Week 5: Left And Right Realism Flashcards
Who developed Left Realism?
Lea and Young (1984)
Why was Left Realism developed?
As a response to Right Realism and partly a response to Radical Criminology
How does Left Realism explain crime?
It explains crime through the analysis of social and economical relationships and analysing how some groups become marginalised
How does Left Realism see the origins of crime?
As three fold: Subculture, Relative depravations and marginalisation
How does Lea and Young describe the effect of subcultures?
They argue that youth subculture has high material expectations and aspirations, and so the youth being being closely enmeshed is these material goods is why they commit crime; because they lack opportunities to maintain these expectations
How does Lea and Young describe the effect of relative deprivation?
They argue that, frustrated from the imbalance between their expectations of life and the reality of it, this leads to young males too feeling relatively deprived. “This can develop into strategies which can involve deviant and criminal behaviour” (Runciman, 1966)
How does Lea and Young describe the effect of relative marginalization?
They argue that marginalization often leads to white and black working-class youths feel alienated by schools, unemployment, low-wages and the police, and that young black males in particular face marginalization through prejudice and harassment. Economic marginalization is transferred to crime.
What are some strengths of Left Realism?
Any of the following:
Acknowledges victims of crime, Doesn’t glorify or demonises the police and the state, Describes real problems about street crime, Dependant on real sociological aspects such as social deprivation
What are some weaknesses of Left Realism?
Any of the following: There’s little that’s new about it – mix of subcultural studies and strain theory, Too much emphasis on street crime – what about white collar crime and major violent crime?, No reference to women and crime, Not all people in relative deprivation turn to crime
Who originated Right Realism?
James Q. Wilson (1975)
Why was Right Realism developed?
It was developed as a critique of sociological theory which had failed to solve the problem of crime.
What is the basis of Right Realism?
The basis of Right Realism is a negative view of nature in that people are naturally selfish and greedy. Right Realists believe that this aspect of human nature therefore needs to be subject to social controls and socialised into appropriate behaviour.
Who developed Rational choice theory?
Clarke and Coleman (1980)
What does Rational Choice Theory argue?
It argues that criminals will engage in crime if the benefits outweigh the costs
What does Rational Choice Theory is the solution to crime?
It argues that the solution is to simply increase the cost of the crime (e.g. invest more money into institutions such as the police that will increase the likelihood of getting caught as well as tougher punishments)
How does Right Realism link human nature to crime?
Right Realism argues that rising crime levels are a reflection of ineffective and inadequate social control.
How does Right Realism link liberal attitudes and crime?
It argues that liberal attitudes allow self-indulgence and anti-social behaviour
How does Right Realism link feckless parenting to crime?
It argues that aspects such as feckless parenting, absent fathers, lack of discipline in schools, liberal policies of the state have all served to ferment crime
What does Right Realism say are the results of human nature?
The result of Selfish Human Nature is spiralling volumes of uncivil behaviours such as muggings, graffiti, vandalism, car break-ins and theft, as well as assaults, burglaries and robberies.
What do right realists blame crime on?
Right Realists blame crime on inadequate or inappropriate socialisation by key socialisation agencies such as schools, within mass media, religious institutions and the family (non-traditional families, such as single mothers, are viewed as a major factor)
Who argued that the underclass were insufficiently integrated into society?
New Realist Charles Murray (1990)
What were the results of Charles Murrays’ analysis?
His analysis suggests that it is the poor themselves that are to blame for their poverty because they either choose to act in a certain way or are conditioned to do so by over-generous government welfare
Describe the New Right
The New Right approach is based of the politics of the Conservative Party
What do the New Right say about the Welfare State?
They view the welfare state as being too generous when it comes to ‘handouts’ from the ‘nanny’ welfare state and that it deters those in poverty from helping themselves, thus creating dependency culture
