Right Realism

• What are right realists?


  Conservative‘s - traditional, individualists, favour upper class and capitalism
• What do Right Realists believe the cause to be crime is?


  They see crime as a growing problem and concerned with practical solutions to reduce crime

  • control and punishment rather than rehabilitation
• What do Right Realists argue is the cause of crime?


  Product of:

  • biological differences between individuals - some people are predisposed (genetics and inherit)
  • inadequate socialisation - failure to socialise children
  • rational choice - rewards of crime outweigh the costs
• How does inadequate socialisation cause crime?


  Effective socialisation = teaches them self - control and correct values

  Murray says the nuclear family (criminal) are being given generous welfare benefits.

  More people using them so fathers no longer needed to provide for the families as the state does

  • which creates an underclass who fail to socialise their children properly
  • absent fathers = boys lack discipline and role model who supports his family
  • turn to delinquent models in gangs and gain status through crime rather then supporting their familes
• How does biological differences cause crime?

  Biological differences make some individuals likely to commit crime

  personality traits - aggressiveness + risk taking + low intelligence are innate
• How does the idea of offending due to rational choice cause crime?

  Deciding to commit crime is based on rational calculations on consequences

  • weighing the risks and benefits
  • if benefits outweigh the costs then more crime will be committed
  • crime rate is high as the perceived cost is low
  • little risk of getting caught and don’t expect severe punishment
• What is Felton’s routine activity theory?


  for crime to occur 3 factors are necessary

  1. motivated offender
  2. suitable target - victim or property
  3. absence of capable guardian - parent or police officer

  He sees offenders acting rationally so presence of guardian will deter them

  • but they might act rationally and move to a softer target
  • crime is then displaced - no decline it just moves
• What are some strengths of Right Realism?


  Several studies support RCT

  Feldman found that prisoners make rational decisions

  • if rewards were high and risks low they said crime was worth committing

  Right Realism may explain some opportunistic petty crimes like theft
• What is a limitation of Right Realism?


  Not all crimes are the result of rational decisions

  • violent crimes are often impulsive
  • offenders under the influence are unlikely to calculate risks + rewards