Left / Right Realists Theory Flashcards
(10 cards)
(Right) Wilson and Hernstein
Talk about Biology…
Argue that there was a substantial biological aspect to crime. People are born with a desire to commit crime.
(Right) Hernstein and Murray
Expand on Wilson and Hernsteins view on biology and state that the main cause of crime is low intelligence.
Low intelligence is determined by biology showing its importance in making criminals.
(Right) Murray
Murray is a new right sociologists who talks about the increase in the underclass as well as the increase in cultural dependency.
Lone parent families are increasing and children are deprived of care and socialisation. They also may lack a male role model.
(Right) Clarke
Argues decisions to commit crime is based on rational choice. If the rewards of the crime outweigh the punishment people will offend.
(Right) Wilson and Kelling
Introduced the idea of ‘broken windows’
Say that a way to reduce crime is to take a zero tolerance approach which involves acting more swiftly and strictly on deviant and criminal behaviour.
Matthews (criticism)
Did not find any evidence that tolerating broken windows led to crime.
(Left) Runcimans
Introduced the concept of relative deprivation which was how deprived someone felt in comparisons to someone else. This allowed people to commit a crime in hope to get the materials and rewards they believe they deserve.
(Left) Lea and Young
Believe through the media and advertisement people are experiencing relative deprivation more than ever.
(Criticism) Hughes
Says that left realists fail to explain why relative derivation causes some to commit crimes but some to not.
(Left) Young
.Young talks about subcultures, specifically the ‘American ghettos’ which is a culture which aspires to obtain material goods such as Nike and gucci. They turn to crime to get these goods.
. Young also talks about marginalisation and how the late modernity we’ve entered is increasing marginalised groups around the world. Live in a time with high unemployment and less stable families, the gap between the rich and poor is swiftly expanding.
