The New Right

Question 1

Murray:

Answer 1

stresses inadequate socialisation leading to an underclass based in dependency, laziness and criminality

condemns the increase in single mothers and sees ‘illegitimacy’ as an indicator of criminality

boys without a father have poor impulse control and become sexual predators

Question 2

Murray and Hernstein (1994)

Answer 2

consider the impact of cognitive ability and intelligence on criminal behaviour

argue that there’s a correlation between low IQ and criminality

they linked low IQ to race and argued that white peoples with low IQ are more likely to commit crime

Question 3

Evaluating Murray:

Answer 3

Gallie (1994) - interviewed the long term unemployed about their attitudes towards work

he found that most had a strong work ethic and wanted to work and thus showed no evidence of dependency culture

Young (2003) - sees the New Right as a ‘sociology of vindictiveness’ that seeks to ‘punish, demean and humiliate’ those at the bottom of society.

argues that single mothers and beggars are portrayed as contributing to the problems of society much more than they actually do and are thus an ‘easy enemy’