AQA A2 Sociology Unit 4 - Crime and Deviance - Right Realism

Believe that crime is real and not a social contruct. There has been an increase in crime and this increases the fear of being a victim

Right wing influences - Thatcher and Reagan - Get tough approach to crime

James Q Wilson - Zero Tolorence policy (New york)

Stance of crime

• Punishment and control will reduce crime
• Punishment is better than rehabilitation or tackiling causes

Causes of crime

• Biological - low IQ
• Inadaqute Socialisation
• Rational choice theory (Clarke)

Herrstien & Murray

• Biologically determined and have low intelligence = crime

Murray and the Underclass

• Fails to socialise children adaqutely (Best agency for social control = nuclear family)
• Behaviour is deviant
• Live in a dependancy culture
• Absent fathers and single mothers (Gangs for role models)

Absent fathers and single mothers 

• Ineffective socialiation, lack of parental disapline, deliquent role models (gangs)

Rational choice theory

• Clarke - percieved rewards outway percieved costs of getting caught

Evaluations

• Ignores social issues
• Overstates how offenders way up costs
• Zero tolorence has lead to policing issues
• Ignores utilitarian crimes