Right Realism - Causes of crime

Question 1

What do Realists believe

Answer 1

See crime as REAL and the statistics are true
Use stats to argue crime has increased
Say other theories fail to offer realistic solutions
Focus on practical ways to solve crime

Question 2

What are the three causes of crime according to Right realists

Answer 2

Biological differences
Socialisation and the Underclass
Rational Choice Theory

Question 3

What is Biological differences as a cause of crime

Answer 3

Wilson and Hernstin
Crime is caused by biological and social factors
-Personality traits = some people have innately more predisposed to commit crime (aggressive, risk-taking)
-Low intelligence = main cause

Question 4

What are the 4 main evaluation points for the biological differences at a cause of crime

Answer 4

Overemphasis on biological factors
Rational Choice Theory - contradictory to this as it is a choice but also biological?
Studies show intelligence does not significantly impact likelihood of offending - IQ accounts for less than 3% in difference of offending
Cannot explain WCC with high intelligence needed

Question 5

What is Socialisation and the Underclass as a cause of crime

Answer 5

Charles Murray
Matriarchal single parent families are increasing - due to overly generous welfare system - offers perverse incentive which is negative
Created an underclass - single parent families cannot socialise children (unlike nuclear family) - results in a lack of respect for law, poor education, work shy attitude
Absent fathers - boys lack sufficient role model
Turn to delinquent subculture - replace role models and gain status

Question 6

What is one positive of the socialisation and the underclass as a cause of crime

Answer 6

Explains WC crime and non utilitarian but doesn’t specific which

Question 7

What are 2 evaluation points for socialisation and the underclass as a cause of crime

Answer 7

Only explains WC - not crime of the powerful, Marxists argue are more damaging
Feminists: women can socialise and discipline boys effectively

Question 8

What is the Rational Choice Theory

Answer 8

We have free will to commit a crime or not- crime is a conscious choice based on calculation of the consequences
Reward outweigh the consequences = more likely to offend
Argue that punishments being lenient or little chance of getting caught creates crime

Question 9

What are 2 evaluation points for rational choice theory

Answer 9

Overexaggerates rationality - only explains utilitarian crime which is thought of in advanced not impulsive non-utilitarian crime
Contradictory to the biological difference causes of crime

Question 10

What are 2 overall evaluation points for Right realism

Answer 10

Marxism: RR ignore wider structural causes of crime - poverty
Contradictory: idea of having low IQ causes crime contradicts criminals being rational actors and socialised into crime