realist view of crime and deviance

• Realist approaches are different from other theories of crime because they not only look at the causes of crime but also give practical solutions as to how to deal with it
• Left Realist view of crime - background

  • developed during the 1980s and 1990s
  • follow the Marxist view that society is unequal and this is what causes crime and deviance
  • they believe gradual change is necessary rather than a violent overthrow of capitalism
• left realist view of crime - causes of crime

  • relative deprivation
  • marginalisation
  • subcultures
• left realist view of crime - causes of crime

  Relative deprivation

  • LEA AND YOUNG - deprivation is at the root of criminality
  • 1930s poverty was high but crime rates were low
  • living standards have risen so have people feeling of being deprived compared to others
  • lead to resentment and people turning to crime to achieve what they are entitled to
• left realist view of crime - causes of crime

  marginalisation

  • marginalised groups = people that do not feel they are part of society and lack the goals and organisations to represent their interests
  • leads to a sense of frustration and resentment amongst those groups - leads to criminal behaviour which they believe will improve their situation
• left realist view of crime - causes of crime

  Subcultures

  • Links to the work of CLOWARD and OHLIN and COHEN - blocked opportunities and a groups inability to achieve goals through legitimate means
  • subculture - collective response to the problem of relative deprivation
  • criminal subcultures still subscribe to the goals and values of society such as materialism and consumerism - Ghettos in America hooked on Gucci
• left realist view on tackling crime

  • in order to tackle crime you first need to tackle the social problems which lead to crime - causes of inequality and deprivation
  • policies and strategies should focus on creating better relationships between the public and police - multi-agency approach
• left realist view of crime - AO3

  • MILOVANOVIC - accepts the governments definition of crime being the street crime committed by the poor
  • interactions - doesn't explain the motives due to reliance on quantitative data
  • assumes a value consensus
  • relative deprivation cannot explain all crime as not all those that experience it go on to commit crime
• right realist view of crime - background

  • correspond closely with the neo-conservative governments
  • street crime - real and growing problem that destroys communities and undermines social cohesion
  • less concerned with causes of crime - concerned with practical and realistic solution to crime
• right realist view of crime - causes

  • biological differences
  • socialisation and the underclass
  • rational choice
• right realist view of crime - causes

  biological differences

  • WILSON AND HERRNSTEIN
  • biosocial theory of crime
  • crime is caused by a combination of biological and social factors
  • some people are more predisposed to crime through personality traits - aggressiveness, extroversion and risk-taking
  • poor socialisation and lack of role models
• right realist view of crime - causes

  socialisation and the underclass

  • MURRAY
  • crime rates are increasing due to the growing underclass of people who are dependent upon the welfare state
  • underclass fails to adequately socialise their children
  • 'glorious revolution' - increase of lone parent families which are inadequate agents of socialisation and teach children to not take responsibility for themselves
• right realist view of crime - causes

  rational choice

  • CLARKE
  • individuals have free will and the power of reason therefore criminals have chosen to commit a crime
  • if the perceived cost of committing the crime is outweighed by the benefit, people will be more likely to offend
  • current costs of crime are too low - crime rate has increased
• right realist view of tackling crime

  • do not believe that it is beneficial to tackle the causes of crime - difficult to change
  • make criminal behaviour less attractive to people
  • target hardening - makes it harder for crimes to be committed in the first place
  • WILSON AND KELLINGS zero-tolerance theory - all criminal behaviour mist be health with immediately
• right realist view of crime - AO3

  • ignores wider structural causes of crime
  • overstates rationality of the criminals - this doesn't explain violent to impulsive crimes
  • contradictory between rationality and bio-social cause of crimes
  • ignores corporate and white-collar crime