Realist Theories

Question 1

left realism - why did left realism develop?

Answer 1

as a response to marxist approaches in failing to make any policies & never took working-class seriously

Question 2

left realism - deprived people/areas

Answer 2

street crime common in deprived areas

deprived people usually victims

Question 3

left realism - relative deprivation

Answer 3

peoples expectations are not met
intensified by:
- growing individualisation 
- breaking of social structures 
- growing economic inequality (globalisation stretched gap between wealthy & poor bigger)

Question 4

left realism - marginalisation

Answer 4

groups are pushed to the edge of society
face social exclusion
turn to crime to express their frustrations

Question 5

left realism - subcultures

Answer 5

working-class create subcultures as a solution to social inequality
becomes a motivator of crime

Question 6

left realism - bulimic society

Answer 6

society is media-saturated
people immersed into constant exposure of expensive consumer culture 
creates high expectation 
due to social/economic exclusion
people forced to vomit their expectation

Question 7

left realism - toxic mix that generates crime

Answer 7

combination of factors of late modernity in deprived communities
to release frustration of being socially excluded they get involved in edgework:
thrill-seeking, risk-taking behaviour
leads to crime

Question 8

left realism - lea & young; square of crime

Answer 8

• social structural factors & formal social control by the state (policing, labelling)
• public and extent of informal social control (societal reaction, public confidence in police)
• role of victims (often same ethnicity/social class as offender)
• offenders (extent of marginalisation, deviant subculture, deprived)

Question 9

left realism - criticisms

Answer 9

• part of malestream criminology
• doesn’t explain white-collar/corporate
• crime rates are falling; not all working-class youth turn to crime even though unemployment is increasing

Question 10

right realism - value consensus supports society

Answer 10

criminals are non-conformists as they break the consensus & social order

Question 11

right realism - people naturally selfish

Answer 11

would rather take short cuts in life such as committing a crime

Question 12

right realism - community control

Answer 12

poor socialisation & lack of community control causes crime
strengthening community bonds through stricter socialisation re-established social cohesion & prevents crime

Question 13

right realism - rational choice

Answer 13

potential offenders rationally weigh up the costs & benefits when an opportunity is available

Question 14

right realism - crime will always exist

Answer 14

theres no point finding the causes rather focus on reducing the impact on victims

Question 15

right realism - criticisms

Answer 15

• doesn’t explain white-collar, corporate, hidden crime
• not all crimes have a benefit & is a rational choice
• doesn’t explain edgework