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Realist theories of crime, X, = - Coggle Diagram
Realist theories of crime
Right realism
Developed as a critique of sociological theory which had failed to solve the problem of crime
The basis of right realism its a negative few of human nature
This aspect of human nature therefore needs to be subject to social control
Tackling crime
Seek to control, contain and punish. Crime prevention should reduce reduce rewards and increase cost to offenders via target hardening
Zero tolerance, Wilson and Kelling argue that it is vital to maintain orderly appearance of neighbourhoods to prevent crime taking hold
Criticisms
Preoccupied with petty crime does not look at corporate crime
Gives police more reign to discriminate
Over-emphasises the control of disorder rather than tackling the neighbourhood
Zero tolerance and target hardening just leads to displacement
Anything like garfitti or vandalism must be removed immediately and the police must control the streets and not allow undesirable behaviour
Zero tolerance claimed to have worked in NYC
The causes of crime
Reject the view that structural and economic factors are cause of crime, product of three factors
Individual biological differences
Some individuals are more strongly predisposed to commit crime than others. For example personality traits such as aggresion
Murray argue that it is low intelligence which they see as biologically determind
Inadequate socialisation
Effective socialisation reduces the risk of offending as it involves social control and learning moral values
Charles Murray argues that crime is increasing due to an increase in the underclass which fails to socialise properly, welfare dependency
The welfare states generous revolution allows people to become dependent and allows for less marriage and more lone parent families
Also means that men no longer have the responsibility for children so don't have to work
In turn lone parents are unable to socialise their children and boys turn to delinquent subcultures
Rational choice
People have the choice to commit crime and weigh up the costs and risks .
Argue the risks are low so people commit more crime
Realists see crime as a real problem to be tackled and not just a social problem that is created by control agencies
Argue that there has been a significant rise in crime
Are concerned about the widespread fear of crime and its impact on its victims
Argue that other theories do not offer real solutions of crime
Emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s
Evaluation of right realists
Ignores widest structural causes
Overstates offenders rationality and how far they make cost benefit calculations before committing a crime. Does not explain violent crime
Its view of criminals as rational actors as freely choosing crime conflicts with its claim that it is determined by biology and socialisation
Over-estimates biological factors
Has large influence on government policy
Left realism
Developed partly as a response to right realists
Try to explain crime and find a solution
See society as unequal and capitalist, wanting gradual change
Taking crime seriously
See crime as a real problem and affects disadvantaged groups as its main victims
Accuse other sociologists not taking it seriously
Marxists, neglect w/c crimes
Neo-Marxists, romanticise w/c criminals
Labelling theorists, neglects real victims
Disadvantaged groups more impacted and fearful of crime
The causes of crime
Relative deprivation
Lea and Young argue that frustration arises due to peoples expectations of life compared to the realities. Leads to feelings of relative deprivation, this can develop into deviant behaviour.
Notes that when combined with individualism causes a spiral of crime.
Subculture
People have aspirations to material goods
Different groups have different responses to problems. Some turn to crime to close the deprivation gap
Pryce study of Afro Caribbean community in Bristol, found various subcultures, Rastafarians, saints, working class respectables and hustlers
Argue black young men have bought into mainstream culture and accept that there has been an increase in crime committed by black males
See black youth as having high aspirations but not able to achieve them through legitimate means
Marginsalisation
Certain groups that find themselves on the edge of society, white and black w/c feel alienated by society
Argue this may be the straw that breaks the camels back and economic marginalisation is transferred into crime.
Tackling crime
Policing and control
Police too often turn to military placing alienating the community, argue that the relationship between the police and people needs to improve
Tackling structural causes
Changes need to be focued on, dealing with equality, tackle discrimination, provide decent jobs and housing, tolerate diversity
Government policy
Similarities between 1997-2010 New Labour tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime
Young regards these policies as trying to recreate the golden age of the 1950s
Late modernity, exclusion and crime
Rising anti-social behaviour rate
Since 1990s government policies have increased in range of behaviours, this has:blurred the boundaries of crime, crime has no subjective definition and it can be increased
Falling crime rate, since the 1990s
Now live in a late modern society where inequalities, uncertainty and unemployment led to more crime
Increased feeling of relative deprivation due to media, greater emphasis on the good life and unequal opportunities
Relative deprivation and deviance is now more spread between social groups
Reactions to crime are changing, less public consensus, less effective punishment and demands for harsher penalties
Evaluation of left realism
Positive
Recognises that crime has multiple causes
Looks at victims as well as offenders
Negative
Cannot explain the motive behind offenders actions
Not all people in relative deprivation turn to crime
It assumes that when society values breakdown crime becomes more likely
Comapring right and left
Both see crime as a real problem
Right realists ne-conservative and left reformists
Right blame individual lack of control and left structural inequalities
Right prioritise social order through a tough stance, left prioritise justice through reforms
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