Right Realism Flashcards
(29 cards)
What type of crime does right realism particularly focus on?
Street crime committed by young people
What are the three key factors that right realists believe drive young people to crime?
- Breakdown in traditional informal controls
- The Welfare State
- The Police
What does right realism say about traditional informal controls?
Agencies of social control weakened, undermining the concept of community
How do right realists view the Welfare State?
It encourages dependency and undermines community and mutual support
undermines social cohesion thru encourages individualism
According to right realists, what is the state of police effectiveness?
Clear-up rates have not significantly improved, allowing crime to flourish
march 2021: 14% clearance rate for all recorded crime
What is the underclass?
According to Murray, a lower class subculture below the ‘respectable’ working class
What does Charles Murray suggest about the ‘underclass’?
It subscribes to deviant and criminal values rather than mainstream values
What is one of Murray’s claims about the socialization of the underclass?
Parents transmit a deficient culture to their children
What are the three key arguments made by Murray regarding the underclass?
- Long-term unemployment due to being workshy = welfare dependency
- Lack of moral values and commitment to family: single mother families
- Absent fathers leading to inadequate role models like gang members
What do sociologists argue about the young criminal underclass?
According to bennet et al, they grow up surrounded by deviant and criminal adults in a criminogenic environment = youth crime
Link to Arnott: ultra tough ghetto superstar being role models for boys of lone parent households
What is rational choice theory?
Individuals choose their actions based on a rational calculation of consequences
What does a sociologist about rational choice theory?
According to Clarke, an individuals decision to commit crime is a choice based on rational calculation of likely consequences of their actions
If percieved rewards of crime outweigh percieved costs of crime or if rewards of crime outweighs non crime
What do right realists argue about the perceived costs of crime?
They are low, contributing to an increase in crime rates
What does Wilson suggest about legitimate opportunities and crime?
Declining legitimate opportunities (jobs) and lenient punishments make crime more appealing
What support is there for rational choice theory?
Felson notes strong community controls increases risk of being caught and punishes = deterrence
Innercity areas: weak community controls low risk of being caught and punishment
What is control theory based on?
Rational choice theory and practical solutions to crime
What is cost-benefit analysis?
People generally rational in their actions and choices - weigh up ‘costs’ and ‘benefit’ of their behaviour and make choices based on this
What does a sociologist say about most crime?
Hirschi argues most crime is ‘opportunistic’
Depends 4 social controls that make costs of crime outweigh economic/personal benefits of crime
What four social controls does Hirschi identify?
- Attachment
- Commitment
- Involvement
- Belief
What does Hirschi suggest about younger people and crime?
They have less to lose and may enhance their reputation through criminality
What is the main solution proposed by right realists to reduce crime?
Reduce opportunities for crime and make it more difficult
What is ‘zero tolerance’ policing?
A strategy to deter crime by ensuring a high likelihood of capture for all elements of deviance/criminal behaviour
Recommended by Wilson
What does Wilson’s ‘broken window’ theory advocate?
Development of signs of disorder and lack of concerns for others rapidly increases crime rates
Maintaining order in neighborhoods to prevent crime
What does ‘designing out’ crime refer to?
Changing infrastructure to prevent crime, such as using anti-homeless benches
