Right realism Flashcards
For right realists what are the 3 factors crime is a production of ?
Individual biological differences
Inadequate socialisation
Individuals rational choice to offend
What did right realists Wilson and Herrnstein (1985) say about what causes crime ?
In their biosocial theory of crime they said
“crime is caused by a combination of biological and social factors”
What did Herrnstein and Murray (1994) argue was the main cause of crime ?
low intelligence which they also argue is biologically determined
What did Murry (1990) say was the main cause of crime ?
The growth of the underclass and the welfare state encouraging a culture of dependency
What did Bennett, Dilulio and Walters (1996) argue ?
crime is the result of growing up around deviant, delinquent and criminal adults in a practically perfect criminogenic environment
What is rational choice theory, in a crime context ?
Clarke (1980) argues that Individuals freely make the choice to offend or not
What do right realists say is the solution to crime ?
control, containment and punishment of offenders in order to make crime less attractive
What is zero tolerance, as a solution to tackling crime ?
The right realist idea that police should focus on being tougher and controlling the streets so that the public feel safe
What is target hardening ?
An approach to crime prevention emphasising making it harder to commit crimes and increase the cost of the crime to the offender
What are some evaluations of right realism ?
Right realists don’t address the social and structural causes of crime
They don’t allow for the fact that some people may just be targeted by labelling.
They assume that all crimes are rational, and that criminals are able to make rational choices
