Realist theories of crime and deviance: Flashcards
Key word:
What does marginalisation mean?
The exclusion of certain groups from society, which can lead to criminal behaviour due to limited opportunities and social inequality.
Key word:
What does subcultures mean?
Groups within a society that have different values, norms, and behaviours from the mainstream culture, often based on factors like age or interests.
Key word:
What does inadequate socialisation mean?
The lack of proper exposure to societal norms and values, leading to difficulties in social interaction and potentially problematic behaviours.
Key word:
What does underclass mean?
A segment of society that faces long-term poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.
This group often lacks access to education, housing, and opportunities, leading to a cycle of disadvantage and potentially crime.
Key word:
What does biological factors mean?
Physical and genetic characteristics, like genetics, brain structure, and hormones, that influence behaviour and development.
Some traits such as low IQ can lead to crime.
Key word:
What does the broken window mean?
A theory that suggests that visible signs of disorder e.g. broken windows or graffiti, can lead to more crime and antisocial behaviour.
It argues that maintaining order in a community helps prevent further crime.
Key word:
What does situational crime prevention mean?
Intervention that focuses on reducing crime opportunities by making it harder or riskier to commit crimes e.g. better lighting and security.
Key word:
What does displacement mean?
When crime is being shifted to another area or type rather than being eliminated by prevention efforts.
Key word:
What does left realist mean?
Left realists view crime as a result of social inequality and advocates for social reform rather than focusing solely on punishment. (Socialist)
Key word:
What does right realism mean?
Right realists view crime as a result of individual choices advocating for strict harsh punishments to deter crime.
Advocate for social order through zero-tolerance. (Conservative)
Right realism:
How do right realists see crime?
Right realism views crime as a serious threat to social cohesion.
It emphasises the need for strict policies e.g. ‘zero tolerance,’ to combat crime.
Right realism:
How does right realism link with the shift towards the right in politics?
Realist approaches
to crime emerged in the 1970s and 1980s with right-wing governments in both the UK and USA
They advocated for harsher punishments in order to deter people from committing crime.
Right realists view on crime:
How do right realists view the causes of crime? (There are 3)
Right realists don’t believe that poverty and inequality causes crimes as even though the old are poor they don’t commit crime suggesting that it has something to do with values rather than inequality.
Right realists believe that crime is caused by three things:
e.g. Biological differences - those with lower IQ are more likely to commit crime
e.g. Inadequate socialisation - W/C people seek immediate gratification and are therefore more likely to commit crime.
e.g. Rational choice to offend - M/C are less likely to commit crime as they have more to lose
Right realists view on crime:
How do right realists see crime as being caused by biological differences? (use sociologist)
Wilson and Herrnstein (1985) argue that aggressiveness can lead to crime. This is because those who are aggressive are more likely to put themselves in high risk situations
Herrnstein and Murray (1994) - argued that low IQ can lead to crime. Those with lower IQ’s lack impulse control and have fewer opportunities, leading them to resort to criminal behaviour.
Right realists view on crime:
How do right realists see crime as being caused by socialisation? (use sociologist)
Murray argues underclass dependency on welfare leads to more crime. Welfare dependency undermines absent fathers resulting in poor socialisation, who turn to crime for status.
Bennett et al. (1996) argue that crime is normalised in W/C families and therefore learned behaviour as children are socialised into thinking that its normal/okay.
Key word:
What does rational choice theory mean?
Rational choice theory argues that people commit crimes based on weighing the benefits of crime against the potential risks or consequences.
If the benefits outweigh the risks, they are more likely to offend.
Right realists view on crime:
How do right realists see crime as being caused rational choice? (use sociologist)
Clarke (1980) argues that crime is a rational choice, where if the rewards outweigh the costs, crime is more likely. (there are not many risks for getting caught so more crime).
Felson (2002) - offenders acts rationally and being deterred by the presence of guardians showing how crime is a choice.
Criticisms of right realists view on crime:
What are the criticisms of the right realist view of crime?
It overstates offenders rationality. It does not explain impulsive or violent crime e.g. those who are in desperate poverty aren’t be making calculations, they are just going to do it.
Sees crime as being based on biology whereas in reality - IQ differences make for less than 3% of differences in offending.
Tackling crime:
How would right realists tackle crime?
They aim to reduce the rewards and increase the costs of crime by using methods like “target hardening,” greater use of prisons, and ensuring swift punishment to deter offenders.
Their main focus is on punishment and containment, rather than solving the how society creates crime through inequality.
Key word:
What is target hardening?
Making crime more difficult to commit.
Key word:
What is zero tolerance?
Punishing minor offenses to deter more serious crimes.
Tackling crime: Right realism:
How does zero-tolerance link to tackling crime? (use sociologist)
Wilson and Kelling (1982) argue that maintaining order is crucial to prevent crime.
They suggest that signs of deterioration should be dealt with immediately otherwise people will think this behaviour is okay.
Criticisms of Zero tolerance:
What are the criticisms of zero tolerance?
Focuses on street crime and ignores corporate crime which is more costly and harmful e.g. each year costs £4-5 billion whereas corporate crime costs £190 billion a year.
Allows the police to have the power to target certain groups leading to stigmatisation. This can result in disintegrative punishment, increasing the likelihood that individuals will commit crime due to their negative label.
Left realism:
How do left realists view crime?
Left realism views crime as being caused by inequality and supports gradual reform.