Right Realists on Crime and Deviance Flashcards
What do Right Realists argue in terms of decisions over committing crimes? Even for who?
It is a choice, even for those in poverty
According to Murray, why is poverty not a cause for crime in terms of how many poor people offend?
Many poor people do not commit crimes
Which 2 classes of poor people did Murray create?
The respectable poor and the unrespectable poor
What do the respectable poor do in society?
Find a job and provide for their family
What do the unrespectable poor do in society?
They live off benefits and do not provide for their family
Name a television show which shows how the unrespectable poor act
Benefits Street
What were 2 of the criminal acts Danny and Funghi did?
Stole from a shop, bought drugs
Which sociological theory would argue the classification of working class people is unfair?
Marxists
Who wrote the book “Chavs”?
Owen Jones
How does Owen Jones argue the media presents the working class in terms of crime committing?
Portrayed as people who choose to commit crimes
What do Marxists argue is the main reason people commit crimes?
To fight against the poverty they face
What did Bonger say about Capitalism?
Capitalism causes poverty
What does Murray argue about the parent situation for most underclass families?
There is only a mother
What did Gordon say about Capitalism?
Capitalism breeds competition
What do Right Realists argue has been the impact of single-parent families?
It has caused there to be more crime
What does Murray argue about socialisation of boys in underclass families?
It is inefficient due to only the mother being present
What does Murray argue will happen to boys if they do not have a father in the socialisation process?
They will not have a role model who is a male breadwinner
What does Sewell argue in terms of Black Caribbean families?
Many Black Caribbean children have single mothers
What did Sewell observe happened to the Black Caribbean boys when they had no male role model?
They turned to rappers as role models
How did rappers respond to authority?
They resisted it
What did it mean for the Black Caribbean boys if their role models resisted authority?
They did the same
What type of subculture were Black Caribbeans more likely to join if they grew up with a single mother?
Anti-School Subcultures
What do Feminists argue about all families having the nuclear family structure?
It can be dangerous for women if they experience domestic abuse
Who describes domestic abuse as patriarchal terrorism?
Johnson
Why did Johnson describe domestic abuse as patriarchal terrorism?
Women are made uncertain of when the next attack will happen
According to Dobash and Dobash, why is it difficult for women to leave abusive relationships?
They may be financially dependent on the man
Which feminists argued it was difficult for women to escape abusive relationships?
Dobash and Dobash
What type of state do Right Realists argue has been created due to benefits?
A “nanny state”
Who argued the welfare state is responsible for the emergence of an underclass?
Marsland
What does Marsland say about benefit acquisition?
Benefits are too easy to get
Who created the concept of the “nanny state”?
Marsland
What does Marsland argue the welfare state has caused with the family unit?
It has caused it to decline
Why does Marsland argue the welfare state has caused the family unit to decline?
Families are less likely to support themselves
Why would Functionalists agree with the Right Realist idea of family unit bonds being weak?
Functionalists believe weak social bonds is what causes people to commit crime
Which Functionalist created the social bond theory?
Hirschi
What is the social bond of belief about?
Belief in the law
What is the social bond of involvement about?
Involvement with family members
What do Right Realists say need to be increased when comitting crimes?
The costs of committing a crime
Who created rational choice theory?
Clarke
What does Clarke argue about people choosing to commit crimes?
It is a rational choice to commit crime
Why is it rational for people to commit crimes according to Clarke?
The rewards outweigh the costs
What does it mean if the costs of committing crimes are low?
People are unlikely to get caught
What form of policing does Clarke argue will reduce crime?
Zero-tolerance policing
What does zero-tolerance policing mean?
Strict punishments for all forms of crime
Give an example of minor crime that would receive a conviction in zero-tolerance policing
Littering
What will the rational choice of individuals be if zero-tolerance policing was implemented?
To not commit a crime
What do Left Realists argue zero-tolerance policing fails to address?
The underlying causes of crime
What did Left Realists Lea and Young argue causes crime in terms of deprivation?
Relative deprivation
How do Left Realists believe policies should be structured to reduce crime?
Make the working class feel less marginalised
What would Interactionists criticise about zero-tolerance policing?
Ethnic minorities are more likely to be receive punishments
What did Interactionist, Cicourel find?
Police officers had a stereotypical view of a ‘typical delinquent’
Give the CAGE description of a typical delinquent and where they will live
Working class young male from an ethnic minority who lives in an inner city area
What do Right Realists believe will occur if minor crimes are not punished?
Crime will increase
Which Right Realists developed the broken windows theory?
Wilson and Kelling
What does the broken windows theory say?
If someone breaks a window in an abandoned building and it is not repaired, others will come along and break other windows
What is the broken windows metaphor in the sense of littering?
If someone were to litter and it was not dealt with by the law, others would litter
What is created by crimes being left unattended in neighbourhoods according to Wilson and Kelling?
A signal telling the neighbourhood that crime is acceptable
What do Wilson and Kelling believe would happen if there was more social control in neighbourhoods?
There would be less crime
What small crime did New York police reduce in subway stations?
People who did not pay to get on the subway
How did reducing the crime of not paying to get on the subway reduce other crimes?
Lots of the people who were caught not paying had knives and guns on them
What do Wilson and Kelling argue can be done with informal social control?
It can be strengthened
What would it mean if there was strengthened informal social control?
There would be someone around who would deter them from offending
What would Functionalists agree on with Wilson and Kelling’s argument with broken windows theory?
If minor crimes go unpunished, then crime will increase
Which Functionalist created the concepts of anomie and value consensus?
Durkheim
What is anomie?
When people do not know what norms and values to follow
Why will there be increased anomie if minor crimes go unpunished?
People will be uncertain if they are illegal or not
What is value consensus?
When everyone in society agrees on the same set of values
Why will the value consensus be threatened if minor crimes go unpunished?
People will not know if values are the same anymore
What do Right Realists argue about guardians in relation to crime decreasing?
If there are more guardians in society, crime will decrease
Who created the concept of routine activity theory?
Felson
What does Felson argue routine activity theory explains?
Explains why people commit crime
What is the first element that Felson argues will influence people to commit a crime in terms of with the offender?
A motivated offender
What is the second element that Felson argues will influence people to commit a crime in terms of with the target?
There is a suitable target for the crime
What is the third element that Felson argues will influence people to commit a crime in terms of a guardian’s presence?
There is an absence of a guardian
Name a formal guardian
Police officers
Name an informal guardian
Neighbours
What does Felson argue will happen with crime if there are more formal or informal guardians?
Crime will decrease
What would Postmodernists argue about Right Realist explanations of reducing crime?
They are outdated
What did the Postmodernist, Lyng say about why people commit crime?
It is to give them a thrill of either getting caught or getting away with it
What did the Postmodernist, Katz say about why people commit crime?
They are attracted to crimes by the seductive element of committing them
