realist theories of crime Flashcards
(23 cards)
rr belief
crime is a problem rhat undermines social cohesion
rr causes of crime
- biological differences
- socialisation and the underclass
- rational choice theory
rr biological differences
aggression, impulse, and low-intelligence are biologically determined factors that can influence criminal activity
rr socialisation and the underclass
murray - lp mothers don’t socialise their children properly
rr rational choice theory
clarke - the decision to commit crime is calculated by weighing risk against reward
ao3 of rr explanations for crime
- ignores wider structural factors
- doesn’t explain impulsive crime
- contradiction = is it because of biological differences or because of freedom of choice?
rr dealing with crime
- target hardening
- zero-tolerance policing
rr target hardening
harder punishments that are used sooner to be a better deterrent
rr zero-tolerance policing
willson and kelling - immediate, harsh punishment by the police
environmental crime prevention
rr broken windows theory
wilson and kelling - vandalism is a sign that a neighbourhood is not being watched by the police, leading to more crime in that area
environmental crime prevention
ao3 of rr tackling crime
- young - in new york, crime rate was already falling before ztp
- ignores corporate crime
- displaces crime to other areas
lr view on crime
crime is a real problem that effects disadvantaged groups and to take crime seriously is to recognise who is most effected by crime
example: unskilled workers are 2x as more likely to be burgled
lr causes of crime
- relative deprivation
- subculture
- marginalisation
lr relative deprivation
lea and young - people commit crime because the media raises our expectations of what we should have, leading to theft (for example) so people can have the products they think they deserve but can’t afford
lr subculture
a group response to relative deprivation means that different groups have different means of closing the deprivation gap. whilst some turn to religion to explain their disadvantage, others turn to crime
young - usa ghettos used crime to achieve the american dream
lr marginalisation
some marginalised groups, especially the unemployed, have frustration and resentment that they release through violent behaviour and rioting
lr tackling crime
- policy
- tackling structural causes
- policing and control
lr government policy
new labour asbos (cracking down on anti-social behaviour) and further policing of hate crime / sexual assault protects vulnerable groups
lr tackling structural causes
- crime lies in inequalities
- people should be provided with equal opportunities, decent jobs, and adequate housing
- diversity should be embraced and minority groups should be de-labelled as criminal
lr policing and control
- lea and young - the public should be more involved in determining police priorities and policing styles
- multi-agency approach = crime control should also involve other organisations like the local council, social services, and schools
ao3 of lr tackling crime
- interactionists = lr rely on quantitative data from victim surveys so they can’t explain offender’s motives
- not everyone turns to relative deprivation
lr views on late modernity and crime
- young - late modernity has caused insecurity, instability, and exclusion which has worsened crime
- loss of unskilled jobs has raised unemployment, leading people to turn to crime to survive
- individualism means reactions to crime are varied, blending the boundaries between right and wrong
- late modern society has high crime rates but a low tolerance of crime
rr designing out crime
prevents crime from being committed - road humps stop speeding, arms on benches stop the homeless sleeping on private land
