Right and Left Realist Perspective

What do right and left realists believe about crime?

Crime is a real social problem that needs practical solutions, rather than simply a social construction.

What do realists criticise other perspectives for?

They criticise other perspectives for explaining crime without offering practical ways to tackle it.

When did right realism emerge?

In the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the New Right and pro-law-and-order politics.

Which politicians are associated with the rise of right realism?

Margaret Thatcher in the UK and Ronald Reagan in the USA.

What was the New Right's approach to punishment?

Harsher punishment, including longer prison sentences and greater use of the death penalty in the USA.

Why do right realists see crime as a threat?

They argue rising crime threatens social cohesion, the work ethic and social order.

What approach do right realists favour towards crime?

A heavy-handed, zero-tolerance approach focused on control, punishment and deterrence.

Why do right realists reject Marxism?

Marxists argue capitalism causes crime and should be abolished, whereas right realists support capitalism.

How does right realism differ from other perspectives?

It focuses less on the causes of crime and more on controlling and punishing crime.

How do right realists criticise interactionism?

They argue interactionists are too sympathetic to criminals and focus too much on offenders as victims of labelling.

How do right realists criticise the poverty explanation of crime?

Other poor groups, such as the elderly, do not have high crime rates, so poverty alone cannot explain crime.

What is the right realist biological explanation of crime?

Some people may be naturally more aggressive, impulsive or less intelligent, making them more likely to offend.

What is ineffective socialisation according to right realists?

Weak socialisation, particularly within the family, may fail to teach children discipline, responsibility and right from wrong.

What is the right realist view of the nuclear family?

A traditional two-parent family provides effective socialisation and teaches children discipline and the value of hard work.

What do right realists mean by the underclass?

A group at the bottom of the working class who are dependent on welfare and often lack stable employment.

Why do right realists emphasise father figures?

They argue fathers provide discipline and role models that teach boys hard work, self-improvement and responsibility.

What is rational choice theory?

People have free will and rationally choose crime when its perceived benefits outweigh its costs.

Why do right realists believe crime persists according to rational choice theory?

Punishments are too lenient, so the perceived costs of crime are too low.

What do right realists recommend to reduce crime?

Greater control, containment, punishment and deterrence rather than focusing mainly on underlying causes.

What is broken windows theory?

Visible signs of disorder, such as graffiti and broken windows, signal that an area lacks control and can encourage further crime.

Why should minor disorder be controlled according to broken windows theory?

Preventing minor disorder is believed to stop neighbourhoods becoming magnets for more serious crime.

What policing strategy does broken windows theory support?

Visible policing and zero tolerance towards minor disorder, supported by fines and prison sentences.

Where and when was zero-tolerance policing notably introduced?

New York City in 1994.

What did Jock Young argue about zero-tolerance policing in New York?

He called its success a "myth" because crime had already been falling since 1985, before zero tolerance began in 1994.

What is the criticism that right realism ignores poverty?

Poverty and inequality have historically contributed to crime, so ignoring them may overlook important causes.

Why does rational choice theory struggle to explain non-utilitarian crime?

It focuses on calculating material benefits and costs but struggles to explain crimes such as vandalism with no obvious financial reward.

What is the contradiction between right realist biological and rational choice explanations?

Biological explanations suggest behaviour is predetermined, while rational choice suggests individuals freely choose crime.

What is the criticism that zero tolerance targets the wrong crimes?

It focuses on petty street crime while giving less attention to corporate and white-collar crime.

What is displacement?

Crime may simply move to another area when policing becomes stricter in one location rather than disappearing.

When did left realism emerge?

It emerged partly in response to right realism and sought a practical left-wing response to crime.

How do left realists relate to Marxism?

They accept that capitalism creates inequality but favour gradual reform rather than revolutionary change.

What does "taking crime seriously" mean?

Recognising crime as a real problem, identifying its victims and addressing its actual causes.

Who are usually the main victims of crime according to left realists?

Disadvantaged and working-class people are often the main victims of crime.

How did left realism influence New Labour?

It influenced the idea of being "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime."

What is relative deprivation?

The feeling of being deprived compared with others or compared with what someone believes they deserve (Lea and Young).

How can the media increase relative deprivation?

Media exposure makes people more aware of what others have, increasing feelings of deprivation.

What is the "lethal combination" according to Young?

Relative deprivation combined with individualism creates conditions that can produce crime.

What is individualism?

The pursuit of self-interest over collective interests, which can weaken community ties and mutual support.

How can individualism contribute to crime?

It encourages people to prioritise their own interests over others, weakening families and communities.

What is the left realist view of criminal subcultures?

Subcultures are collective responses to relative deprivation, while still often accepting mainstream materialistic and consumerist values.

Which theorists influenced the left realist view of subcultures?

Merton, Cloward and Ohlin, and Cohen.

What is marginalisation?

When groups lack clear goals and organisations to represent their interests, creating frustration that may be expressed through crime.

How can marginalisation cause crime?

Marginalised groups may lack legitimate ways to express frustration, so crime or violence can become an alternative outlet.

What two approaches do left realists believe are needed to tackle crime?

Better policing and control, combined with tackling the deeper structural causes of crime.

What did Kinsey, Lea and Young argue about police effectiveness?

Police clear-up rates are too low to provide an effective deterrent, partly because of bureaucracy and limited resources.

What is military policing?

Heavy-handed policing, such as aggressive stop-and-search and flooding an area with officers.

Why can military policing develop?

Loss of public support reduces police information, encouraging officers to rely on more aggressive tactics.

What did Jock Young criticise about New Labour's crime policies?

He argued they tried to recreate a mythical "Golden Age" and focused too much on symptoms such as antisocial behaviour rather than deeper causes.

How do Henry and Milovanovic criticise left realism?

They argue left realists accept official definitions of crime and focus too much on working-class street crime instead of corporate crime.

How do interactionists criticise left realism?

Its reliance on quantitative official statistics can overlook offenders' motives and experiences.

What is the criticism of left realist subcultural theory?

It assumes a shared value consensus, whereas Marxists argue this may actually reflect ruling-class ideology.

Why can't relative deprivation fully explain crime?

Not everyone experiencing relative deprivation becomes a criminal, so it cannot be a complete explanation.