THEORIES- NEW RIGHT Flashcards
What are the core beliefs of the New Right regarding society and laws?
The New Right believes that the laws upheld in society are fundamentally sound and benefit the majority. They accept capitalism as desirable and view the criminal justice system as even-handed.
Why are the New Right referred to as realists in criminology?
They are called realists because they take crime statistics at face value and focus on reducing crime rates rather than researching the social conditions that might generate crime.
What is the New Right’s approach to situational crime prevention?
They prioritize situational crime prevention over exploring social conditions.
Measures like target hardening discourage opportunistic crimes, though determined offenders may displace their activities to less protected areas.
What does the rational choice theory adopted by the New Right suggest?
Rational choice theory states that:
People are naturally selfish.
Crime occurs when the perceived benefits outweigh the risks.
Crime can be reduced through swift and certain punishments that outweigh the benefits.
Do the New Right believe in a “crime gene”?
No, they reject the idea of a “crime gene.” However, they acknowledge that inherited traits like intelligence and temperament may affect the likelihood of engaging in criminal activities.
What role does socialisation play in preventing crime according to the New Right?
Adequate socialisation within a stable family helps instill conscience, sympathy, and a sense of justice, which inhibit criminal behaviour.
How do the New Right view the link between unemployment and crime?
They argue that early negative attitudes may lead to both crime and unemployment.
Poor school performance, anti-authority stances, and lack of motivation contribute to crime, rather than unemployment or poor economic conditions alone.
How do cultural norms in Japan support lower crime rates according to the New Right?
In Japan, norms emphasize obligations over rights, and families transmit a sense of collective responsibility for behaviour.
What does the New Right attribute to the decline in moral principles outside the home?
The decline in moral principles is linked to reduced church attendance, the decline of Sunday schools, and the weakening of organisations like the temperance movement.
Why do the New Right advocate for reduced welfare provision?
They argue that:
Welfare provision discourages self-responsibility.
Those who work resent paying taxes to support welfare, which could lead to tax evasion and other offences.
What is Robert Nozick’s view on income tax?
He describes income tax as “theft by the state” and argues that it is wrong to tax those who work hard or take risks to redistribute wealth.
What do New Right supporters believe about the “nanny state”?
Many advocate reducing the “nanny state” to a minimum, with fewer laws.
Only acts that harm others should be forbidden, allowing individuals more freedom to make their own choices.
What alternative view about laws do some New Right supporters hold?
Some supporters advocate for more laws and a zero-tolerance approach, targeting acts that lower the moral tone of an area, such as public drinking or loitering.
What does Norman Dennis argue about the family and delinquency?
He condemns political correctness for denying family breakdown.
He attributes delinquency to absent fathers and young mothers who struggle to provide supervision, resulting in inadequately socialised boys.
What is the New Right’s perspective on education?
They support educational selection and marketisation.
Parents should choose the best schools for their children based on league tables.
Schools with poor results should receive less funding and face closure.
