A2-Level Sociology

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A2-Level Sociology

• Left and Right Realism on Crime

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Outline of Realism
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Realism

• There are two branches of realism, both of which
  have separate theories and ideas.

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Left Realism

• Left realism provides a casual explanation for
  crime.
• Left realists look at the individual and the
  causes which could have led them to commit crime.
  This stemmed from Jock Young who was a New
  Criminologists until he realised that the
  criminals (victims) need to be considered and
  after he saw criminals to be the victims of
  capitalism left realism began to look at what
  caused individuals to commit crime.

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Left Realism

• Left realist theory identifies three causes of
  crime.

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Cause One Marginalisation

• This refers to the individuals who live on the
  margins of society and therefore cannot take part
  in society.
• Gibbs and Merighi (1994) argues that the black
  community are marginalised in terms of poverty,
  housing, education and jobs anger and
  frustration ? Crime

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Cause Two Relative Deprivation

• This refers to some individuals being relatively
  deprived in comparison to others and this
  therefore leads to a sense of injustice and
  resentment.
• Lea and Young (1992) found that ethnic minorities
  feel resentment due to relative deprivation as
  they see there to be unfair and biased policing
  in their community.

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Cause Three Subcultures

• This refers to groups of young people, often
  ethnic minority groups, who form sub-cultural
  groups in inner city areas.
• Messner and Golden (1992) found that where racial
  discrimination existed deep violent subcultures
  flourished.

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Solutions to Crime

• Left realists want to reduce crime in society by
  way of more community based improvements yet not
  using harsh punishments such as imprisonment.

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Solutions to Crime
Left Realism
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Right Realism

• Right realism comes from a New Right perspective
  which looks at the causes of crime and what can
  be put in place to deter criminals.

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Right Realism

• Right realism identifies the following four
  causes to influence crime

People choose to commit crime by weighing up
the pros and cons.
Muscular Low Intelligent Males
Muscular Low Intelligent Males
1. Bio-Social
4. Choice
Causes of Crime
2. Cultural
3. Opportunity
Greater opportunity to commit crime exists in
some areas

• - SPF
• - Welfare
• Dependency
• Poor Schools
• Lack of Community

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Solutions to Crime
Right Realism
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• New right / right realism and left realism
• causes of crime research task
• In pairs you need to research and create a ppt
  into
• New right / right realism
• Left realism
• You need to explain
• The causes of crime
• Researchers
• Evaluation of ideas / linked to opposing or
  supporting theorists
• Stats to support ideas
• An example exam style question style answer to
  the following question Outline and assess left
  or right realism explanation of
• the causes of crime
• Use a variety of text books and the internet