Realist

• What do realist explanations of crime and deviance largely accept?

  Official statistics on crime
• What is the main focus of realist explanations regarding crime levels?

  To explain the real problem of rising crime levels, particularly street crimes
• Who do realists argue primarily commits street crimes?

  Working class, young, often black males in urban areas
• What do realists argue about other theories regarding crime?

  They have failed to offer realistic solutions to the problem of crime
• What type of surveys do left and right realists favor when investigating crime?

  Quantitative victim surveys and official crime statistics
• What is the difference between left and right realists in terms of victim surveys?

  Left realists favor local victim surveys, while right realists favor national victim surveys
• What are the three underlying causes of crime and deviance according to realist theories?

  • Marginalisation
  • Relative deprivation
  • Subcultures
• How do left realists view society compared to Marxists?

  Left realists see society as unequal and capitalist but advocate for gradual change
• What does marginalisation mean in the context of crime and deviance?


  It refers to economic and social exclusion of certain groups
• What societal factors contribute to marginalisation according to Young (1997)?

  Insecurity, recessions, unemployment, and family instability
• How does marginalisation relate to crime and deviance?

  It creates underlying pressure for crime among the powerless
• Do left realists see marginalisation as a direct cause of crime?

  No, they reject simplistic links between poverty, unemployment, and crime
• What is relative deprivation according to Young?

  It occurs when people feel worse off than others and perceive social injustice
• How have expectations regarding consumption changed in late modern society?

  Expectations have increased due to media pressures
• What does Young stress about relative deprivation and crime?

  Relative deprivation does not necessarily lead to crime; individualism is also a factor
• What is 'relative deprivation downwards' as described by Young?

  It is when the middle classes feel resentful of the underclass living off state handouts
• How does relative deprivation downwards help explain hate crimes?

  It explains resentment leading to attacks against marginalized groups
• What role do subcultures play in crime and deviance?

  • They emerge as a response to marginalisation and relative deprivation
  • They make criminal behavior seem acceptable
  • They allow individuals to feel socially included
• What types of subcultures does Young suggest exist?

  Religious, criminal, conflict, and retreatist subcultures
• How do criminal subcultures relate to mainstream society's values?

  They still subscribe to values like materialism and consumerism
• What does Young highlight about ghettos in the USA?

  They show full immersion in the American dream, leading to crime due to blocked opportunities
• What practical solutions do left realists propose to reduce crime?

  • Create more training and employment opportunities
  • Avoid military policing
  • Increase democratic policing
  • Introduce anti-discrimination policies
  • Reduce economic inequality
  • Use community service sentences
• What do right realists largely blame for crime?

  The individual/deviant, with some blame on society
• What do Wilson and Herrnstein argue about the causes of crime?

  Crime is caused by a combination of biological and social factors
• What biological traits do Wilson and Herrnstein suggest predispose individuals to commit crime?

  Aggressiveness, extroversion, risk-taking, and low IQ
• How does effective socialization impact crime according to the right realists?

  It decreases the risk of offending by teaching self-control and moral values
• What does Murray see as the key cause of crime?

  The growth of the underclass
• How does Murray relate single-parent families to crime?

  Children from these families are inadequately socialized and lack role models
• What does Murray suggest about welfare benefits and the underclass?

  Over-generous welfare creates a dependency culture
• How do young males in the underclass gain status according to Murray?

  By turning to criminal role models and engaging in crime
• What empirical support is provided for Murray's views on family decline?

  Flood-Page et al. (2000) found children from lone parent backgrounds are more likely to offend
• What do Flood-Page et al. (2000) stress about family structures and offending?

  Single parenthood is not a direct cause of crime; quality of relationships matters
• How do Cornish and Clarke (1986) view crime?

  As a rational choice where benefits outweigh the costs
• What makes crime attractive to juvenile offenders according to Cornish and Clarke?


  A lenient criminal justice system offering soft social control
• What is Felson's (2002) routine activity theory about crime?

  Crime occurs when there is a motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of a capable guardian
• How does Marsland (1988) link crime to society's moral fabric?

  He suggests a breakdown in morality leads to increased crime
• What does Wilson (1975) claim about social order and crime?

  Crime is linked to a breakdown in social order in certain neighborhoods
• How do Cornish and Clarke (1986) relate opportunity to crime?


  Crime occurs when opportunities present themselves with little risk
• What practical solutions do right realists propose to deter crime?

  • Cut back welfare benefits to reduce dependency culture
  • Increase prison sentences to make costs of crime outweigh benefits
  • Implement citizenship education to improve moral responsibility
  • Use zero tolerance policing
  • Employ target hardening measures
• What criticism do realists face regarding their acceptance of official statistics?

  They too readily accept them and fail to explain white-collar crime