Theories : Right Realism

Question 1

Wilson (1975)

Answer 1

Wilson focuses on street crime arguing it is a result of rational calculation. People will commit crime if the likely benefits exceed the likely costs

Strong communities are an effective way of dealing with crime as it defers people from
committing crime

Question 2

Wilson & Herstein (1985)

Answer 2

Put forward a biosocial theory of criminal behaviour

Biological differences between individuals make some people innately more strongly predisposed to commit crime than others

Question 3

Bennett et al (1996)

Answer 3

growing up surrounded by deviant criminal adults is the perfect criminogenic environment

Question 4

Clarke (1980)

Answer 4

the decision to commit crime is a choice based on a rational calculation of the likely consequences

If perceived rewards outweigh costs then the individual will be likely to offend (rational choice theory)

Question 5

Felson (2002)

Answer 5

Similia idea to Clarke

routine activity theory Felson argues that for a crime to occur there must be a motivated offender a suitable target and the absence of a capable guardian

Question 6

Wilson and Kelling (1982)

Answer 6

Advocate a zero-tolerance policy (1994) towards undesirable behaviour such as drunkenness

Success in the reduction in crime in new york

Question 7

Young

Answer 7

Its success (zero tolerance) was a myth peddled by politicians and police keen to take the credit of fallen crime