Right And Left Realism Flashcards
For right realists, crime is the product of which three factors?
Biological differences
Inadequate socialisation
Individuals rational choice to offend
Why is biological differences seen as a cause of crime?
Wilson and Hernstein (1985)
Personality traits such as aggressiveness,risk-taking, impulsiveness, and seeking excitement type behaviours.
Personality traits are inherited and therefore have a biological basis.
What is the underclass and socialisation seen as a cause of crime?
Murray (1990) claims that the crime rate is increasing due to the growing underclass who fail to socialise their children properly.
What is Murray (1990) claim on the lone mothers?
Claims they are ineffective socialisation agents, especially for boys.
Absent fathers mean the boys lack discipline and appropriate male role models.
As a result, young males turn to delinquent role models on the street and gain status through crime.
What is the rational choice theory?
It assumes that individuals have the free will and power of reason.
This therefore means individuals can ‘freely’ choose if they commit crime or not.
What analysis is taken place before individuals decide to commit crime?
A cost-benefit analysis
What is a cost-benefit analysis?
If the benefits (theft) outweigh the cost (prison) then individuals are more likely to commit crime.
What are the solutions to reduce crime?
Custodial sentences
Zero tolerance
Reduce opportunities
Police
Welfare policy
What are custodial sentences
Tougher and loner prison sentences, especially for persistent offenders.
What is zero tolerance?
When you punish criminals without accepting any excuses
What is reduce opportunities?
Limit opportunities to commit a crime by increasing public awareness.
Eg: neighbourhood watch scheme or better locks on doors, cars, windows
Police?
Increase the presence and power of police officers to deal with criminal behaviour.
Eg more patrolling police officers or increase the number of CCTV cameras in public areas
How will the welfare policy reduce crime?
Change tax and welfare policy so the nuclear family becomes more financially attractive than alternative forms
Criticisms of the right realist explanation on the causes of crime.
It ignores wider structural causes such as poverty.
Criticisms of zero tolerance?
It is preoccupied with street crime and ignores corporate crime which is more harmful.
