Realist theories Crime and deviance

Peer Marking task

By the end of this lesson you will be able to ... Identify and define the differences between realist and other approaches to crime, Identify and define the main features of left and right realist approaches to crime, their political context and the similarities and differences between them, Apply and evaluate the strengths and limitations of right and left realist approaches to crime.

WDYT Based on your knowledge on the right realist perspectives of crime and deviance, In your table groups please discuss and identify one key aspects of what the left realist might be about

Key facts about left realism... Developed since the 1980’s, Key figure is the critical criminologist Jock Young, Focus on the need to consider the raising crime rate seriously and find practical solutions to it, Focus on the influence of right realism on the government

1) Taking crime seriously Essential idea is that crime particularly the disadvantaged groups who are the main victims: Traditional Marxist: their focus on corporate crime has neglected the effects of working class crime and its effects, Neo-Marxist: paints a picture of working class criminals as modern day “Robin Hood” but fail to identify that working class victimise other working class people, Labelling theorist: see criminals as victims of discriminatory labelling but forget to look at the fact that working class people are the ones who suffer at the hands of criminals.

Reading task: read through the page 96 of the book. 2) Causes of crime The key focus is explaining the rise in crime, Key theorist – Lea and Young Reading task: read through the page 96 of the book.

3) Late modernity, exclusion and crime What might these terms mean and how could we apply them to the concept of crime ?

Key concepts Young (2002) – modern societies with their instability, insecurity and exclusion make the problem of crime worse (Golden age), Young (2002) – growing contrast between cultural inclusion and economic exclusion as a source of relative deprivation: Media saturation promotes cultural inclusion, Greater emphasis on leisure, Ideology of meritocracy

5) Tackling crime Focus is devising solutions to the problems of crime: Policing and control (Kinsey, Lea and Young 1986), Tackling the structural causes (Young), Left realism and government policy similarities with the New Labour government (tough stance on crime)

Evaluation of LR Interactionist argue that LR rely on quantitative data from victims surveys and fail to explain the offenders motives, Use of subcultural theories means that LF assume that value consensus exists and that crime only occurs when this breaks down, Relative deprivation cannot fully explain crime because not all those experience it commit crime. The theory over predicts the amount of crime.

Recipe Time Students have to write a recipe Back to Plenaries Recipe Time Students have to write a recipe of the lesson (or their learning).