Realist theories of crime

Question 1

What do realists argue about the crime rate?

Answer 1

They argue that there has been a significant rise in the crime rate - especially street crime, burglary and assault

Question 2

What do realists argue about other theories?

Answer 2

They argue that other theories have failed to offer realistic solutions to the problem of crime and they propose what they regard as practical policies to reduce it

Question 3

Outline the right realist view

Answer 3

They share the New Right or neo-conservative political outlook and support a toughened stance on crime

Question 4

Outline the left realist view

Answer 4

They are socialists who favour early intervention to prevent crime

Question 5

How do realists see crime?

Answer 5

They see crime as a real problem to be tackled, and not just a social construction created by the control agencies

Question 6

Who is the main theorist associated with right realism?

Answer 6

James Q Wilson

Question 7

How do right realists differ from left realists?

Answer 7

They argue that the best way to reduce crime was through control and punishment, rather than rehabilitating offenders or tackling causes of crime such as poverty

Question 8

For right realists, crime is the product of what 3 factors?

Answer 8

Individual biological differences, inadequate socialisation and the underclass and rational choice to offend

Question 9

What sort of theory do Wilson and Hernstein put forward?

Answer 9

A bio social theory of criminal behaviour

Question 10

What do Hernstein and Murray argue to be the main cause of crime?

Answer 10

Low intelligence, which they see as biologically determined

Question 11

What does Murray believe to be the cause of the increasing crime rate?

Answer 11

He argues that the crime rate is increasing because of a growing underclass who are defined by their deviant behaviour and who fail to socialise their children properly as a result of welfare dependency

Question 12

What does the rational choice theory assume?

Answer 12

That individuals have free will and the power of reason

Question 13

Who argues that the decision to commit a crime is a choice based on a rational calculation of the likely consequences?

Answer 13

Ron Clarke

Question 14

According to rational choice theory, why do individuals choose to commit a crime?

Answer 14

If the perceived rewards are greater than the potential costs of committing the crime

Question 15

How does Marcus Felsons routine activity theory explain the occurrence of a crime?

Answer 15

He argues that for a crime to occur there must be a motivated offender, a suitable target and the absence of a ‘capable guardian such as a policeman

Question 16

What theory do Wilson and Kelling advocate to explain crime and how does it do so?

Answer 16

The Broken Windows theory which assumes that any signs of deterioration within in community encourage deviance

Question 17

What policy do Wilson and Kelling propose to deal with crime?

Answer 17

A Zero Tolerance policy that cracks down on the slightest signs of deviance

Question 18

What do Right realists believe crime prevention strategies should do?

Answer 18

Reduce the rewards and increase the costs of crime to the offender such as target hardening

Question 19

What are right realists criticised for ignoring?

Answer 19

Wider structural causes of crime such as poverty

Question 20

What sorts of crime do right realists ignore?

Answer 20

Corporate crime

Question 21

What are the negative consequences of Zero Tolerance policing?

Answer 21

It gives police free rein to discriminate against ethnic minority groups and results in the displacement of crime

Question 22

Who is the key theorist within left realism?

Answer 22

Jock Young

Question 23

What is the central idea behind left realism?

Answer 23

Crime is a real problem, and one that particularly affects the disadvantaged groups who are its main victims

Question 24

How do left realists disagree with traditional Marxists?

Answer 24

They argue that it neglects working class crime and its effects

Question 25

How do left realists disagree with Neo-Marxists?

Answer 25

They point out that in fact working class criminals mostly victimise other working class people, not the rich

Question 26

What does Young argue has been caused by an increase in the level of crime amongst the working class?

Answer 26

An aetiological crisis

Question 27

What is an aetiological crisis?

Answer 27

A crisis in explanation for theories of crime

Question 28

What three causes of crime do Lea and Young identify?

Answer 28

Relative deprivation, marginalisation and subculture

Question 29

What stage does Young argue that we are now living in?

Answer 29

Late modernity

Question 30

What characteristics of late modernity does Young believe increases crime?

Answer 30

Instability, insecurity and exclusion

Question 31

What has increased people’s sense of relative deprivation?

Answer 31

Greater inequality between the rich and the poor and the spread of free market values which has encouraged individualism

Question 32

What three things does Young note increases relative deprivation?

Answer 32

The media, greater emphasis on leisure and the ideology of meritocracy

Question 33

How can a late modern society be described?

Answer 33

A high-crime society with a low tolerance for crime

Question 34

What do left realists propose is a solution to tackling crime?

Answer 34

They argue that we must both improve policing and control, and deal with the deeper structural causes of crime