Right Realism Flashcards
What are the 3 causes of crime put forward by right realists ?
-Biological differences
-Inadequate socialisation
-Rational choice of the individual
How do biological differences mean some individuals are more likely to commit crime ?
Biological differences between individuals make some people more strongly predisposes to commit crime compared to others .
For example , personality traits such as aggressiveness , risk taking and low impulse control put some people at greater risk of re offending
What biological difference do Herrnstein and Murray see as a cause of crime ?
Herrnstein and Murray argue that the main cause of crime is low intelligence , which they see as biologically determined
What do right realists believe the best agency of socialisation is ?
Right realists believe the best agency of socialisation is the nuclear family
What does the right realist Murray argue that the crime rate is growing because regarding inadequate socialisation ?
The right realist Murray argues that the crime rate is increasing because of a growing underclass who are defined by their deviant behaviour and who fail to socialise their children properly , according to Murray the underclass is growing due to welfare dependency
Murray argues due to the state being over generous it has led to decline in marriage and a growth of lone parent families because women and children can live off benefits also means men no longer have to take the responsibility for supporting their families so no longer need to work
However , lone mother are inadequate socialisation agents especially for boys , absent fathers means a lack of paternal discipline and appropriate male role models so young males turn to other delinquent role models on the street and gain status from crime rather than through supporting their family through a steady job
What does rational choice theorist Clarke argue that the decision to commit a crime is based on?
Clarke argues that the decision to commit a crime is based on a rational calculation of the likely consequences . If the perceived rewards of the crime outweigh the perceived costs then people will be likely to offend
Using the right realist explanation of rational choice theory why is the crime rate so high ?
Right realists argue that the perceived costs of crime are so low and this is why crime has increased . In their view there is often little risk of being caught and punishments are in any case lenient
What are some criticisms of the right realist explanation of crime , include statistics from Lilly et al ?
- it ignores the wider structural causes of poverty
-it overstates offenders rationality and how far they make cost benefit calculations before committing crime , while it may explain utilitarian crime it doesn’t explain impulsive or violent crime
-it’s view of criminals as rational actors freely choosing crime conflicts with the claim that their behaviour is determined by their biology and socialisation
-It also over emphasises biological factors - according to Lilly et al , IQ differences account for less than 3 % of differences in offending
How do right realists believe we can tackle crime ?
Right realists believe we cannot try to deal with the causes of crime such as biological differences and socialisation as these cannot be easily changed
Instead we should make crime less attractive , main focus is on control and punishment of offenders rather than eliminating the underlying causes of offending and rehabilitating them
Crime prevention policies should reduce the rewards of crime and increase the costs of crime to the offender
What is the broken window theory by Wilson and Kelling ?
Wilson and Kellings Broken window theory argues that it is essential to maintain the orderly character of the neighbourhood to prevent crime taking hold . Any sign of deterioration such as graffiti and vandalism must be dealt with immediately
What is the zero tolerance policy towards crime and how does it reduce crime rates ?
The zero tolerance policy towards undesirable behaviours such as prostitution , begging and drunkenness , the police focus on controlling the streets so law abiding citizens feel safe leading to reductions in crime rates
How does Young see the zero tolerance policy as a myth ?
Young argues that the zero tolerance policy’s success was a myth peddled by politicians and police keen to take the credit for falling crime but in fact Crime rates had been falling in New York 9 years before the zero tolerance policy and was also falling in other cities that didn’t have zero tolerance policies
What are some other criticisms of zero tolerance ?
-it is preoccupied with petty crimes and ignores corporate crime which is more costly and harmful
-it gives the police free rein to discriminate against minorities , youth , the homeless etc
-it over emphasises the control of disorder , rather than tackling the causes of neighbourhood decline such as lack of investment
-Zero tolerance policy can lead to displacement of crime to other areas
