right realism and crime Flashcards
what is the right realist perspective?
a right winged, conservative political view.
what do right realists believe the causes of crime? are?
Biological differences, inadequate socialisation and rational choice
what are right realists concerned with?
they aim to put practical solutions in place and believe the best punishment is through control rather than rehabilitating or tackling the causes of crime itself.
What do Wilson and Hernstein argue?
That biological differences make an individual more likely to commit crime due to their personality traits. They believe that such personality issues, like aggressiveness, risk taking and low intelligence are innate.
Which environment do right realists believe to be necessary for effective socialisation?
within the nuclear family
What is Murray’s theory called?
The underclass or welfare dependency
why does Murray argue their is an underclass?
This is because we have an over generous welfare state which has removed the need for the nuclear family. The welfare state has created a rise in the number of welfare dependent lone-parents families.
What does Murray believe the underclass causes?
Higher crime rates due to inadequate primary socialisation, as he believe the family to be the main agency in this.
What is rational choice theory?
This is the idea that humans are rational and have free will to make decisions. The theory argues that individuals weigh up the costs and benefits of crime and currently the perceived costs are low so the crime rates are high.
What is Felson’s routine activity theory?
He argues that for crime to occur the following must be present, a motivated offender, a suitable target (this may be a victim or a property) and the absence of a capable guardian. Felson believes offenders act rationally, hence the presence of a capable guardian would deter them.
