right realism strengths and weaknesses

Question 1

STRENGTH: what study supports it, link to GRAVE

Answer 1

FLOOD-PAGE ET AL:
- support view of inadequate socialisation
- found children (particularly males) from lone parent backgrounds more likely to offend

• reliable
• plenty of evidence to back it up
• some studies found same results

Question 2

STRENGTH: what does it offer, link to GRAVE

Answer 2

• more practical approach to tackling crime than other theories
• influenced policies to combat crime
• applicable
• useful in CJ system
  FOR EXAMPLE:
• zero tolerance policing
• harsher punishments (imprisonment)

Question 3

STRENGTH: how may wilson and hernstein be a strength

Answer 3

• considers both biological and social factors
• it gives a holistic view
• considers full picture, not just one explanation

Question 4

WEAKNESS: how can it be criticised using marxism

Answer 4

• they ignore inequalities in society and structural causes such as poverty
• Marxists would argue they blame crime on WC when they cant help their position - forced into it by capitalism
• capitalism is at fault and not them

Question 5

WEAKNESS: can it be criticised using interactionalism

Answer 5

• right realists use crime stats without analysing issues that come with them
• interactionists argue: labelling affects the stats as groups with labels are over policed more so appear in stats more
• therefore street crime seems more common
• right realists ignore MC crime that goes to the dark figure

Question 6

WEAKNESS: how are right realists explanations for crime contradictory

Answer 6

• how can someone be a rational actor choosing to commit crime
• but also have their behaviour determined by their biology
  FOR EXAMPLE:
• low IQ/high testosterone
• if determined by biology, cant exercises free will to change biological factors