Right-Realist perspective

Question 1

What is the background of the right-realist perspective?

Answer 1

Sees crime as the real problem that destroys communities and undermines social cohesion, and is closely linked to the New Right and Conservative governments.

Question 2

What are the right-realist causes of crime?

Answer 2

1. Biological differences.
2. Socialisation and the underclass.
3. Rational choice.

Question 3

How do biological differences cause crime?

Answer 3

Biological differences - Wilson and Herrnstein: biosocial theory of crime states biological differences make some more predisposed to crime.

Question 4

How does socialisation and the underclass cause crime?

Answer 4

Socialisation and the underclass - Murray: Crime is rising due to an increase in the underclass who rely on the welfare state, as well as an increase in lone parent families and failing to socialise children properly.

Question 5

How does rational choice cause crime?

Answer 5

Rational choice - Clarke: committing crime is a choice based on rational calculation of the likely consequences, and whether the rewards of crime outweigh the consequences if and when they are caught.

Question 6

What is the right-realist view on tackling crime?

Answer 6

Do not believe the causes of crime can be changed, so they focus on practical measures to make crime less attractive. (e.g CCTV and increased policing.)

Question 7

What is the evaluation of the right-realist perspective?

Answer 7

1. Ignores structural causes of crime.
2. Overstates the cost/benefit calculation.
3. Methods of tackling crime just displace it to other areas.