REALIST THEORIES Flashcards
LEFT REALIST
CAUSES OF CRIME:
- RELATIVE DEPRIVATION
- MARGINALISATION
- SUBCULTURE
TACKLING CRIME
EVALUATION
view of crime developed in the 80s and 90s. Like MARXISTS they see that SOCIETY IS UNEQUAL and that THIS CAUSES CRIME, however they are REFORMISTS; believe in GRADUAL CHANGE rather than the VIOLENT OVER THROW of CAPITALISM.
CAUSES OF CRIME:
RELATIVE DEPRIVATION:
LEA and YOUNG suggest that deprivation is at the root of criminality, not poverty. In the 1930’s poverty was high but crime rates were low. Instead they argue that as living standards have risen so has peoples feeling of
being deprived compared to others. This can lead to resentment and turning to crime to achieve what they feel they are entitled to.
YOUNG ‘the LETHAL combination is RELATIVE DEPRIVATION and INDIVIDUALISM’ (pursuit of self-interest at the expense of others)
MARGINALISATION:
people that DO NOT FEEL they are part of society, and LACK the GOALS and ORGANISATIONS to represent their interests, leading to a SENSE OF FRUSTRATION and RESENTMENT amongst those groups and this can lead to criminal behaviour which they believe will improve their situation.
eg UNEMPLOYED YOUTH, have no organisation to represent them and channel their resentment through crimes: riots + violence
SUBCULTURE:
Links CLOWARD and OHLIN’S and COHEN’S ideas of BLOCKED OPPORTUNITIES and SUBCULTURES as a GORUP’S REACTION to FAILURE of ACHIEVING MAINSTREAM GOALS. For left realists CRIMINAL SUBCULTURES form due to RELATIVE DEPRIVATION however, still subscribe to the GOALS and VALUES of society: MATERIALISM and CONSUMERISM – e.g. Ghettos in America hooked on Gucci, BMW and Nike.
TACKLING CRIME:
Left realists believe that in order to tackle crime you first NEED TO TACKLE THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS that LEAD TO CRIME, in particular the causes of inequality and deprivation. POLICIES and STRATEGIES should focus on creating BETTER RELATIONSHIPS between the public and police (over -police minor drug crime and under-police DV), and create a MULTI-AGENCY APPROACH: social services, schools, victim support etc
EVALUATION:
(+) draws attention to the REALITY of STREET CRIME and its EFFECTS on VICTIMS from DEPRIVED AREAS.
(-) this theory OVER-PREDICTS crime,relative deprivation CAN’T FULLY EXPLAIN CRIME as NOT ALL who EXPERIENCE it COMMIT CRIME
(-) use of SUBCULTURAL THEORY suggests that LEFT REALISTS assume VALUE CONSENSUS exists and that CRIME ONLY EXISTS when this BREAKS DOWN.
RIGHT REALIST
For RIGHT REALISTS, CRIME is the PRODUCT of THREE FACTORS:
- BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
- INADEQUATE SOCIALISATION
- RATIONAL CHOICE
TACKLING CRIME: target hardening + zero tolerance policy.
EVALUATION
RIGHT REALISTS correspond closely with the NEO-CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENTS of the 70’s and 80’s. They see street crime as a GROWING PROBLEM that DESTROYS COMMUNITIES and UNDERMINES SOCIAL COHESION. Right realists are less concerned with the CAUSES OF CRIME and
more concerned with REALISTIC SOLUTIONS. Despite this they do offer some explanations for the causes of crime.
BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES:
(WILSON and HERRSTEIN)
put forward a BIOSOCIAL theory of crime. Crime is caused by a COMBINATION of BIOLOGICAL and SOCIAL FACTORS. They believe that some people are MORE PREDISPOSED to crime through PERSONALTY TRAITS: AGGRESSIVENESS, EXTRAVERSION ,RISK TAKING and LOW IMPULSE CONTROL . This mixed with poor socialisation or
lack of role models leads to criminal behaviour.
MURRAY and HERRSTEIN: main CAUSE of CRIME is LOW INTELLIGENCE which to them is BIOLOGICALLY DETERMINED.
INADEQUATE SOCIALISATION:
(MURRAY)
CRIME is INCREASING due to the GROWING UNDERCLASS of people who are DEPENDENT on the WELFARE STATE. MURRAY sees this underclass fails to adequately socialise their
children. Further suggests the ‘GLORIOUS REVOLUTION’ of the 1960’s led to the INCREASE of LONE PARENT families which are INADEQUATE AGENTS of SOCIALISATION as they DONT teach children to be RESPONSIBLE, thus ENCOURAGING IRRESPONSIBLE ACTS like DEVIANCY.
CRITICS point out there is NO EVIDENCE that LONE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS leads to CRIME.
RATIONAL CHOICE:
(CLARKE)
individuals have FREE WILL and the POWER OF REASON, therefore criminals have made a CHOICE TO COMMIT CRIME.CLARKE argues that if the PERCEIVED COSTS of committing the crime is OUTWEIGHED by the BENEFIT, people will be MORE LIKELY TO OFFEND. Right realists believe that the CUREENT COSTS OF CRIME are TOO LOW which EXPLAINS INCREASED CRIME RATE.
TACKLING CRIME:
Right Realists DO NOT believe that it is BENEFICIAL to TACKLE the CAUSES OF CRIME as they are DIFFICULT to CHANGE, instead we should be looking at MAKING CRIME LESS ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE. This includes TARGET HARDENING ( making it harder for crimes to be committed in the first place: HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE) and ZERO TELOERANCE POLICIES (all criminal behaviour must be
dealt with immediately)
EVALUATION:
YOUNG argues that the SUCCESSES of the ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY was a MYTH made by POLICE to take CREDIT for the FALL IN CRIME.
TOO MUCH FOCUS is placed on PETTY STREET CRIME and IGNORES CORPORATE CRIME which is MORE HARMFUL and COSTLY.
IGNORES structural causes of crime: RELATIVE DEPRIVATION and MARGINALISATION.
SIMILARITIES between RIGHT and LEFT REALISM
both see CRIME as a REAL PROBLEM and the FEAR OF CRIME is RATIONAL
DIFFERENCES between RIGHT and LEFT REALISM
LEFT REALISTS are REFORMIST SOCIALISTS.
RIGHT REALISTS are NEO- CONSERVATIVES, reflected in how they explain crime: RIGHT blame INDIVUDUAL’S LACK of SELF CONTROL, while LEFT blame STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES.
POLITICAL DIFFERENCES in SOLUTIONS: RIGHT prioritise SOCIAL ORDER through TOUGH STANCE against OFFENDERS, LEFT prioritise JUSTICE through DEMOCRATIC POLICING and REFORMS for EQUALITY.
