Sociological Theories Evaluation

Question 1

What are the key points of Left Realism?

Answer 1

1. It suggests that crime is a consequence of a capitalist society.
2. They believe that both practical and long-term change is needed to create a more equal, caring society.
3. They suggest that capitalism encourages consumerism and materialism to motivate people, but it cannot deliver it all so people turn to crime to make up for it.

Question 2

What are the positives of Left Realism?

Answer 2

1. Explores the role of the victim in crime in more depth than any other theory.
2. They recognise multiple causes of crime.
3. They are more central and avoid the extremes of the right- and left-wing policies and approaches.

Question 3

What are the issues with Left Realism?

Answer 3

1. Fails to discuss the impact of white collar/corporate crime
2. Does not explain the reason why everyone in relative deprivation would turn to crime.

Question 4

What are the key points of Marxism?

Answer 4

1. They believe that crime is caused due to a capitalist society, as the ruling class try to socially control the working class.
2. They argue that white collar crime is ignored as it tends to be committed by the powerful ruling members of society.
3. That different social classes are policed differently e.g working class communities are more heavily policed and prosecuted.

Question 5

What are the positives of Marxism?

Answer 5

1. Gives insight into crime that covers all social classes and different offences.
2. Highlights that white-collar crime is treated differently to street crime.
3. Reveals how law reflects differences in power between all social classes, and how this can lead to criminal behaviour.

Question 6

What are the issues with Marxism?

Answer 6

1. Ignores other inequalities such as gender or ethnicity
2. There are examples of prosecutions for white collar crimes e.g. Bernie Madoff
3. Could be argued that the amount of crime committed in working class communities is overstated, and that not all capitalist societies have a high crime rate e.g. Japan and Switzerland.

Question 7

What are the key points of Right Realism?

Answer 7

1. Charles Murray focuses on the idea that everyone is tempted to commit crime but it is the amount of special bonds that often prevent us from doing it.
2. He argues that there is a development of an ‘underclass’ e.g. single parents where young boys grow up without an appropriate role model.
3. They also question the fact that economic factors e.g. poverty and unemployment are not the reason behind crime, and that it is social constraints that are weakened that are more likely to commit it.

Question 8

What are the positives of New Right?

Answer 8

1. Offers are more practical approach to tackling crime than the theoretical ideas of Marxism and labelling theories.
2. Flood-Page et al (2000) study supports the idea that there is a link between lone parent children who offend compare to those with two parents.

Question 9

What are the issues with New Right?

Answer 9

1. Ignores the wider structural causes of crime e.g. poverty
2. Ignores relative deprivation
3. Its too focused on street crime and young males, and it too readily accepts crime statics whilst failing to explaining issues e.g. white-collar crime.