4.3 - Realist Theories on Crime

Question 1

RR - Causes of Crime

Answer 1

> Biological Differences
Socialisation and the Underclass
Rational Choice Theory
Routine Activity Theory

Question 2

RR - Solutions to Crime

Answer 2

> Broken Windows
Zero Tolerance
Target Hardening

Question 3

Hernstein & Murray - Biological Differences (RR)

Answer 3

> Some are innately predetermined to do crime in their DNA

> Programmed to be very aggressive & dumb - + likely to do crime

Question 4

Lilly - Criticisms Biological Differences

Answer 4

Intelligence differences account for only 3% of differences in offending

Question 5

Underclass - Murray (RR)

Answer 5

> NF undermined by welfare state, leading to + of LPF underclass w/ inadequate socialisation

> Lack male role models & discipline, key values not taught

> Boys join gangs to get status through crime > supporting families

Question 6

Rational Choice Theory - Clarke (RR)

Answer 6

> Have free will & choice to do crime, if positives of doing crime outweigh the costs, it makes it more likely

> Current costs of crime are low, so crime has increased

> Need for zero tolerance approach

Question 7

General Criticisms of Clarke

Answer 7

> How can criminals be rational actors, but behaviour due to biology & socialisation

> Overexaggerates extent criminals make +/- calculations

Question 8

Felson - Routine Activity Theory (RR)

Answer 8

> Crime caused by motivated offender, suitable target & absence of police & neighbour

> Deviants act rationally so suitable guardians likely to deter them

Question 9

General Criticisms of RR

Answer 9

> Short-sighted ignores wider structural causes e.g. poverty

> Doesn’t explain violent or impulsive crimes

Question 10

Wilson & Kelling - Zero Tolerance - Solutions to Crime (RR)

Answer 10

> Keep areas orderly so crime don’t take over, graffiti & vandalism needs immediate action

> Police control streets stop drunks & beggars, so law-abiding people feel safe

> Increase of fines & prison sentences as deterrent.

Question 11

General Criticisms of Zero Tolerance

Answer 11

> Allow police to discriminate vs EM, youth & homeless

> Ignores corporate crime & leads to displacement of crime in other areas

Question 12

Young - Zero Tolerance as Urban Myth (RR)

Answer 12

> Crime already decreasing from 1985

> Police use arrests to justify existence, artificially increase number of arrests for minor things

Question 13

How is LR similar to Marxism?

Answer 13

Unequal society root of crime

Question 14

How is LR different to Marxism?

Answer 14

> Gradual change is needed > violent overthrow of capitalism

> Marx concentrate on crime of upper class, but neglect WC crime & effects

Question 15

LR criticisms of Neo-Marxists

Answer 15

Romanticise WC criminals as having political motive, but mostly do crime vs other WC

Question 16

Real increase in crime (Aetiological Crisis) (LR)

Answer 16

> Crisis of explanation e.g. Labelling Theory sees increasing crime as a social construction which LR strongly disagree with. Increases are real and concerning

Question 17

LR - 3 Causes of Crime

Answer 17

> Relative Deprivation
Subculture
Marginalisation

Question 18

Define Relative Deprivation

Answer 18

How deprived someone feels in relation to others

Question 19

Lea (Relative Deprivation) - Causes of Crime

Answer 19

> Feelings of deprivation in relation to others is enhanced by media/advertising

> Pressure for material possessions means an increase in people committing crime who cannot get these things legitimately

Question 20

Young (Lethal Combination of RD & Individualism) - Causes of Crime

Answer 20

> Focus on self-gain at the expense of others

> Causes disintegration of families undermines values of support & selflessness

> Weakens informal controls, leads to anti-social behaviour & Crime

Question 21

LR - Definition of Subculture

Answer 21

Groups collective solution to problem of relative deprivation

Question 22

Young (Subcultures) - Causes of Crime

Answer 22

> Different subcultures have positive solutions to RD

> Criminal subcultures still focus on materialism & consumerism

> Gangs in US focused on American Dream & gaining designer items e.g. Gucci etc - can’t get it legitimately and leads to street crime.

Question 23

Lea & Young (Marginalisation) - Causes of Crime

Answer 23

> Unlike groups e.g. workers, unemployed youths are marginalised

> No organisations to represent them & no goals, due to no political means. Cannot express their frustrations

> So do this by alternative means e.g. violence

Question 24

Young - Late Modernity & Worsening of WC Crime

Answer 24

> Due to harsher welfare polices + unemployment & poverty

> Contrast to golden age of capitalism with low divorce & crime rates

> Now unstable family & community life, weakening informal controls

Question 25

Cultural Inclusion and Economic Exclusion

Answer 25

WC are culturally included into the material goals of society through advertisements but are economically excluded through low paid jobs.

Question 26

Lea & Young Policing and Control - LR Solution to Crime

Answer 26

> Police rely on information of people but losing support

> Use military policing swamping areas
alienates communities see police as victimising youth

> To win support, need to involve people in deciding police use multi-agency approach e.g. schools & social services

Question 27

LR - Tackling Structural Causes & Reducing Inequality (Solution to Crime)

Answer 27

> Main solution is to tackle discrimination, inequality in opportunities, improve housing.

> Be more tolerant of diversity stop seeing certain groups as criminal

Question 28

Similarities vs LR & Gov Policy

Answer 28

> New Labour focused on being tough on crime & it’s causes similar to LR

> e.g. firmer policing approach on Domestic Violence, Anti-Social B & new deal offered to unemployed youth

Question 29

Young - Criticisms of New Labour

Answer 29

> Policies are nostalgic attempts to recreate conditions of GA in 50’s

> Criticises record of gov’s only focused on addressing symptoms e.g ASB

> Only been tough on crime & not on causes

Question 30

Henry & Milanovich - Criticisms of LR

Answer 30

Accepts gov’s definition of crime as street crime by poor and ignore corporate crime

Question 31

Interactionists - Criticisms of LR

Answer 31

Focused only on Official Stats, doesn’t look at offender’s motives

Question 32

General Criticisms of LR

Answer 32

> Not all experiencing RD do crime

> Focus on high crime inner city areas makes it appear greater issue