right and left realism

Question 1

when did realism emerge?

Answer 1

around the 1980s

Question 2

what do realists focus on?

Answer 2

not just understanding the cause of crime, but going further offering solutions and responses to crime

Question 3

what are the two main branches of realism?

Answer 3

left and right realism

Question 4

what do left and right realism reflect?

Answer 4

political views of the left and right wing political ideologies

Question 5

what is left realism a response to?

Answer 5

traditional Marxist and neo-Marxists explanations

Question 6

how is the Marxism, neo-Marxism and left realism similar?

Answer 6

they romanticize the working class and fail to take the effects of being a victim of crime fully into account

Question 7

how do Left realists feel about structural inequality?

Answer 7

it is largely to blame for the crime that occurs

Question 8

what do left realists think will reduce crime?

Answer 8

greater social equality and a stronger sense of community

Question 9

what are the three causes of crime according to Lea and Young (1984)?

Answer 9

relative deprivation
subcultures
marginalisation

Question 10

what is relative deprevation?

Answer 10

refers to how people regard their position in relation to others

Question 11

what is a subculture?

Answer 11

various types from among the working class who may begin to see offending behaviour as normal

Question 12

what is marginalisation?

Answer 12

the process through which people find themselves on the edges of society and are unable to access the rights and services available. this in turn leads to crime being seen as more acceptable

Question 13

what do left realists think communities should do?

Answer 13

taking responsibility for policing the streets and encourage the public to get involved with policing local communities e.g neighbourhood watch

Question 14

what do left realist believe the public and police should do?

Answer 14

increase their trust

Question 15

what do Lea and Young say needs to happen in order to reduce crime in the long term?

Answer 15

a greater understanding of the role of victims needs to be developed

Question 16

what does Lea and Young believe needs to happen to truly understand crime?

Answer 16

it is important to understand the social inequalities in society

Question 17

what are the main criticism of Left realists?

Answer 17

they fail to recognise or explain that not all working-class or marginalised groups in fact respond to their situation by committing crime

Question 18

what do Left realists fail to acknowledge?

Answer 18

the existence of crimes committed by the powerful and wealthy

Question 19

what did the new labour government introduce in 1997?t

Answer 19

tax credits and minimum wage

Question 20

what theorists have the closest relation to the right realist approach?

Answer 20

the New Right

Question 21

what are the similarities of right realists and the new right?

Answer 21

both believe individuals are responsible for their own actions and should take responsibility for themselves

Question 22

what do right realists believe people are?

Answer 22

naturally selfish and will commit crime for their own personal gain if they can get away with it

Question 23

how do right realist believe people choose to commit crime?

Answer 23

through rational choice

Question 24

what is rational choice?

Answer 24

individual assesses the risk of getting caught committing a crime. if they feel they are unlikely to get caught, they will commit the crime

Question 25

what do right realist believe people are responsible for?

Answer 25

their own actions

Question 26

what do right realist believe is crucial in society?

Answer 26

social order and that value consensus regarding what is considered right and wrong

Question 27

what do right realist believe the state does?

Answer 27

plays a roles in maintaining social order and it has a duty to reinforce its concepts of social order through laws and policies

Question 28

what do right realists believe about crime?

Answer 28

it will always exists and there is no value in looking for structural causes unlike left realists

Question 29

what do right realists believe is more important that looking for structural causes of crime?

Answer 29

prevention and reduction of crime

Question 30

what does right realist Murray (1984) claim?

Answer 30

the breakdown of other institutions in society such as family, along with over generous welfare state lead to children being inadequately socialised

Question 31

what does Murray argue the lack of Male role models in the family cause?

Answer 31

young children are more likely to commit crimes as they gain status by joining gangs

Question 32

what is the right realists best solution to crime?

Answer 32

harsh punishment to reduce the likelihood of people being tempted to commit crime and to act as a deterrent

Question 33

what are the right realist target hardening strategies to prevent crime?

Answer 33

reduce opportunity- barbed wire, CCTV, anti-climb paint increase risk of getting caught - police presence, lighting at night, CCTV

Question 34

what is an example of environmental crime prevention?

Answer 34

broken windows theory

Question 35

what is broken windows theory?

Answer 35

the idea that where there is one broken window there will be many is the damage is not fixed

Question 36

what is the Zero tolerance policy?

Answer 36

strict enforcement of minor infractions and disorderly behavior to prevent more serious crimes.

Question 37

what are the main criticisms of Right Realism?

Answer 37

assume that people are inherently selfish, which may not always be the case. and they ignore the role of structural inequalities in creating context for crime