left realism

• Relative deprivation definitions


  Relative deprivation - the experience of being deprived of something to which one believes to be entitled.

  Relative poverty - relative to the 'breadline', comfort of living.

  Absolute poverty - materials essential for survival, eg. food, clothes, shelter
• Relative deprivation


  Runciman - Although people are better off today, they have a greater feeling of relative deprivation because of the media & advertising have raised everyone' expectations for material possessions - we are wealthier, but we feel poorer & thus there is more pressure to get more stuff to keep up with everyone else.

  Young - Argues that late modern societies are:

  Media saturated

  Consumer culture through constant exposure to advertising

  Unrealistic lifestyle expectations.

  Those at the bottom of the class structure cannot afford to participate in consumer society .

  This intensifies the sense of frustration, resentment and anger among young people and as a result crimes such as burglary flourish.
• Strengths of Relative deprivation

  Deviant subcultures are more likely to emerge in deprived neighbourhoods. This may be because their members subscribe to the dominant values on society, but are blocked off from success.

  They help to deal with problems arising from inequality and include groups that commit crimes such as street crime.
• Weaknesses of Relative deprivation


  Claiming that relative deprivation causes criminal behaviour is incorrect as many individuals who may feel relatively deprivation don't commit crime. This makes relative deprivation a risk factor in criminal behaviour rather than a cause.

  Italy has the highest NEET rate in Europe.

  'The devil makes work for idle hands
• Marginalisation


  Refers to the belief that certain groups in the population are held back - suffer economic, social and political deprivation.

  People lack the power or resources to fully participate in society and also live on the edge through factors such as poor education, unemployment, housing.

  NEETS have no specific organisation to represent them and no clear sense of goals - which results in feelings of resentment and frustration.

  Subcultures emerge because their members subscribe the dominant values in society but are blocked off from success.
• Strengths of Marginalisation


  The poorest neighbourhood do seem to marginalise the individuals who live there.

  Poor neighbourhoods often have failing schools, high levels of unemployment and even lower life expectancy.

  These problems don't occur in affluent subcultures
• Weaknesses of Marginalisation


  Marxists argue that whilst some polices tackle deprivation, they don't tackle the underlying structural inequalities in the capitalist system which are the root cause.

  Left realism is seen as a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution to deprivation and crime in society.

  Right realists argue that criminal behaviour is committed by a 'selfish and wicked underclass' in society who 'make a rational choice to break the law'.
• Deviant subcultures


  Deviant subcultures - groups that are formed as a rejection of societies wider values.

  Left realists see subcultures as a group's collective response to the situation of relative deprivation and they draw on Cohen's theory of status frustration to explain how they emerge.

  Marx - 'Crime is a reactionary form of behaviour which represents a diversion from the development of real political solutions to the exploitation suffered by the working class' - crime exists because politicians don't sort out inequality.
• Strengths of Deviant subcultures

  Evidence provided by both victimisation and OS studies.

  Most criminal activity involves working-class males rather than, eg. middle-class females.

  Lea and Young - Argue that, in relation to conventional conservative, theories of crime, the evidence from both OS & victimisation studies simply serves to confirm that the lower classes are the social group that is most heavily involved in criminal activity - because of their marginalisation.
• Weaknesses of Deviant subcultures

  Lea and Young's multi-causal approach doesn't seem to apply to some forms of crimes and criminals, eg. sexual assaults or middle class males.

  This means that subcultures are only useful for explaining certain types of deviant and criminal behaviour with 'groups'.
• Crime prevention - Intervention/community programmes - Perry

  Preschool project for disadvantaged black children.

  A group of 3-4 year olds were offered a 2 year intellectual enrichment programme, during which children received weekly home visits.

  By age 40, they had significantly fewer arrests for various types of crime & a higher percentage had graduated high school & made it into full-time employment.

  Conclusion - cost effective $13 return on each $1.
• Strengths of Crime prevention - Intervention/community programmes

  Young and Matthews - Argue that improving leisure facilities for the young, reducing income inequalities, improving housing estates, raising the living standards of poorer families, reducing unemployment & creating jobs with prospects, has helped to cut crime.

  Pregnant mothers who were seen in their homes by health visitors during their pregnancy and for 2 years after birth had children with arrest rates almost 50% lower 15yrs later.
• Weaknesses of Crime prevention - Intervention/community programmes

  Functionalists argue that the nature of capitalism prevented equal opportunity in society and therefore those at the bottom of the class system were more likely to experience strain and turn to crime to gain material rewards,

  The solution here would be to remove the barriers that prevent equal opportunity.
• Improving policing


  Over 90% of crimes are cleared up by the police as a result of information from the public, however research suggests that public confidence in the police has declined.

  If this relationship breaks down, the flow of information from the victims of crime will dry up - If police don't have the information they need from the public, they have to find new ways of solving crime and there is a drift towards militarised.

  Alienates people in the community and make everyone feel like criminals.

  Police must concentrate on improving relationships with the community and public should have more say in shaping police policy.
• Strengths of Improving policing

  Evidence is provided by the UK's approach to community policing and involving the public. Local police forces have designated officers for their areas and consult with communities on how to tackle local issues that residents are experiencing.
• Weaknesses of Improving policing

  Left realism ignores white collar and corporate crime which can have serious consequences for victims.

  They refer to focus on victims of personal crimes, eg. physical assault.

  Some see this as a soft approach to the crime problem, focusing on the victim and solution rather than the offence.

  Marxists would argue for a revolution, where capitalism is removed and that eventually, a true communist state would prevail - this would eliminate the need to commit any crimes that result in financial gain.
• Crime prevention - Restorative justice

  When a victim and offender meet - a process used to help a victim recover and make an offender understand the impact of their crime.

  Braithwaite - Called another aspect of restorative justice - reintegrative shaming - this reduces the chance of labelling & master status - 'evil' - by highlighting the act & offering the chance for empathy & remorse. This allows the victim to distinguish the act from the person & allow the terms for rehabilitation & reintegration into society.
• Strengths of Crime prevention - Restorative justice

  Has an 85% satisfaction rate - makes victims feel more empowered and allowed to move on with their lives.

  Whilst it is not actually a punishment, there is a 14% reduction in recidivism.
• Weaknesses of Crime prevention - Restorative justice


  Can distress both the offender and victim.

  Clearly not suitable for all crimes, eg. sexual assaults.

  Can be time consuming and costly.