Realist view Flashcards
(15 cards)
How do left realists view the relationship between inequality and crime?
Like Marxists, they believe inequality is the root cause of crime, but they advocate gradual reform within the capitalist system rather than its overthrow.
What is ‘relative deprivation’ and how does it lead to crime?
Coined by Lea and Young, it refers to the perception of being deprived in comparison to others, even when living standards are improving. This feeling can fuel resentment and motivate individuals to commit crime to gain what they feel they deserve.
What does marginalisation mean in left realist theory?
It refers to groups who are excluded from full participation in society, lacking goals, power, and representation. This exclusion can breed frustration and lead to anti-social or criminal acts as a form of expression or rebellion.
How do left realists interpret subcultures and their link to crime?
Subcultures form as a collective solution to relative deprivation, and some may turn to crime in order to close the ‘deprivation gap’.
Can you give an example of a criminal subculture described by left realists?
American inner-city “ghettos” where youth aspire to symbols of wealth like Gucci or BMW, yet turn to crime due to limited legitimate access.
What strategies do left realists propose to reduce crime?
Tackle root causes like inequality and deprivation; improve community-police relations; and use a multi-agency approach involving education, social services, and housing.
What are some criticisms of left realism?
Milovanovic: It accepts official definitions of crime and focuses too much on working-class street crime.
Interactionists: It neglects the motives and meanings behind crime due to its reliance on statistics.
General criticisms: Assumes everyone shares the same values (value consensus); doesn’t explain why not all deprived people commit crime; overemphasizes urban street crime.
What is the core belief of right realists about crime?
Crime is a serious and growing threat to social order and community life, and solving it requires strong deterrents rather than focusing on underlying causes.
What is Wilson and Herrnstein’s biosocial theory of crime?
Crime is partly biologically determined—certain traits like aggressiveness and low impulse control make individuals more prone to crime, especially when combined with poor upbringing or socialization.
How does Charles Murray explain rising crime rates?
Through the emergence of the underclass, a group increasingly reliant on welfare and often lacking proper socialization, particularly due to the rise of lone-parent families since the 1960s.
What role does poor socialisation play in crime, according to right realists?
Children raised in unstable or welfare-dependent families often lack discipline and moral values, making them more likely to engage in criminal behavior.
What is Ron Clarke’s Rational Choice Theory?
Criminals make logical decisions—if the perceived benefits of crime outweigh the risks, people will be more likely to offend.
What practical solutions do right realists propose to combat crime?
Target hardening: Increasing security to make crimes harder to commit (e.g. locks, alarms, CCTV).
Zero tolerance policing: Cracking down on all crime, even minor offenses, to prevent more serious crime and disorder (linked to Wilson & Kelling).
Why do right realists dismiss tackling root causes of crime?
They believe underlying social issues (like poverty or inequality) are too difficult and slow to change, and focus instead on making crime less attractive through stronger consequences.
What are key criticisms of right realism?
Ignores structural causes like poverty and inequality.
Overestimates the rationality of offenders (not all crimes are planned or logical).
Contradiction: Emphasizes both rational choice and biological predisposition.
Neglects white-collar and corporate crime.
