Crime and Deviance - Realist Theories of Crime Flashcards
(22 cards)
What do Realists say about crime in general?
- It’s a real problem to be tackled, and not just a social construction created by control agencies.
What three arguments do Realists give about crime?
- There has been a significant rise in the crime rate, especially in street crime, burglary, and assault.
- Concerned about the widespread fear of crime and about the impact of crime on its victims.
- Other theories have failed to offer realistic solutions to the problem of crime and they propose more ‘practical’ policies.
What is the difference between Left Realists and Right Realists?
- Left Realists: Argue that inequality is the main cause of crime and we need more community interventions to reduce crime.
- Right Realists: Focus on the individual as being responsible for crime, arguing that we need to get tough on criminals to reduce crime.
What are the three causes of crime, according to Right Realists?
- Biological differences, inadequate socialisation, and the individual’s rational choice to offend.
How do biological differences cause crime, according to Right Realists?
- Biological differences make some people more likely to commit crimes. E.g. Personality traits such as aggression, extroversion, risk-taking, and low impulse control.
What theory do Wilson and Herrnstein propose? (Right Realism)
- Biosocial Theory of Criminal Behaviour (crime is caused by a combination of biological and social factors).
What do Herrnstein and Murray say about the main cause of crime? (Right Realism)
- The main cause of crime is low intelligence, which they view as biologically determined.
How does inadequate socialisation cause crime, according to Right Realists?
- When institutions can’t socialise individuals effectively, it leads to a breakdown of social control and criminal behaviour.
What reason does Murray give for the growing crime rate amongst the underclass? (Right Realism)
- An increasing number of people depending on the state, due to the welfare state’s ‘generous revolution’ since the 1960s.
What does Murray say about lone-parent families? (Right Realism)
- Lone mothers are ineffective socialisation agencies, especially for boys.
- Absent fathers mean that boys lack paternal discipline and appropriate male role models.
- Therefore, young males turn to delinquent role models, and gain status through crime rather than supporting their families through a steady job.
What is the best agency of socialisation, according to Right Realists?
- The nuclear family.
How does an individual’s rational choice cause crime, according to Right Realists? (Clarke)
- Clarke: The decision to commit a crime is based on a cost-benefit analysis.
What is the “cost-benefit analysis”? (Right Realism)
- Where the perceived rewards of committing a crime outweigh the perceived costs.
Using the Rational Choice Theory, why would Right Realists argue that the crime rate is high?
- The perceived costs of committing a crime are low, so people are more likely to offend.
Evaluation of Right Realist explanations for the causes of crime.
- The view of criminals as rational actors freely choosing crime conflicts with its claim that their behaviour is determined by their biology and socialisation.
- Lilly et al: IQ differences account for less than 3% of differences in offending.
- Ignores structural causes such as poverty.
What is the focus for Right Realists, in regards to tackling crime?
- Control, containment, and punishment of offenders, rather than eliminating the underlying causes of offending.
What is the aim of crime prevention policies, according to Right Realists?
- Reduce the rewards and increase the costs of committing a crime. E.g. ‘Target hardening’, a greater use of prisons, and ensuring punishments follow soon after the offence.
What is meant by “target hardening”? (Right Realism)
- Decreasing the opportunity for crime with measures like window locks, window shutters, car security features, CCTV… etc.
What is meant by “zero tolerance”? (Right Realism)
- A policing strategy that emphasises the strict enforcement of laws, including minor offences, to maintain social order and prevent more serious crimes.
What theory was proposed by Wilson and Kelling? (Right Realism)
- Broken Windows Theory: Argues that it is essential to maintain the orderly character of neighbourhoods to prevent crime. E.g. Dealing with graffiti and vandalism.
What does Young say about zero tolerance policing? (Right Realism)
- Police need to make arrests to justify their existence, so they ‘define deviance up’ (arrest people for minor deviant acts).
Evaluation of zero tolerance policing (Right Realism).
- Preoccupied with street crime and ignores corporate crime, which is more costly and harmful.
- Zero tolerance and target hardening just displace crime to other areas.
- Gives police free rein to discriminate against minorities, youth, the homeless, and others.
