Right Realist Perspective

• Who are the Right Realist key thinkers?

  • James Q. Wilson
  • Ron Clarke
  • Wilson & Kelling
• Why did Right Realism develop?

  To critique other sociological theories that hadn’t solved the problem of crime
• What does Right Realism think of human nature and how to regulate it?

  • Ppl are naturally selfish + greedy
  • This aspect of human nature should be socialised into appropriate behaviour using social controls
• What do Right Realists say is the answer to crime?

  Rational Choice Theory
• Who developed Rational Choice Theory (RCT)? (HINT: C + C)

  Clarke + Coleman
• According to Rational Choice Theory, what causes ppl to engage in crime?

  • ‘If Benefits OUTWEIGH the Costs’
  • If rewards of crime are better than those of non-criminal behaviour, ppl are MORE LIKELY to offend
• How does Rational Choice Theory say we can solve crime?

  Inc. costs of crime

  E.g. tougher punishments
• What is anti-sociological criminology?

  Approaches to crime that reject trad. sociological notions (class, socialisation, etc.) and instead focussing on individual responsibility, free will, bio./psycho. factors.
• How does anti-sociological criminology explain inc. in crime rates?

  Dec. in trad. family, extension of the welfare state, less discipline in education - links to NR
• How does human nature contribute to crime?

  • Rising crime = inadequate social control
  • Permissive attitudes, absent fathers, lack of discipline in education etc. contribute to increasing crime rates, esp. incivilities
• What did James Q. Wilson say were the 3 causes of increasing crime rates?

  1. No of young males as a proportion of the pop.
  2. Economy
  3. Cultural changes

  He said these causes were uncontrollable ➡️he focussed more on PREVENTING crime
• Who wrote 'Broken Windows'?

  Wilson & Kelling
• What do Wilson & Kelling say in 'Broken Windows'?

  • If a community allows its environment to decline e.g. not removing graffiti, not mending broken windows, not arresting antisocial groups etc., crime starts to be accepted
  • ➡️ Leads to 'climate of disorder' where crime could become more serious/the norm bc no-one cares ab. the environment
• Which Right Realist thinker's work did Travis Hirschi support?


  Wilson
• What conclusion did Hirschi come to after studying 4k youths, aged 12-17 in California?


  Criminal activity occurs when ppl's attachment to society is weakened
• What are the 4 bonds that Hirschi identified which bind society together? (HINT: A, C, I + B)

  1. Attachment
  2. Commitment
  3. Involvement
  4. Belief
• Who were the 2 groups that Hirschi said were more likely to turn to crime bc they lacked one or more of the 4 social bonds?

  • Youths
  • Underclass
• AO3: How would PMs such as Katz challenge Right Realism?

  • Delinquency is more likely to be spontaneous and unplanned
  • Offenders don't normally think ab. the consequences for themselves/others
  • Delinquency is due to youths seeking thrills
• AO3: What kind of crime does Right Realism ignore?

  MC crime
• AO3: What do Clarke & Hirschi's theories lack?

  Empirical evidence