Realist Theory Of Crime And Deviance Flashcards
What is the right realist explanation of crime?
Right realist reject marxists explanation of crime and deviance and believe that individuals are responsible for crime.
-Crime is a product of 3 factors, individual biological differences, inadequate socialisation and the rational choice theory.
How does biological differences provide an explanation of crime according to right realists?
-some people are naturally more aggressive or risk taking, this means they are likely to commit crime.
Eval-However, left realists would argue that they ignore structural factors like poverty and marginalisation that cause crime.
How does inadequate socialisation provide an explanation of crime according to right realists?
Charles murray argues that the ‘generous reduction’ increased benefits and led to a ‘dependency culture.’ This led to changes in family structure ->rise in lone parent families.
-This also led to lack of male role models, meaning lack of disciplinary role models and ‘tough love’ leading to young males seeking role models in gangs.
Eval-However, this fails to provide an explanation to why people in nuclear families commit crimes
- doesn’t explain female crime
- too deterministic
How does the rational choice theory identified by right realist provide an explanation for crime?
The rational choice theory- clarke, wilson
Argues that individuals are rational and make logical decisions
- crime is viewed as a rational choice based on a calculation of likely consequences.
- crime is rising as rewards from crimes now outweigh the risks
Eval-However, not all crimes involve rational calculation e.g. violent crimes/dv
-some crimes are committed out of necessity e.g. theft of baby food
+Better to explain utilitarian crimes,
What is the left realist explanation on crime and Deviance?
Left realist look at how society is unequal therefore people commit crime. Crime occurs due to 3 factors, relative deprivation , subcultures and marginalisation.
How does relative deprivation lead to crime occurring due to left realist, Lea and young?
According to Lea and young, relative deprivation leads to crime due to the need to fill the gap in relative deprivation = crime
• the pressures of media to achieve economic success leaves people to feel deprived in relation to others.
What evidence supports that relative deprivation leads to crime as argued by left realist?
Lea and young argued that crime rates are higher among people in W/c areas.
- W/c tend to be relatively deprived
How does subcultures lead to crime as identified by left realists?
- Subcultures act as a relief from relative deprivation
* Subcultures can allow people to achieve status through organised crime to meet needs of lifestyle
What evidence supports that subcultures lead to crime according to left realists?
Anti school subcultures and youth subcultures act as a coping mechanism for blocked opportunities.
How does marginalisation lead to crime occurring as identified by left realists?
- Marginalised groups are less represented in society to express frustrations through violent and aggressive means.
- the role of media, government and social institutions impact on marginalised groups causing them to feel left out / left behind leading them causing crime
e.g. black boys being negatively stereotyped so rioting , 2011 riots
What are the evaluations of left realists on crime and deviance?
+influential in forming policies and providing solutions to crime , particularly under new labour
-impacts of capitalism accelerated in global era but recorded crime has fallen, dark figure of crime
+ draws a range of influences from different perspectives
