Right Realism Flashcards
What are three traits of a right realist?
1) they share the same political outlook as the new right
2) they have ‘zero tolerance on crime’ so don’t believe poverty is the cause
3) the elderly are poor yet they don’t commit crime
What are the 3 factors for why does crime/deviance happen?
1) biological differences
2) inadequate socialisation
3) rational choice theory
1) what does Wilson and Hernstein (1985) say about crime?
It is caused by a combination of biological and social factors.
1) What does it mean if some people are innately predisposed to crime and give examples?
It means it’s apart of their genetic or its natrual. For example heightened aggression is more common with men as they have high levels of testosterone so violent crimes. And low intelligence so people who are taken advantage of.
1) what is the evaluation for biological differences?
They have a genuine effect of government responses - David Cameron response to the 2011 riots.
2) what does Murray say about the nuclear family?
It is undermined by the welfare state which is perverse incentive (negative reward) so encourages SPFs (single parent families).
2) what does the welfare state create?
Dependency culture so people form a underclass and fail to socialise their children into the proper norms and values.
2) what does the welfare state mean for men?
They will no longer need to support their families so lack of role model in the family and the idea of ‘tough love’
2) what is the evaluation for inadequate socialisation?
unequal distribution of power and wealth
3) what does Clarke (1980) say about individuals?
They are rational beings with free will so when they decide to commit crime it is a choice of consequence and the rewards
3) why are people more like to offend?
If the reward for the crime outweighs the cost so crime rate is high due to the little risk of being caught.
3) what is Felsons (1998) routine activity theory?
There must be a motivated offender, a suitable target and the absence of a ‘capable guardian’ e.g neighbour or police so the presence of a guardian is likely to deter people from committing crime
3) what is the evaluation for rational choice theory?
Doesn’t explain violent crime
What is the 2 solutions for right realism?
1) zero tolerance policing
2) ZTP - broken windows
1) how should the police focus on controlling the streets?
They should crackdown on minor deviance like begging or prostitution to create an environment where the community knows that law and order is taken seriously
1) what is military policing?
Police on the streets
1) What is evaluation for zero tolerance policing?
Police will focus on low levels of crime and ignore crimes of the wealthy
2) what do Wilson and kellings (1982) say about neighbourhoods?
There must be order in the neighbourhoods so targeting individuals and groups in these local communities who are involved in low level crime and ensuring they can’t ‘get away with it’s
2) what does this targeting do?
They will be removed from local communities and will reduce criminal activity if it is successfully applied to local areas
2) what is the NYC broken window approach about?
The police strictly enforced the law on petty crime and Bratton was criticised on why he was going after these crimes. He believed petty criminals were overlooked and Wouk then do what they wanted and would turn to serious crimes. The 2001 study shows that petty and serious crime rates fell and were falling over these 10 years.
2) what is the evaluation for ZTP broken windows?
Labelling theorists believed local communities and individuals were targeted due to stereotypes (typifications) the police assumed of them
