Crime - Left Realist theories of crime Flashcards
what do left realists believe about crime
crime should be taken more seriously, looking at the victim and the criminal. focus on: w/c victims & criminals, structure inequality & improving relationship between public and the police
why do people commit crime - relative deprivation
lea & young - relative deprivation leads to crime as people who are deprived leads to resentment of others having more than them, resorts to gaining things through illegitimate means
whats the paradox between increasing crime and increase in wealthy society - relative deprivation
people have become richer, living standards improved - but things like social media heightens our expectations for materials as we’re more exposed to things we cant have & others wealth. leads to crime
why do people commit crime - whats the ‘bulimic society’ theory
young - social and economic exclusion causes bulimic society. we gorge ourselves with media images of expensive lifestyles, but then forced by economic circumstances to ‘vomit’ out the raised expectations, intensifying frustration
why do people commit crime - how does lewis et al support ‘bulimic society’ theory
looting in the london riots was motivated by what people were deprived of in ‘bulimic societies’
whats an evaluation of relative deprivation
majority of materially deprived people are law-abiding
wealthy people turn to crime e.g white collar crime
why do people commit crime - marginalisation
marginalised groups lack clear goals & organisations representing them, leads to frustration and resentment which they express through violence and rioting.
why do people commit crime - whats an example of marginalised groups not feeling represented
56/650 mps are LGB members and 65/650 were of ethnic minorities
why do people commit crime - why are employed less likely to be marginalised
organisations representing them e.g unions, have established goals so dont need to resort to violence to achieve
why do people commit crime - why are unemployed likely to be marginalised
no organisation representing them, express resentment and frustration through violence, have no sense of clear goals
whats an evaluation of marginalisation
no explaination for why crime is the outlet of their frustration as opposed to other behaviours e.g deviance.
not everyone marginalised turns to crime as a result
why do people commit crime - subcultures
subcultures form a collective solution to relative deprivation, some turn to crime to close the deprivation gap or religious/spiritual comfort to explain disadvantages
what do subcultures do and an example
they have mainstream goals like consumerism/materialism
young - usa ghetto had american dream values but turned to crime to achieve
whats an evaluation of subcultures
not all people who are in subcultures turn to crime
some may join subcultures for similar interests, etc, not crime
solutions to crime - policing and control
policing must be made accountable to local communities & relationships need to improve with them, spending time investigating crime and involving community when making policing policies.
