Left Realism

Question 1

Lea and Young: Square of crime

Answer 1

1. Social structural influences and formal control by state
2. Public and extent of informal social control
3. Victims- why they are and how do we respond?
4. Offenders- What motivates them and why?

Question 2

3 reasons why Lea and Young explain people turn to crime

Answer 2

1. Relative deprivation
2. Marginalisation
3. Subculture

Question 3

Young: Late modernity and bulimic society

Answer 3

Young: explained and linked crime in terms of changes in late modern society.
Exposed and included in media saturated society so expectation of good life raised. Cultural inclusion combined with social and economic exclusion= bulimic society intensifying frustration and anger.

Question 4

What three other factors does YOUNG argue intensifies relative deprivation due to late modernity?

Answer 4

1. Growing individualisation
2. Weakening of informal controls
3. Growing economic inequality and economic change due to globalisation

Question 5

Toxic mix that generates crime

Answer 5

Factors Young points out generates crime amongst young people in deprived areas and communities. More risk, uncertainty and less informal control leads to thrill-seeking.

Question 6

Strengths of theory

Answer 6

1. Draws on marxism, mertons strain theory, subculturess, cohen’s status frustration
2. Sees importance of community solutions of crime

Question 7

Weaknesses of theory

Answer 7

1. Neglects other responses of crime, such as merton’s retreatism and ritualism
2. Neglects gender as significant issue

Question 8

Approach to crime prevention

Answer 8

Say police need to improve clear-up rates and spend more time investigating crime in deprived areas to restore confidence in public to report crimes. Lack of confidence in these areas mean police have to resort to military style of policing e.g. Stopping and searching, flooding area with police.

Question 9

Preventing crime involves addressing social issues with policies, such as:

Answer 9

• Building community cohesion with stronger communities, local solutions.
• Multi-agency working, for example police, local council and health services work together
• More democratic and community control of policing. Police need to be more tolerant.
• Tackle social deprivation, such as youth leisure activities
• Intensive parenting support.

Question 10

Criticisms of prevention approach

Answer 10

• Look too much into social causes and are too ‘soft on crime’
• Inadequate explanation: not all deprived turn to crime
• Deflect away from more practical crime prevention