REALIST THEORIES
When did realist theories emerge?
1970's and 80's when there was a shift in politics towards the right. RONALD REAGAN & MARGERAT THATCHER
How do right realists see crime?
as a REAL problem that destroys communities and undermines social cohesion.
What do right realists think are the three main causes of crime?
Biological differences, socialisation and the underclass, and rational choice theory.
Who said crime is caused by a combination of biological and social factors?
WILSON AND HERRNSTIEN
Who argued the main cause of crime is low intelligence which they see as being biologically determined.
HERRNSTIEN AND MURRAY
Who said crime is rising due to the growth of an underclass who are defined by their deviant behaviour and failure to socialise their children?
MURRAY
What example shows a growing underclass in USA and UK?
BENEFIT STREET: only 5% of people working on the street so it became the norm.
What else do right realists blame this 'underclass' on and why?
Lone parent families. It means reduced responsibilty, and ineffective socialisation for boys (fits OCS), lack of father could turn young boys to gangs.
What does Murray say the 'underclass' does?
Threatens social cohesion as it undermines values of hard work.
Who speaks about the rational choice theory?
RON CLARKE
What is 'rational choice'?
Commiting crime is a CHOICE based on rational calculation of the likely consequences. If the rewards outweigh the risks people are likely to offend.
Who said that crime needs a motivated offender, a suitable target and the absence of a capable guardian?
FELSON
What are the A03 points for right realism?
Ignores wider structural poverty, overstates offenders ability to make calculations, and its contradictory! Free choice doesnt fit with biological or socialisation.
How do right realists propose to tackle crime?
Focus on rational choice, seek practical measures to make crime less attractive. (TARGET HARDENING AND ZERO TOLERANCE)
What is target hardening?
Making it harder to commit crime e.g. barbed wire, shutters, alarms, guard dogs etc.
Who came up with 'broken windows'?
WILSON AND KELLING
What is the basic idea of the 'broken windows' idea?
Clamp down on small things before they get bigger. Essential to maintain in local areas to prevent bigger crimes taking place.
What else do right realists advocate for when it comes to tackling crime?
ZERO TOLERANCE- police should focus on patrolling streets. Supporters of zero tolerance claim it achieved huge reductions in crim in 1990's
What is the A03 of zero tolerance?
YOUNG argues that the 'success' of zero tolerance was a myth by politicians keen to take credit for falling crime rates. Crime rates in New York had already been falling for 9 years.
When was left realism developed?
1980's- they are similar to Marxists however they are reformists rather than revolutionists.
What are the central ideas of left realism?
crime is a problem that affects disadvantaged groups who are the main victims
What is an aetiological crisis?
A crisis of explanaition.
What do left realists believe are the 3 causes of crime?
Relative deprivation, subculture and marginalisation
What is relative deprivation?
How someone feels deprived in relation to others, compared to their own expectations.
YOUNG: "Lethal combination is relative depravatioin and individualism."
What is subculture (LR)?
A subculture is a group's collective solution to relative deprivation.