Left Realism: Theories of Crime and Deviance

What are the 3 Left Realist explanations of Crime and Deviance?

• relative deprivation

• marginalisation

• subcultures

Who are the 2 main Left Realist sociologists?

Lea & Young

What is relative deprivation, and how does it cause Crime and Deviance (Lea & Young)?

• individuals perceived themselves as deprived

• crime rates have risen despite an overall increase in societal wealth since the 1950s

• individuals experience a heightened sense of relative deprivation in contemporary society

• media and advertising lead individuals to feel economically disadvantaged, despite increased prosperity

• increased individualism and consumerism promoted by the media alongside economic exclusion

• individuals feel they cannot live the lifestyle promoted, causing frustration, resentment, and criminal behaviour 

What is marginalisation, and how does it create Crime and Deviance (Lea & Young)?

• marginal groups generally lack the organisation to represent their interests in political life

• the unemployed and those in casual work are less likely to be unionised

• marginal groups tend to use violence and rioting as forms of polical action to express their sense of grievance

• those left behind in an increasingly unequal society could become marginalised, feel deprived, and form subcultures that encourage criminality

How do subcultures create Crime and Deviance (Lea & Young)?

• some subcultures develop subcultural strategies and lifestyles to cope with relative deprivation and marginalisation

• e.g., drug-based subcultures may encourage criminality, while religious subcultures may discourage crime

• less consensus about moral values than in the past

• an increasing variety of subcultures claiming their values are legitimate, leading to increasing conflict and rising crime

What are some criticisms of the Left Realist explanations of Crime and Deviance?

• overly idealistic

• if social exclusion were the primary driver of criminal behaviour, women might be expected to commit more crimes in patriarchal societies

• neglects the role of gender in crime

• “malestream”

• fails to explain why some individuals who experience relative deprivation turn to crime while others do not

• Ruggiero (1992) criticises Left Realists for neglecting corporate and organised crime

What are the 3 Left Realist solutions to Crime and Deviance?

• community policing

• social policies for early intervention

• tackling structural causes with a multi-agency approach

What is community policing?

• proactively listening to the community 

• policing the crimes that victimise people living in inner city areas as the police have lost support in these poorer, inner-city areas 

• using more informal sanctions (e.g., informal verbal warnings)

What is an example of community policing?

PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers)

• do not have powers of arrest

• support warranted officers

• help with local problems

• use informal sanctions (e.g., informal verbal warnings)

What are social policies for early intervention?

• improving education and employment opportunities for the most disadvantaged groups in society

• e.g., increasing the minimum/living wage

• investing in deprived communities

• building facilities (e.g., libraries, youth clubs)

• identifying groups most at risk of committing crime

• taking action to prevent at-risk groups from committing crime

What is an example of a social policy for early intervention?

New Labour’s Sure Start Centres

• family health & support services

• early years’ learning

• childcare for children up to five years old

• services and care for families from disadvantaged backgrounds

What is tackling structural causes with a multi-agency approach?

• crime control involving many other agencies apart from just the police

• involving schools, the NHS, local councils, social services, the probation service, etc.

• e.g., social workers, schools, and hospitals communicating information with each other and the police to help prevent young people from developing a criminal career

• partnerships between a wide array of agencies and individuals

What are some examples of tackling structural causes with a multi-agency approach?

youth clubs

• positive role models for teenagers

• provide alternatives to gang culture