AC2.3- Describe sociological theories of criminality

Question 1

What are the main ideas of Right Realism?

Answer 1

• Crime is not determined by social forces, but by the choice of an individual
• Searching for the cause of the crime is a waste of time and distraction
• Fewer criminal choices will be made if there are effective and appropriate punishments
• Improving social conditions does not reduce crime rates
• Rehabilitation is ineffective

Question 2

What is the Right Realist belief on determinism?

Answer 2

The link between crime and poverty is refuted.
Wilson argues that affluence and prosperity is linked to rising crime rates
E.g. USA’s crime rate increased at a higher and faster rate in the longest period of prosperity (1960s after WW2) since 1930s

Question 3

What is the Right Realist solution to stopping crime?

Answer 3

• Increase the penalty for crime and the crime rates will fall
• ‘war on crime’ where the punishment of the crime over weighs the benefits of the crime
• Crime may be prevented by the repeated assertion of a strong authority figure founded on traditional values

Question 4

What does Right Realism argue crime is the product of?

Answer 4

• Biological differences between individuals
• Inadequate socialisation
• Offending is a rational choice

Question 5

Why does Right Realism blame the Welfare State?

Answer 5

Extending welfare state and decline of the traditional family are seen as key factors behind crime increases

Question 6

What is the link between the Nuclear family and crime increases, according to Right Realism

Answer 6

• They see the nuclear family as the best agency of socialisation, as it can reduce the chances of offending by teaching them, self-control and correct values
• Murray argues that the nuclear family is being undermined by the generous welfare state as they claim that this has led to the rise in the number of welfare dependent lone parent families
• With fathers no longer needing to take responsibility and provide for the household due to the welfare state, boys turn to delinquent role models in the street gang to gain status through crime rather than a supportive family

Question 7

What is the Rational Choice Theory?

Answer 7

• A theory developed by Clarke and Coleman (1980) argues that criminals will engage in crime if the benefits outweigh the costs
• By increasing the costs of crime (punishments)

Question 8

What is Wilson’s ‘Broken Windows Thesis’?

Answer 8

• Wilson argues that unless litter, graffiti, noise levels, vandalism etc. are kept minimal, then wider anti-social behaviour and more serious crimes will follow
  Follows the idea of a ‘zero tolerance’ for even minor crimes

Question 9

What are zero tolerance policies?

Answer 9

Based on the idea that if small crimes are allowed to go unchallenged ,then this leads to more serious crimes/actions being committed

Question 10

Evaluation on Right Realism

Answer 10

Strength
- Influential on Government policy in both the UK and the USA (successfully adopted as a policy in NY)
Limitations
- Lack of investment in deprived areas rather than incivilities is believed by some to cause crime to rise
- Single-parent families are easy to pick as scapegoats
- in some cases of zero tolerance, crime is shifted to other areas

Question 11

Who are the Key theorists in Left Realism?

Answer 11

Lea and Young
- Introduced Left Relism as a response to the conservatives’ harsh social policies
- Want to deal with the problem at the source, not with the outcome

Question 12

What are the main ideas of Left Realism?