Right Realism

Question 1

Clarke and Coleman -

Rational Choice theory

Answer 1

Benefits outweigh the costs crime will be committed.

Argues the costs of crime are low which is why crime rate has increased.

Question 2

Murray -

Underclass

Answer 2

People who aren’t integrated into society’s norms and values
Prone to criminal tendencies, violence
Lone mothers are ineffectively socialising especially boys. Lack of role models for boys.
Crime is increasing as a result of welfare dependency as individuals become dependent on the state which leads to a decline in marriage and growth of lone parent families.

Question 3

Felson -

Routine Activities theory

Answer 3

Crime needs three conditions to take place:
Individuals who were motivated to offend
Availability of opportunity and targets
Lack of capable guardians such as parents or police who might prevent crime occurring

Believe most crime is opportunistic, therefore if individuals encounter easier opportunities they will commit crime

Question 4

Wilson - broken window theory

Answer 4

Unless incivilities are kept minimal (litter, graffiti, noise levels) are kept minimal than wider anti-social behaviour more anti-social crimes will follow

Question 5

Biosocial theory -

Wilson and Herrnstein

Answer 5

Crime is caused by a combination of biological and social functions.
Biological differences between individuals make some people innately more strongly predisposed to commit crime than others.
Murray argues that the main cause of crime is low intelligence, which is seen as biologically determined.

Question 6

Tackling crime

Answer 6

Main focus on control, containment and punishment of the offenders.
Advocate a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards undesirable behaviour such as prositution. The role of the police should be controlling the streets so law-abiding citizens feel safe.