Right Realist Theories of Crime

Question 1

What do Right Realists believe about crime and how to control it?

Answer 1

• Right Realists believe that the value consensus underpins society
• Crime undermines social cohesion and threatens societies work ethic
• They look for practical crime control measures by focusing on control and punishment

Question 2

What three theories do they believe?

Answer 2

1. Biological Differences
2. Inadequate Socialization
3. Rational Choice Theory

Question 3

How does biological differences cause crime?

Answer 3

• Wilson and Herrnstein state a bio-social theory
• Biological differences make some people more predisposed to committing crime than others such as certain hormones and personality traits
• They also low intelligence is a main cause of crime
• These traits and hormones can lead to aggression and risk taking

Question 4

How does inadequate socialisation cause crime?

Answer 4

• Effective socialization from families reduces the risk of criminality and it ensures the transferal of the value consensus and right from wrong
• Children who are not socialized adequately as a child may have more risk of being an offender
• Murray believes that an increase of underclass means there is more people who fail to socialize their child properly
• An increase in lone parent families and absent fathers mean boys turn to role models on the street to help gain status

Question 5

How does rational choice theory cause crime?

Answer 5

• A theory that states everyone has free will and power of reason
• Clarke argues that the decision to make crime is based on a calculation of consequences, if the reward outweighs the cost then someone may commit the crime
• They argue that the consequence in society is low which explains increased crime
• They are rational in their thinking and weigh up the cost and benefits to assess whether a crime is worth committing

Question 6

What is Routine Activity Theory?

Answer 6

• Cohen and Felson have developed Rational Choice Theory
• In most circumstances, social control, lack of opportunity, or risk of being caught has prevented crime from taking place
• This means there needed to be three conditions for the crime to take place
  1. Individuals must be motivated to offend
  2. The availability of opportunity and targets
  3. The lack of capable guardians to prevent crime from taking place
• Most crime is opportunistic rather than planned therefore if they encounter an easy opportunity then they are more likely to commit crime

Question 7

What is Broken Windows Theory?

Answer 7

• Wilson and Kelling 1982
• Broken Windows stands for all the various signs for disorder and lack of concern
• This includes graffiti, littering and vandalism
• This means that they leave broken windows unrepaired therefore sending out a signal that no one cares
• This means that there is an absence of formal and informal social control
• This means the police are only concerned with severe crime and ignore nuisance behaviour leaving the community feel powerless
• This means the situation deteriorates into a spiral of decline
• This then means that the area becomes a magnet for deviant behaviour as they are likely to be ignored

Question 8

What is an evaluation of Right Realism?

Answer 8

• Ignores wider structural causes of crime and focusses too much on individual responsibility
• Overstates the rational of criminals whereas often they do not have time to weigh up the rewards
• Biological Theory and Rational Choice theory contradict other with their view on choice
• Ignores white collar crime and only focusses on street crime which is often working class