Left Realism

(first mock only)

How do Lea and Young describe Relative Deprivation?

Individual perceives themselves as deprived (whether materially or otherwise) in comparison to others in society

What crisis did Lea and Young suggest that there was in the 1950s?

An Aetiological crisis in Criminology

• couldn’t explain why crime rates were rising despite increases in people’s living standards

Why does Lea and Young suggest that there has been a heightened sense of Relative Deprivation?

Media and Advertising

• persuades influences inflate material expectations for everyone

• people feel economically disadvantaged despite increased prosperity

How does Lea and Young’s theory of Relative Deprivation lead to an increase in crime?

Fuels a relentless drive to accumulate possessions

• People feel they cannot live the lifestyle promoted - leads to frustration and resentment

What does Young mean when he suggests that we are living in a ‘Global Merton’

• Increased individualism and consumerism promoted by the media

• and economic exclusion

How do Lea and Young describe the ‘Golden Age of Capitalism’ and what has it been replaced with?

• Most people were in full employment with wage increases

Replaced with job insecurity and zero hour contracts

Who created the Relative Deprivation Theory?

Lea and Young

How do Lea and Young describe Marginalisation?

Marginal groups generally lack the organisation to represent their interests in political life and consequently their concerns are not generally taken seriously by those in positions of power

What does Lea and Young suggest that Marginalised Groups do to express their grievances?

Tend to use violence and rioting as forms of political action to express their sense of grievance

What do Lea and Young claim as the underlying reason for Crime?

Inequality - even with reasonable living standards and low rates of poverty

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

Who created the Marginalisation Theory?

Lea and Young

How do Lea and Young describe why groups create Subcultures?

May develop a subcultural strategies and lifestyles to cope with the problems of relative deprivation and marginalisation

How does Lea and Young’s Subcultural theory contrast with Functionalists?

there is a less consensus about moral values than in the past because there is now an increasingly variety of subcultures - claiming their views as legitimate

According to Lea and Young how do Subcultures increase in conflict and crime?

Increase conflict and rising crime - particularly hate crimes committed against marginalised groups

• e.g. Black and minority ethnic groups, or against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

Who created the Subcultures Theory?

Lea and Young