Realist theories of crime Flashcards
How do right realists criticise other theories?
Failing to offer praactical solutions to the rising crime rate
-labelling and crititical criminology is too sympathetic to the criminal
According to Right realists what are the three causes of crime?
-Biological differences
-Inadequate socialisation
- Having the Rational choice to offend
According to Right Realists how can biological differences explain criminal behaviour?
Murray (1994) low IQ can lead to crime, which is biologically determined
-Wilson and Herstein argue some personality traits (biological basis) can lead to crime e.g aggressiveness/risk taking
According to Right Realists, how can inadequate socialisation explain criminal behaviour?
Murray- crime rate increasing due to ‘growing underclass’ (mostly LPF matrifocal) due to welfare dependency that inadequately socialises.
-lone mothers cannot socialise boys properly= lack parental discipline/role models= get role models on street/status through crime
How can Murrays idea of inadequate socialisation as a cause of crime be criticised?
No evidence those in LPF are more likely to commit crime
What is the rational choice theory?
Clarke (1980)- indivudls choose to commit crimes by weighing up the costs and rewards
-if costs and are low and reward is high= commit crime
How can the rational choice theory cause crime
As individuals make a choice on whether tyhe crime is worth the rewards, if punishments are not harsh enough (which right realists argue they are not)= crimes
What is Felsons routine activity theory?
In order for a crime to occur, there needs to be..
-motivated offender, suitable target(victim/property), absence of capable guardian (police officer)
How can the right realists explanations be criticised?
-only focuses on street crime,ignores white collar crime
-fail to focus on how wider societal issues e.g poverty can pish individuals towards crime
How do right realists argue crime should be tackled?
-cannot focus on causes as they are too difficult to change
-Make crime less attractive to prevent it e.g increasing costs of crime
-Zero tolerance
-Target hardening
What is target hardening?
Making it more difficult for criminals to offend and idntify targets e.g installling locks, security systems
-Increases effort needed to commit crimes, reducing it
What is the broken window thesis and what did it lead to
Wilson and Kelling- we should maintain order of neighbourhoods by tackling crime immediately, even minor ones such as vandalism
-Lead to zero tolerance policing
What is zero tolerance?
We should have harsher punishments, crack down on minor offences
-By addressing small issues earlier, escalation is prevented
How does Jock Young criticise the ‘success’ of zero tolerance in New York
Although police stated crime rate dropped after ZT implemented, Young argues it was falling years before that
-Police ‘defined deviance up’ as they wanted to justify their existence as New York had a lack of serious crime so arressted ppl for minor crimes
How else can ZEro tolerance be criticised?
-focuses on petty street crime, not more costly coorporate crime
-allows police to discriminate against minorities
-lead to the displacement of crimes to other areas
What is the link between left realism and Marxism
Both believe we have an unequal capitalist society
-Instead believe we need practical strategies to reduce crime instead of waiting for a classless revolution to abloish it
Which Sociologists do left realists argue are not taking crime seriously or see it as a real problem?
`marxists- neglects working class crime and its effect
neo-marxists; romanticise w/c criminals, ignore w/c on w/c crime
labelling theorists; focuses on w/c criminals and iognores the real w/c victims
What is the left realist view on crime?
-Crime is a real issue that should be taken seriously
-Crime mostly affects/ victimises disdvantaged groups hence they have greater fear of crime, affecting their behaviour e.g women not going out at night
What are the three causes of crime according to Lea and Young
RElative deprivation, subculture and marginalisation
What is relative deprivation and how can it cause crime
Lea and young
-How deprived someone feels in relation to others
-Resent others for having more than you have so commit crimes to obtain what you believe you ‘deserve’
How does relative deprevation cause crime in todays society?
Media and advertising make you more aware of your ‘deprivation’, resort to crime
-increasing individualism means we pursue self-intrests at expense of others
What does Jock Young argue?
There was an increase in crime from the 1950’s on, that led to an aetiological crisis e.g labelling theory argues the increase was not real, just more labels
What causes the most crime according to Young?
Individualisation and relative deprivation
How can subcultures cause crime according to Left realists
-Some groups have blocked oppurtunities and experiencre relative deprivation, join subculure that may be criminal subculture to get means illegitamately
