?
- over-states the offenders rationality and how far they have cost-benefit calculations before committing a crime
- doesn’t explain non-utilitarian crime like murder
what is an evaluation point to biological factors theory?
- if low intelligence was a factor it wouldn’t explain how asians are high achieving in school but also high in crime stats
- marxists argue it ignores social factors that lead to crime like material deprivation
- doesn’t explain non-violent utilitarian crimes
What’s an evaluation point to inadequate socialisation theory?
- deterministic to assume all working class are inadequately socialised
- deterministic to assume you would be a criminal if you are inadequately socialised
What are the three right realist theories for tackling crime?
- zero tolerance policing
- the broken window thesis
- target hardening
What is zero-tolerance policing?
- zero tolerance policy to undesirable behaviour like prostitution, begging and drunkenness.
- police should patrol the streets and take a ‘short, sharp, shock’ approach
- stop and search
What is Wilson and Kelling’s broken window thesis?
- It is essential to maintain orderly characteristics of neighbourhoods and to reduce any signs of crime immediately
What is target hardening?
- if you make it harder to commit a crime (like locking doors) it acts as a deterrent
What are the three left realist theories on why people commit crime and who wrote them?
- relative deprivation – lea and young
- subcultures
- marginalisation
What is relative deprivation?
- relative deprivation leads to crime because those who have less material goods resent those who do leading them resorting to illegitimate means.
How do subcultures cause crime?
- subcultures form as a response to relative deprivation and some may turn to crime to close the deprivation gap
What is marginalisation?
- marginalised groups lack clear goals and organisations to represent them which leads to frustration and resentment
- this resentment leads to violence and rioting
What is an evaluation for relative deprivation?
- many people who are materially deprived are law-abiding
- rich people commit crime too
What is an evaluation for subcultural theory?
- people who are not part of subcultures turn to crime
- not all subcultures are criminal
What are the two left realist ways to tackle crime?
- policing and control
- tackling structural causes
What is 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
What is tackling structural causes?
- tackle the structural cause of poverty by reducing inequality of opportunity and discrimination and providing jobs for everyone
