Topic 1- Feminist, Postmodernist, Left and Right Realists

Question 1

Feminist theories

Answer 1

Male dominance in society reflected in male dominance of the sociology of crime

Question 2

Postmodernist theories

Answer 2

Argue that traditional theories and explanations are no longer able to explain or understand the society we live in
There is no single explanation of crime

Question 3

Henry and Milovanovic

Answer 3

Concept of crime should be replaced with the concept of ‘social harm’
1. Harm of reduction- someone uses their power in a way that results in an immediate loss off profession
2. Harms of repression- future growth and development are threatened

Question 4

Bauman and Lyon

Answer 4

Liquid surveillance
-Technology makes our lives increasingly transparent to the point that surveillance becomes invisible to us

Question 5

Snoopers charter

Answer 5

Social media mass surveillance is permitted by law says top UK official

Question 6

Evaluation of postmodernist views

Answer 6

Strengths
-Show how definitions of legally defined crime are narrow
-Correct in pointing out the legal definitions of crime fair to take account that changing context

Limits
-Don’t address the major causes of lots of crime
-They fail to explain why many people don’t commit crime
-Don’t explain why certain groups actively engage in acts of harm

Question 7

Left realism

Answer 7

They agree that structural inequality in society is largely to blame
They believe in gradual change rather than violent overthrow of capitalism as the way for greater equality

Question 8

Lea and Young- 3 causes of crime

Answer 8

Relative deprivation
Subculture
Marginalisation

Question 9

Relative deprivation

Answer 9

How people regard their position in relation to others that cause crime

Question 10

Subcultures

Answer 10

Groups of people who form a set of values together

Question 11

Marginalisation

Answer 11

Process through which some people find themselves on the edges of society and unable to access rights and services

Question 12

Young

Answer 12

Insecurity and exclusion has increased with deindustrialisation

Question 13

Young’s bulimic society

Answer 13

People gorge on media images of expensive consumer lifestyles

Question 14

Kinsey Lea and Young

Answer 14

That police clear up rates are too low to act as a deterrent to crime

Question 15

Evaluation of Left Realism

Answer 15

Strengths
-They draw on a range of theories
-Successfully drawn attention to the reality of street crime and victims especially upon derived communities

Limits
-Relative deprivation cannot fully explain crime
-Neglects gender as a significant issue
-Tend to focus too much upon victims evidence

Question 16

Right Realism

Answer 16

Social order and a shared morality is crucial to society
State plays an important role in maintaining law and order
Crime especially street crime as a growing problem that destroys communities

Question 17

Wilson and Herrnstein

Answer 17

Biological theory of criminal behaviour

Question 18

Herrnstein and Murray

Answer 18

The main cause of crime is low intelligence

Question 19

Murray

Answer 19

Crimes rates have increased due to a growing underclass who defined by their deviant behaviour fail to socialise their children

Question 20

Rational choice theory

Answer 20

That the decision to commit a crime is based on rational calculations of the likely consequences

Question 21

Evaluation of Right Realism

Answer 21

Strengths
-Strong set of clear solutions for reducing the opportunity for crime to occur
-Acknowledges the importance of community control in policing and reducing crime

Limits
-Assumes people are inherently selfish
-Ignores the role of structural inequalities
-Assumes crimes are rational