Realism Theory Flashcards
(22 cards)
why does crime/deviance happen?
Right Realist View - Biological differences
Wilson and Hernstein - crime causes by combination of biological and social factors
e.g. heightened aggression or low intelligence
why does crime/deviance happen?
Right Realist View - Inadequate socialisation
Murray - nuclear family is being undermined by the welfare state, perverse incentive encouraging SPFs
- creates dependency culture
- forms an underclass, fail to socialise children into shared norms and values
welfare state means men no longer supports their familes, more SPFs = lack of male role model + discipline
why does crime/deviance happen?
Right Realist View - Rational Choice theory
Clarke assumes individuals are rational beings with free will
- crime is a choice based on the calculation of the consequences and the rewards
- reward>consequence, people will more likely offend
crime is high because costs are low, e.g. low risk of being caught
Felson’s routine activity theory
- must be a motivated offender, a suitable target and the absence of a ‘capable guardian’
why does crime/deviance happen?
Right Realist View - Biological differences
Evaluation
support : genuine effect on government responses
not due to Biological differences, but subcultures
why does crime/deviance happen?
Right Realist View - Inadequate socialisation
Evaluation
- ignores wider structural causes of crime such as the unequal distribution of power and wealth
- due to marginalisation instead
why does crime/deviance happen?
Right Realist View - Rational Choice Theory
Evaluation
- overstates offenders’ rationality
- RR explanations for crime are contradictory
Solutions to reduce crime and deviance
Right Realist - zero tolerance policing
police should focus on controlling streets so law-abiding citizens feel safe
- cracking down on minor deviance such as begging
- create an environment where community knows law and order taken seriously
Solutions to reduce crime and deviance
Right Realist - Broken Windows
Wilson and Kelling’s keep neighbourhoods orderly to prevent crime
- any sign of deterioration, e.g. graffiti. dealt with immediately
- target those involved in low level crime and ensure they cannot ‘get away’
e.g. drug taking, drunk or disorderly behaviour
any sign of deviant behaviours must be removed, ‘crime free zone’
e.g. New York City in the late 1980s to early 1990s
Solutions to reduce crime and deviance
Right Realist - Zero Tolerance Policing
Evaluation
marxists argue that ZTP focus on low level crime and ignores the crimes of the wealthy
- selectively enforcing the law and punishing the wc’s severely
Solutions to reduce crime and deviance
Right Realist - Broken Windows
Evaluation
labelling theorists argue local communities are targeted based on stereotypes, assuming the ‘anti-social’ crimes
- seen with official police statistics. black males 7 times more likely to be stopped and searched
why does crime/deviance happen
Left Realist View - Relative Deprivation
feel others unfairly have more, may resort to crime to obtain what they feel entitled to
- poor have access to media’s materialistic messages, yet lack opportunities to gain wealth
why does crime/deviance happen
Left Realist View - Subcultures
subculture is a group’s solution to the problem of relative deprivation
- some subcultural solutions do not lead to crime
- e.g. some may turn to religion for comfort
criminal subcultures subscribe to society’s materialistic goals but opportunities blocked, turn to crime
why does crime/deviance happen
Left Realist View - Marginalisation
unemployed youth = no clear goals, sense of powerlessness, resentment and frustration
- express through violent measures
e.g. rioting and violence
Lea and Young in late modern society, problem of wc crime is because of greater job insecurity, higher unemployment and harsher welfare policies
- combined with destabilisation of family, worsened problem of wc crime
why does crime/deviance happen
Left Realist View - Late modernity, exclusion and crime
Young we now live in unstable societies. 1950s there was a ‘Golden Age’ of stability
- good jobs, welfare systems, low divorce so strong families
toady we live in more insecure communities with a loss of unskilled jobs and low pay
- inequality between rich and poor has grown
growing cultural inclusion but economic exclusion
affects MC - footballers earn hundreds of thousands + underclass on benefits playing the system
= more hate crime and violence
why does crime/deviance happen
Left Realist View - Relative deprivation
Evaluation
RRs - poverty is not the cause of crime, they blame poor socialisation in families given too much support by the Government
why does crime/deviance happen
Left Realist View - Subcultures
Evaluation
due to biological differences instead, RRs
why does crime/deviance happen
Left Realist View - Marginalisation
Evaluation
accepts the authorities’ definition of crime, ignores the harms done to the poor by the powerful
- Marxists fails to explain corporate crime
why does crime/deviance happen
Left Realist View - Late modernity, exclusion and crime
Evaluation
makes crime appear a greater problem that it is
Solutions to reduce crime and deviance
Left Realists - reducing inequality
structural changes to tackle discrimination and inequality
- new labour adopted a LR approach, ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.’
e.g. spending more money on welfare state support for the poorest members of the community + provide better quality education, healthcare in the poorest communities
Due to poorest communities most marginalised, most relative deprivation, more likely to join subcultures due to blocked opportunities
Solutions to reduce crime and deviance
Left Realist - Democratic Policing
Kinsey, Lea and Young police rely on the public for info, but currently losing support
- when info dries up, must rely on military policing, such as ‘swamping’
win support, police must become more accountable, e.g. involving communities in policing priorities
- crime control must involve a multi-agency approach
Solutions to reduce crime and deviance
Left Realists - reducing inequality
Evaluation
RRs providing areas with the more financial supports and help is rewarding criminal behaviour. These are the ‘problem areas’
- not put off those in that community from commiting crime
