right realism Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is Right Realism?
A conservative, tough-on-crime perspective developed in the 1980s, focused on control, punishment, and personal responsibility.
aaron burr
What causes crime according to Right Realists?
- Biological differences
- Inadequate socialisation
- Rational choice
What is the rational choice theory of crime?
People commit crime when they believe the rewards outweigh the risks — crime is a rational decision.
What role does socialisation play in Right Realism?
Poor socialisation, especially in lone-parent families, leads to lack of self-control and moral values (e.g. Murray’s underclass theory).
What does Charles Murray argue about the underclass?
That a growing underclass, reliant on welfare, lacks father figures and proper socialisation, causing crime.
What are Right Realist solutions to crime?
Tougher laws, zero tolerance policing, harsher punishments, and situational crime prevention.
‘Broken Windows’ theory?
Wilson and Kelling — they argued that tolerating small crimes leads to larger disorder and more crime.
Right Realists view on official crime stats?
They trust them and believe crime has real consequences, especially for victims.
What is a key criticism of Right Realism?
It ignores structural causes like poverty and inequality, and may over-focus on control and punishment.
What’s a criticism of rational choice theory?
Many crimes are impulsive or emotional, not calculated or ‘rational.’
