Realism & Right Realism

• What do right realists criticize traditional sociological theories of crime for?

  Being too theoretical and not useful
• How do realists view crime in society?

  As a real social problem requiring solutions
• What do right realists believe sociological theory should inform?

  Social policy
• Who is a prominent figure associated with right realism?

  James Q. Wilson
• What is Charles Murray's concept related to crime?

  The idea of an underclass
• What does Murray argue the welfare state creates?

  Dependency
• What does Murray suggest about the welfare system?

  It encourages single parenthood
• What does right realism focus on more than the reasons for crime?

  Crime prevention and control
• What do right realists believe helps prevent crime?

  Firm social bonds and tight-knit communities
• What policy do right realists advocate for dealing with minor crime?

  Zero tolerance
• What theory is associated with the idea of maintaining social order through minor crime control?

  The broken windows theory
• What do some sociologists dispute about the New Right explanations for crime?

  They oversimplify the causes of crime
• What percentage more likely are children from lone-parent families to commit crimes?

  10-15%
• What type of behavior are children from lone-parent families more likely to commit?

  Low-level, anti-social behavior
• What complicates isolating lone-parent families as a factor in crime?

  Other factors like social class and ethnicity
• What does the view of crime as a rational choice suggest?

  People weigh community cohesion before committing crimes
• What do post-modernist sociologists challenge about crime decision-making?

  The notion of weighing costs and benefits
• What do post-modernist sociologists suggest about the thrill of crime?

  It can make crime more appealing
• How do post-modernists view the relationship between danger and crime appeal?

  The bigger the danger, the more appealing the crime