17 - Realists explanations of crime and deviance.

Broken windows

theory that suggests that visible signs of disorder, such as vandalism can lead to an increase in crime by creating an environment of lawlessness.

Rational choice

individuals weigh the costs and benefits of committing a crime and will engage in criminal behaviour if the perceived rewards outweigh the risks.

Social Bonds

Hirschi’s theory argues that strong attachments to family, education and societal norms reduce the likelihood of criminal activity.

Social control policies

Ways to deter crime and maintain public order e.g. stop and searches.

The square of crime

Developed by Matthews and young, emphasizes the interaction between the state, victims, offenders and the public in shaping crime and responses to it.

Relative Deprivation

explains that crime arises when individuals or groups feel deprived compared to others in society, leading to frustration and deviant behaviour.

Marginalisation

occurs when certain groups, such as unemployed youth feel excluded from mainstream society, increasing their likelihood of engaging in criminal activities.

Subcultures

described by Cohen and Cloward & Ohlin, in response to blocked opportunities, providing alternative values and norms that encourage deviance.

Exclusive society

Youngs concept highlights how social and economic exclusion, particularly in late modern societies, contributes to rising crime rates and social disorder.

Realism

they believe that crime is a real problem that requires a real solution.

Focus on how a lack of attachment to societal norms and a decline in community leads to crime.

Right Realists

they say that crime is the fault of society and not the individual.

Left Realists

Wrote a book ‘Broken windows’ and argue that crime flourishes in situations where social control breaks down.

Wilson and Kelling

Proved Wilson and Kelling theory about ‘broken windows’ with his experiment about leaving an 2 cars abandoned one in perfect condition and one which was already broken. The broken one was further vandalised while the normal one was left untouched.

Zimbardo

Criticise Wilson and Kelling’s ideas of ‘broken windows’ and they that their theory may explain why criminal or deviant behaviour exists but not why it exists in the first place.

A. Cohen

Rational choice theory - argues that the decision to commit crime is a choice based on the calculation of the likely chances of being caught.

Clarke

Criticise Clarkes ‘rational choice theory’ and suggest that crime is about the thrill and excitement and that this is too much for some people to resist.

Katz

Attachment to society - says that people commit crimes when their attachment to society is weekend in some way. Says there are 4 crucial bonds of society: Commitment, Belief, Involvement and Attachment. and if one of these is lacking an individual will turn to crime.

Hirschi

Criticise Hirschi and say that he assumes there are a shared set of values in society however, some would argue that values are imposed by men in a patriarchal society.

Feminists

have the political views of the labour party, focus on the issues of power and inequality rather than blaming the criminal as deviant.

Left wing views on crime

believe that crime is the result of poor social and economic conditions and choose to not blame or criminalise but help disadvantaged groups.

Left realists views on crime

The square of crime - see notes

Matthews and Young

Three factors propel people into crime - say that relative deprivation, marginalisation and subculture are the reasons why some individuals may commit crimes.

Lea and Young

Criticises Lea and Young’s ‘three factors that propel people into crime theory’ and say that the left are too soft on the crime and the criminals and say that not everyone from marginalized backgrounds turns to crime.

Murray

The move from an inclusive to an exclusive society leads to crime - days that during the 50s it was a period of stability and due to a decrease in industrialised jobs people have been turning to crime.

Young

Criticises Young’s theory of ‘the 50’s being a golden age of living’ and says that he fails to see other crimes that have a deeper impact such as white collar crimes.

Snider