Realist theories Flashcards
why did left realism develop?
developed in response to marxist approaches , accusing these viewpoints as romanticising working class crime and failing to take victimisation seriously
where do left realists argue is the biggest issue of crime?
left realists argue inner-city deprived areas have the biggest issues with crime, finding this out using victim crime surveys such as ‘Islington Crime Survey’
LEFT REALISM
What reasons did Lea and Young (1984) argue people turned to crime?
relative deprivation- if you view yourself as deprived relative to the people you compare yourself with, generating discontent when your expectations are not met
marginalisation-experience marginality is politically/socially ‘on the edge’ of mainstream society and face social exclusion
subcultures- subcultures develop in response to deprivation and marginality, acting as a motivator for crime as some subcultures see this as acceptable
LEFT REALISM
Why does Young (1993) argue people turn to crime?
LATE MODERNITY AND A BULIMIC SOCIETY
modern society is saturated and everyone is living in a ‘consumer culture’, this is raising expectations of the ‘good life’
those who are socially/economically excluded can’t buy good necessary to forge new identity - gorge on media images and purge them out, creating a bulimic society, this intensifies frustration
Lewis (2011)- riots/looting in English cities in 2011 - many people motivated by desire to consume what they’re otherwise denied in a bulimic society
Young argues sense of relative deprivation is worsened by features of late modernity:
1. growing individualism- less concern for others
2.weakening informal controls- structures like family
3.growing economic inequality and change- globalisation has meant gap between rich and poor has grown, massive rewards for rich, few unskilled jobs
LEFT REALISM
what is meant by a ‘toxic mix’ generating crime?
factors found in late modernity are considered to be a ‘toxic mix’ , generating crime amongst young people in the most deprived areas
with no other outlets for their frustration, they’re more likely to involve themselves in what Lyng (1990) called ‘edgework’- thrill seeking behaviour and exploring boundaries between legal and criminal behaviour
LEFT REALISM
Lea and Young argued it is essential to understand the interrelations between 4 elements, known as ‘the square of crime’. What are these elements?
social structural influences and control by the state
offenders
victims
informal control and the public
evaluate left realism
- neglects other responses to relative deprivation and marginalisation , such as Merton’s retreatism and ritualism
-ignores women, especially crimes women are more likely to be victims of , such as rape and domestic abuse
-lacks attention regarding cooperate crime, even though crimes such as bad health and safety measures have biggest impact on most deprived areas
-doesn’t explain why most working class youth don’t turn to crime when exposed to ‘toxic mix’
-relies on victim surveys, some crimes are overreported, others underreported
what are the left realism crime prevention strategies?
tackle factors that are causing the frustration (poverty, unemployment)
restore trust with police, lack of confidence in police in deprived areas leads to military styles of policing which is often counter-productive, increasing antagonism in community. Lewis (2011)- perceived lack of respect from police that contributed to 2011 riots
build community cohesion, informal social controls
multiagency working (police, health probation services work together)
intensive parenting support , e.g: Sure Start children’s centres
left realism crime prevention strategies evaluated
outline the key feature of RIGHT REALISM
emphasis on value consensus and shared morality (we should be able to live a life away from crime safely)
people are naturally selfish (take shortcuts by committing crime)
community control (it is poor socialisation and lack of community control that’s causing crime) (need to strengthen community bonds) (Murray links crime to workshy underclass living in broken communities)
rational choice and opportunity (Cornish and Clarke,1986, people weigh up cost and potential benefit before they commit a crime)
crime will always exist (waste of time trying to find reasons for crime because most deprived people don’t commit crime) (most that can be done is reduce impact on victims) (white collar crime isn’t important, doesn’t have big effect on daily life)
RIGHT REALISM
What did Wilson and Kelling suggest?
In their article ‘Broken Windows’ , Wilson and Kelling suggested that police should focus on reducing street disorder. Any sign of deterioration must be dealt with immediately.
Argued biological differences (low IQ) make some more likely to commit crime
RIGHT REALISM
explain how the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York is an example of right realist approaches to crime
the Port Authority bus terminal reshaped its environment to ‘design crime out’
large sinks (homeless people bathed in) replaced with small basins
right realist policy as it is reducing street disorder
criticism is it is just moving crime on and not dealing with the root of the issue
