Realist theories Flashcards
right vs left realists
right - similar to new right , support get tough stance on crime
left - similar to socialists , argue theres structural causes of crime such as poverty
3 causes of crime according to left realists
relative deprivation
marginalisation
subculture
how does relative deprivation cause crime (leftist)
which theorist
Runciman - refers to how deprived someone feels in relation to others. crime because ppl feel resentment that others have more than them - that its unfair and so resort to crime to get what theyre entitled to
Lea Young on relative deprivation
todays society both more prosperous and more crime ridden - more awareness of relative deprivation due to media and advertising - raises expectations and they resort to crime to get them
evaluation of relative deprivation
its not relative deprivation its individualism which is the concern of self and individual rights rather than group
encourages pursuit of self interest at expense of others
how does marginalisation cause crime (left realism)
marginalised groups lack clear goals and organisations to represent interests unlike workers (trade unions)
- unemployed youth are marginalised - just have a sense of resentment and frustration - powerless to use political means so express frustration thru rioting
evaluation as marginalisation as a cause for crime
women and asians are marginalised and do not have high crime rates
how do subcultures cause crime (left realism)
to solve relative deprivation ppl join subcultures - religion to fill deprivation (weber - ‘theodicy of disprivilege’ - promise of salvation as a reward for poverty)
- another way is crime - subscribe to goals and values of mainstream society but use crime to achieve them
how has employment changed from the 50s
less manual, traditional jobs that are for WC males - factories shut down my thatcher
who talks about a bulimic society
Young
what does Young talk about (left realism)
bulimic society because we are over-exposed to consumerism
- advertising shows what life should be like
- poor cannot afford to improve lifestyle - resentment , anger at relative deprivation
- London riots - 15,000 admitted they looted to improve lifestyle
what is a policy example of left realists
working tax credits - govt payment to help day to day expenses to working people. 2k per year
(help tackle poverty)
evaluating left realism (4)
- idealistic - not anymore realistic than marxists - society will never be equal
- offers solutions to tackle structural causes such as working tax credits
- surely women would commit crime if it was due to exclusion
-fails to account for crimes that are not street crimes
what do left realists argue about police
consensus policing - public need to have more confidence in police so they would report more crimes
if public worked with police there would be less crime since it would be less easy for ppl to get away with crime
3 right realist causes of crime
biological differences
inadequate socialisation and the underclass
rational choice theory
Lombroso on biological differences
people born as atavistic criminals possessing certain physical defects associated with criminality such as large eye sockets or sloping forehead
Wilson and Hernstein (right realism)
crime is caused by combo of social and biological factors such as low intelligence
how is socialisation meant to decrease risk of crime
learning self control and internalising moral values of right and wrong
- done best in nucelar family
murray on inadequate socialisation
crime increasing = growing underclass who are defined by deviant behaviour - fail to socialise children properly - result of growing welfare state
how can behaviour of underclass encourage crime (3)
- no traditional discipline from fathers (welfare state so fathers encouraged to leave)
- rising crime in lower class males so SFP
- crisis of masculinity in WC boys who have less manual jobs to turn to
what is rational choice theory
which theorist
percieved costs of crime are low due to chances of not getting caught/lenient sentances so crime increasing
- decision based on rational calculation of likely consequneces of crime( Clarke)
Felson and rational choice theory
must be motivated offender , a suitabe target, and abscence of capable guardian
what is right realists focus on stopping crime
control, containment and punishment
- do not believe in eliminating causes or rehabilitation
3 examples of right realist approaches to crime
- broken windows - maintain neighbourhoods appearance and any sign of deterioration is dealt with straight away
- zero tolerance on undesirable behaviour such as protestitution
- target hardening - greater use of prisons to deter
5 evaluations of right realism
- influential in UK/USA law
- doesnt deem criminal to be passive
- puts forward solutions
- ignores wider structural causes
- advocating zero tolerance gives police free rein to discriminate ethnic minorities and homeless
