Relative Deprivation

• Runciman 1966: relative deprivation. People resent those with more causing them to resort to crime to obtain what they feel they are entitled to
• Lea and Young 1984: paradox that today's society is more prosperous and yet there is more crime . People are more aware of relative deprivation due to media and advertising which rasie expectations of material posessions
• Young 1999: 'lethal combination is relative deprivation and individualism'. Individualism causes crime by encouraging the pursuit of self interest at the expense of others.
• Increasing individualism is causing the disintegration of families and communities by undermining the values of mutual support and selflessness on which they are based upon.