right realism

Question 1

what is this theory??

Answer 1

realism

Question 2

explain this theory??

Answer 2

• all realists believe that crime is a real and growing problem that crime is damaging communities particulary urban areas
• argue that other theories have failed to offer realistic solutions to the problem - i.e. government or social class divisions
• have put forward three explanations for crime:
  -biological
  -socialization
  -rational choice

Question 3

what is the biological explanation??

Answer 3

some people are more predisposed to commit crime than others. For example, hormones and personality traits lead to aggression and risk taking. e.g: wilson and hernstein believe that people can be naturally selfish without social issues (poverty)

Question 4

what is the socialisation explanation??

Answer 4

effective socialisation reduces the risk of criminality due to good values, norms and self-control. underclass fail to socialise children properly so children have limited self control. absent farthers means boys will look to male role models on the street and join gangs

Question 5

what is the rational choice explanation??

Answer 5

individuals rationally choose to commit crime because the costs are outweighed by the benefits.at the moment, in society the perceieved costs of crime are low so the crime rate has increased

Question 6

what does the theory believe in??

Answer 6

• capitalism
• crime destroys society
• harsher punishments and more social control
• less interest in cause of crime but in preventing it

Question 7

how does this theory explain criminal behavior??

Answer 7

• right realists questio the view that economic factors are the reasons behind rising crime
• instead, it is believed that individuals are more likely to commit crime when the social contraints on their behaviour are weakened
• so crime is linked to inadequate social control

Question 8

what are the strengths of right realism??

Answer 8

• has practical approaches to tackle crime = other theories like marxism provide theoretical solutions like revolution but this theory offers range of solutions to crime like target hardening
• solutions to crime have already been attempted and found some success = zero tolerance policies introduce in liverpool in 2005 to tackle gangs and increase of crime. since the introduction violent crimes fell 38% and robberies down 23%

Question 9

what are the weaknesses of right realism??

Answer 9

• cannot explain all criminals as focuses primarily on working class = theory believes most crime committed by lower class due to inadequate socialisation but does not consider upper class crimes and white collare crimes
• concept of rational choice cannot be applied to all crimes = the idea o rationally weighing up to the costs of rewards of crime is applicable to premediated crimes but cannot explain impulsive crimes or crimes of passion