Topic Sociologist/ Key findings
Theory
Right Overview Right realists see crime as a real problem to be tackled and presented through social policies. They argue that street crime and
realist burglary are real problems and propose realistic solutions to the problem of crime. They are critical of previous theorists as they
explanatio don’t offer solutions to curving criminal behaviour, while also being sympathetic to the criminal and hostile to the police and
ns courts.
Biological Wilson and Herrnstein (1985) – anti-social behaviour is often caused by individuals with low IQ or flawed personality traits e.g.,
differences aggressiveness. Crime is caused by a combination of biological and social factors.
Herrnstein and Murray (1994) – main cause of crime is low intelligence.
Poor Murray (1990) – anomie as a result of poor socialisation within families leads to criminal values being passed on. Lone mothers
socialisation in particular can’t adequately socialise children. A generous welfare state has discouraged self-reliance and a worth ethic.
and welfarism/ Existence of welfare benefits is often subsidised by petty criminality.
dependency
culture
Rational choice A person weights up the pros and cons of committing a crime. If the pros outweigh the cons, the crime will be committed.
theory Criminal acts are likely to take place if the individual believes they can get away with it. Clarke (1980) – the decision to commit
crime is a choice based on a rational calculation of the consequences. Wilson (1975) – the issue is that there is little cost in
community crime. Felson (2002) – for crime to occur, there must be a motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of a
capable guardian.
Poor Wilson and Herrnstein (1985) make a link between poor socialisation and later criminality.
socialisation - They aren’t taught self-discipline and control = they will act on impulse and may commit crimes.
- They aren’t taught what is right and wrong = they will not develop a moral conscious and thus will not feel ‘guilty’ about
committing crimes.
- Truancy at schools = they will find it difficult to hold down a job and may commit crimes to obtain cash.
Welfare state Undermined marriage and the growth of lone parent families. Children will lack a male role model and potentially drift into crime.
No longer have to take responsibility for supporting themselves. Without adequate support, children may be encouraged to turn
to crime to support themselves. Links to the theory that subcultural criminal behaviour is passed on through localised areas.
Evaluation of 1. Marxists argue that they ignore wider structural causes such as poverty and relative deprivation.
right realism 2. It overstates offenders’ rationality and how far they make calculations before they commit a crime.
3. Their theory is contradictory. They argue that biologically determined factors explain behaviour, then argue that they argue
‘rational choice’ as their actions.
Tackling crime The key ways to solve crime are control, containment and the punishment of offenders over rehabilitating them. Target
hardening: this is a police term to mean strengthening of the security of building or property in order to protect or reduce the risk
of theft.
Theory
Right Overview Right realists see crime as a real problem to be tackled and presented through social policies. They argue that street crime and
realist burglary are real problems and propose realistic solutions to the problem of crime. They are critical of previous theorists as they
explanatio don’t offer solutions to curving criminal behaviour, while also being sympathetic to the criminal and hostile to the police and
ns courts.
Biological Wilson and Herrnstein (1985) – anti-social behaviour is often caused by individuals with low IQ or flawed personality traits e.g.,
differences aggressiveness. Crime is caused by a combination of biological and social factors.
Herrnstein and Murray (1994) – main cause of crime is low intelligence.
Poor Murray (1990) – anomie as a result of poor socialisation within families leads to criminal values being passed on. Lone mothers
socialisation in particular can’t adequately socialise children. A generous welfare state has discouraged self-reliance and a worth ethic.
and welfarism/ Existence of welfare benefits is often subsidised by petty criminality.
dependency
culture
Rational choice A person weights up the pros and cons of committing a crime. If the pros outweigh the cons, the crime will be committed.
theory Criminal acts are likely to take place if the individual believes they can get away with it. Clarke (1980) – the decision to commit
crime is a choice based on a rational calculation of the consequences. Wilson (1975) – the issue is that there is little cost in
community crime. Felson (2002) – for crime to occur, there must be a motivated offender, suitable target, and absence of a
capable guardian.
Poor Wilson and Herrnstein (1985) make a link between poor socialisation and later criminality.
socialisation - They aren’t taught self-discipline and control = they will act on impulse and may commit crimes.
- They aren’t taught what is right and wrong = they will not develop a moral conscious and thus will not feel ‘guilty’ about
committing crimes.
- Truancy at schools = they will find it difficult to hold down a job and may commit crimes to obtain cash.
Welfare state Undermined marriage and the growth of lone parent families. Children will lack a male role model and potentially drift into crime.
No longer have to take responsibility for supporting themselves. Without adequate support, children may be encouraged to turn
to crime to support themselves. Links to the theory that subcultural criminal behaviour is passed on through localised areas.
Evaluation of 1. Marxists argue that they ignore wider structural causes such as poverty and relative deprivation.
right realism 2. It overstates offenders’ rationality and how far they make calculations before they commit a crime.
3. Their theory is contradictory. They argue that biologically determined factors explain behaviour, then argue that they argue
‘rational choice’ as their actions.
Tackling crime The key ways to solve crime are control, containment and the punishment of offenders over rehabilitating them. Target
hardening: this is a police term to mean strengthening of the security of building or property in order to protect or reduce the risk
of theft.
