left realism

What is left realism?

Left realists have a left-wing view. They argue inequality is the root cause of crime and argue that most crime is committed by working class people against other working class people, too often the victims of crime have been ignored- they focus on victims. They argue that crime is a real problem, especially among the working class and fear is justified. Desolation is to focus on rehabilitating the offender and addressing the root cause of their criminology and simply punishing them for example through drug rehabilitation programs.

Who identified three related causes of crime and what are they?

Lea and young- relatively deprived, marginal and subculture

What is relatively deprived?

Refers to the discontent people feel when they compare their positions to those similarly situated and find that they have less than their peers.

What is subculture?

Draws on basic subcultural theory. Subcultures emerge as a response to RD and marginalisation- peer group pressure within a subculture can encourage deviant behaviour- status frustration and strain theory

What is marginal?

Where people lack the power or resources to fully participate in society. Means that one is ‘pushed to the edge’ of that society